The daughter of a
motorcyclist tragically killed following a collision
with a kangaroo earlier this month has remembered her
father as a caring and generous man.
Phil ‘Whitey’ White, a member of the God’s Squad Motorcycle Club’s central Victorian chapter, was farewelled at an emotional service in Bendigo on Tuesday.
Danielle Allport said
her father was “a man of few words”, but “if anyone ever
needed anything he would be there, no matter who it
was”.
“He was a really family-orientated man, he was a high school teacher for some of his life and managed to get through to a number of students that were struggling,” she said.
“There was nothing
that he wouldn’t do for other people.
“He's going to be
really missed.”
A number of rival
motorcycle clubs – including the Bandidos, Satan's
Soldiers, Rebels and the Diablos – put their differences
aside to attend the funeral, with dozens of motorbikes
leading the cortege through Bendigo following the
service.
“It’s not very often that you see them (motorcycle clubs) all in the one spot together, it was spectacular really,” Mrs Allport said.
“He would have been
so happy with everything that took place on Tuesday - he
was really into his motorbikes and cars.
“It was a beautiful send off.”
In a cruel turn of
events, Mr White was awarded God’s Squad club colours
the day before the accident, after spending four years
as a nominee.
“It (full club
membership) was something he'd been really striving
for, he was so happy,” Mrs Allport said.
‘Whitey’ had been involved in the annual Bendigo Motorcycle Toy Run and fundraising for mental health organisation, the Black Dog Institute, for whom some funds were raised at the funeral service.
Ms Allport said her
father was well-respected a much loved by his family and
those who knew him.
He is survived by his wife, six children, their partners and nine grandchildren.
A number of tributes were posted on the God’s Squad Motorcycle Club’s Facebook page following news of Mr White’s death.
One post, by the God
Squad’s central Victorian chapter president, Nado, read:
“Phil was valued and deeply loved by our chapter, our
families, his home church group, God's Squad globally
and the wider motorcycle and car community. We send our
love and prayers to his wife and amazing family, who
adored their husband, father and grandfather.”
The funeral was held at Bendigo Baptist Church and was followed by a celebration of Whitey’s life at the Marong Hotel – hosted by his motorcycle club.