IT doesn't matter who you talk to in Bendigo, the name 'Norm Quin' seems to elicit a similar response.
"He was a true gentleman," they'll say, or words to that effect.
The former Bendigo mayor was a well known and much loved member of the community.
He died this morning, at the age of 85.
News spread fast as people sought to pay tribute to his legacy.
"I think everyone knew Norm," Jim Evans, of the Bendigo Historical Society, said.
If they didn't know him personally, chances were they had bought fresh fruit and vegetables from Mr Quin at his shop on Mitchell Street.
"He was a legend in his lifetime," Mr Evans said.
Mr Quin was a constant at Quin's Bluebird for almost 70 years.
He started working there at the age of 15, and went on to own and run the store with his late wife, Gloria.
Susan Hellsten, one of the couple's two daughters, said the family wanted Bendigo people to know how much Mr Quin loved the city he called home.
One of the things he loved most was working at Quin's Bluebird and seeing people every day.
"He just loved it," Mrs Hellsten said.
Ian Dyett said people would sometimes go into the greengrocer's to get documents signed by Mr Quin, who was a Justice of the Peace.
"He was a man of great community spirit," Mr Dyett said.
"One thing Norm was above all others was a true Bendigonian."
He said nothing was too much trouble for Mr Quin, when it came to helping his community. And he expected nothing in return.
"He's like salt and pepper - he's in everything," Mr Dyett said.
Mr Quin was a member of the Bendigo Historical Society, and a former president and life member of the Bendigo Easter Fair committee.
Simon Mulqueen, of the Bendigo Easter Fair Committee, said Mr Quin became involved in January 1979 as a representative of the city's former Chamber of Commerce.
The Easter fair was then going through some difficult times.
"He was responsible in the early '80s for ensuring, along with the rest of the committee at the time, that the festival continued and financially backed the festival," Mr Mulqueen said.
"He was very proud of his commitment to the Easter fair."
Mr Quin served on the committee for 18 years, until 1996. he was president for 15 years, from 1982.
Mr Mulqueen said Mr Quin made an enormous contribution over many years.
"We are saddened by his sudden passing," he said.
Mr Quin was an advocate for the business community.
He served for 42 years on the city's former Chamber of Commerce. Even after he retired, he was a voice for the city's traders.
"He made a significant contribution to the Bendigo business community over a long period of time," Be.Bendigo chief executive, Dennis Bice said.
He said Mr Quin was considered to be the go-to person to get things done on matters of business.
Mr Bice also knew Mr Quin to be a great man.
"He always had time for you - that was one of those standout things," he said.
Bendigo mayor Margaret O'Rourke said Mr Quin would be dearly missed.
"He always had Bendigo's best interests at heart and had an amazing knowledge of our city as it changed over the years, having seen so much of it from his shop door," she said.
"I also know he has been a keen commentator on council matters over the years, keeping all of us who have worn the mayoral robes on our toes.
"However, more than anything I remember a dedicated and hardworking man to the very end, who gave many young people their first job and who supported a range of local charities and rising junior sports stars."
Mr Quin was elected to the Bendigo City Council in 1983, and served as mayor from 1985/86.
Promoting Bendigo and updating roads, gutters and footpaths were recorded among his priorities.
The book Mayors of Bendigo 1856-2001 said Cr Quin wanted to see the city's saleyards relocated and a community arts centre established.
The then Cr Quin was supportive of the amalgamation of councils to create Greater Bendigo.
"The news of Norm's passing is incredibly sad for our city," Cr O'Rourke said.
"Our thoughts are with his daughters, Susan and Julie, and their families at this time."
Mr Quin has four grandchildren and two great-grandsons.
His beloved wife, Gloria, died in 2011.
The couple met at a YMCA Saturday night dance when Mr Quin was 18 years old. They became engaged after Mr Quin returned from National Service training when he was 23.
One of Mr Quin's dear friends, Jim Harvey, said he had always known Mr Quin to be a true gentleman.
"He was always just a good bloke," he said.
The friends met through their involvement in sports - an interest they shared until the end.
Mr Harvey said Mr Quin was a member of the Bendigo Sportsmen's Association for 49 years, all but 10 of which he spent on the committee.
He served two terms as the committee's president.
Mr Quin was made a life member of both the Bendigo branch and Victorian Division of the Sportsmen's Association of Australia, and was inducted into the Bendigo Sportsmen's Hall of Fame.
Mr Harvey said the federal government recognised his friend's services to sport and carnivals in 2002 with a Centenary Medal.
He said Mr Quin played football with the Provincial Football Club in his teens.
"He then joined the Bendigo Power Boat Club and was the first Victorian to break 100 mile per hour for 300 cubic inch hydroplanes," Mr Harvey said.
"Norm broke both the Victorian and Australian speed records at Lake Eppalock in a competition run by the Australian Power Boat Association."
Mr Quin was Commodore of the Bendigo Power Boat Club for nine years, and won the Bendigo Advertiser BCV8 Monthly Sports-star Award in 1970.
"For 21 years, his syndicate bred and raced harness horses, with many winners on metropolitan and country tracks," Mr Harvey said.
His support for junior sports included supplying trophies to the YMCA Harriers for more than 40 years.
"Norm was a generous and tireless worker for the Sportsmen's Association and a great citizen of the City of Greater Bendigo," Mr Harvey said.
Quin's Bluebird will be open tomorrow in Mr Quin's honour.
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Emma D'Agostino
Covering general news and Bendigo council.
Covering general news and Bendigo council.
