Kim Hancock was the kind of bloke every community needs.
Reliable, resourceful, affable, a tonne of contacts, always the first to put up his hand to help. The kind of guy who held a position on everything from his local neighbourhood watch to the P and C at his kids' school.
He was respected across the spectrum of his life - the taxi industry, rugby, his former school Daramalan College, his much-loved family.
The long-time chair of the Aerial taxi group, died on September 18 after a battle with pancreatic cancer. He was 71.
His friend and fellow Aerial board member John McKeough said Mr Hancock was a no-frills character.
That was plain to see at his funeral at St Monica's in Evatt.
"Kim was pretty rugged. He wore shorts right through the year and he didn't wear much on top either," Mr McKeogh said.
"As a tribute at his funeral, a hell of a lot of the footballers turned up wearing shorts because that was Kim. That was him."
Born in Canberra, Mr Hancock was among the first boys to attend Daramalan College when it opened in 1962, attending St Edmund's before then. The family home was in Duffy Street, Ainslie,
His grandfather Horace "Horrie" Hancock was the 1967 Canberra Citizen of the Year, an architect recognised for services to people with disabilities. Horrie also received an MBE in 1969 for his work.
Mr Hancock's grandmother Ruby started Miroma, an organisation to aid disabled children, and the Hancocks ran a stall at the Fyshwick markets to raise funds for it. She was named Canberra's Senior Citizen of the Year in 1984.
With those kind of examples, Mr Hancock was destined to live a life helping others.
"I think Kim inherited their commitment to get involved," Mr McKeough said.
After school, Mr Hancock joined the army and served in Vietnam. He returned to Canberra, via Western Australia, with his wife Stephanie and, in 1974, entered a ballot for 10 new taxis for Canberra. He drew TX 84 and his first car was a HQ Holden.
Mr Hancock joined the board of Aerial Taxis Cooperative in 1976. He served as chair for 21 years, until his death, the organisation now known as the Aerial Capital Group. He was a life member of the Australian Taxi Industry Association.
"Kim played his role as chairman very well. None of us felt much about Uber but we've had to cope with the competition," Mr McKeogh said.
Mr Hancock's friends reckoned he knew everyone in Canberra.
"One of his mates referred to him as the mayor of Canberra," Mr McKeogh said. "Whatever you needed, whoever you needed to talk to, Kim would put you on to the right person. He wasn't what you call an orator, but he just had a way with people."
Rugby was his other passion, especially the Brumbies and the Gungahlin Eagles, of which he was a life member and served as vice-president, club secretary and team manager. He undertook "any task the club asked of him with minimal fuss".
"A passionate, honest, placid, and hard-working man who was always around," the club posted on social media.
Mr McKeogh said Mr Hancock was only four when they first crossed paths, in a backyard in Ainslie. A little kid running around the yard "with this big smile on his face". "He never changed that smile," he said.
Mr Hancock is survived by Stephanie and their children Leigh, Mark, Alison and Kelly.
