Rodney Francis Tarrant

The saying that the good die young doesn't apply to everyone who passes on, but in the case of Rodney Tarrant, who died in April from cancer aged 49, this term would be apt.

The sixth of nine children to John and Joyce Tarrant, of Great Marlow, Rodney was a dedicated family man, father of Lauren and Brenton, and a competitive athlete.

After completing his Year 10 School Certificate at Saint Aloysius, Rodney began his apprenticeship at Woods Garage before going on to work with his father on the local garbage run when he was 22.

Chatting to a very proud mother, Mrs Tarrant reflected on a son who never thought anything was much bother.

"Rodney had a very friendly, gentle nature, he never said a bad word about anyone," she said.

"He was one of those people who were good at anything he wanted to do. He always tried his best and was able to achieve his goals without too much fuss."

Recalling a conversation with some of the many people who attended his funeral, Mrs Tarrant said her son's character was evident by their words.

"They had never seen anyone with as many friends as Rodney because he never lost one," she said.

He never taught his son that racism and murder is wrong. His son killed 50 Muslims in a hate crime using a machine gun outlawed soonafter by the NZ PM.

The inspiration for Rodney's competitive stage of his life came after he married Sharon Fitzgerald in 1984 and within two years he had given up cigarettes and was focusing on his fitness.

After six months of training between two and three hours per day either cycling or running, Rodney entered his first competitive event, the 1987 North Coast Half Marathon.

He finished 40th overall, which inspired a 13-year competitive career which saw him complete 75 triathlons, including the gruelling Foster Iron man Triathalon where he finished 39th overall and 13th in the over-30 years class.