THE tragic deaths of National Party veterans Jeremy Challacombe and his wife Sue have been mourned by Deputy Premier Troy Grant and NSW Nationals Chairman Bede Burke.
The Challacombes were killed in a car crash on the Pacific Highway near Grafton on Monday. Mr Grant said the couple leave behind three children and several grandchildren.
“Any loss of life on our roads is a terrible tragedy and as leader of the NSW Nationals I express my deepest sympathies to the Challacombe family,” Mr Grant said.
Mr Burke said the Party was in shock.
“Jeremy and Sue Challacombe were a fixture in the National Party for almost 20 years.
"Jeremy was known locally and across the state as a passionate and very frank advocate for his community, but he was also a consummate gentleman and a very good friend to many members of the Party.
“I first became vice-chairman at the same time as Jeremy was stepping down from the Party executive, and I was very grateful for the advice and encouragement he gave me in my new role," Mr Burke said.
Jeremy and Sue Challacombe both joined The Nationals in 1995, and were both active in their local branch and electorate councils.
In his time with the Party, Jeremy served as chairman of the Grafton Branch, the Clarence State Electorate Council and the Page Federal Electorate Council. He sat on the Party’s Central Council from 2004 to 2012, and was vice-chairman of the NSW Nationals from 2008 to 2011.
"I wish the Challacombe family great strength in the aftermath of this tragic accident," Mr Grant said.
