TERRENCE, or Terry, was born on May 10, 1931, in Ipswich.

He was the eldest of three boys to Bill and Molly Cahill.

He spent most of his early life on a property at Old Koreelah.

He rode to school on horseback, trapping rabbits along the way or jumping logs - hence his love of horses began.

In 1943 Terry was regarded by competent judges as the schoolboy champion rough rider of Australia, and was described as someone who would "give an exhibition of his skill on some of the wildest bullocks ever seen on the north coast".

At the Kyogle rodeo grounds, he was put on one of the wildest steers and he rode it to a standstill at the age of 12.

The family moved to Killarney, and went into business where Terry helped out his parents.

Terry and his brothers Brian and John, bought Backhouse Butchery and Meatworks and traded as Cahill Bros, owning shops in Killarney, Woodenbong, Kyogle, Casino and Lismore.

But horses were always Terry's main interest and passion. He loved competing in rodeo and polocrosse as well as training race horses and participating in pony club.

The highlight of Killarney's 39th annual show in 1950 was a successful attempt by Terry on a horse - All Talk - to set a new jump record, clearing 7 foot 5 inches in his first attempt. The previous record of 7ft 4ins had stood since 1935, held for 15 years.

Scopics was one of the first racehorses Terry owned with his brother Brian.

Ten days before winning at the Lismore race track Scopics was a pick-up horse at a rodeo. Terry was always able to get the most out of his horses.

He was recognised as a champion in all equestrian activities. This was acknowledged when he was the recipient of a sash and medal from the Queen Mother after performing in Brisbane in 1958.

Terry married Dorothea in St Mary's Catholic Church, Warwick, on November 20, 1954.

They met while dancing with a group of friends who got together each week.

They had just celebrated their 60th anniversary - 30 of those years residing in Killarney, raising Leonae, Dorelle and David.

Terry was a very active member of the community.

During the Killarney tornado on November 22, 1968, Terry carried Miss Cook, one of our neighbours, to the Killarney Hospital only to be told by the matron the hospital had blown away and to take her home with him.

He walked in the dark of night over galvanised roofing iron, live wires from power poles that had been ripped down, glass scattered on the ground and tree branches... twice!

Terry owned property at Spring Creek, Mt Colliery and Koreelah so weekends were spent checking cattle, fences, rabbits, kangaroos, foxes, dingoes, and FAT possums.

A family picnic was often enjoyed by the creek with a spot of fishing.

Terry was thinking of racehorses when the Caloundra holiday unit was bought, as the racetrack was soon to be opened.

Three months later, Terry broke his back in the surf early in 1983 and then spent months in the PA Hospital recovering.

Now a paraplegic, other plans for retirement were explored.

This resulted in a new home being built in Warwick and new hobbies such as fishing and gardening established.

Terry visited the RSL for the TAB and races and there he discovered a new love - bingo - which he was very lucky with.

Travel was a big part of life once settled in Warwick.

Most parts of Australia were visited by car with the wheelchair riding on the roof.

Terry was helped by many when he fell transferring from car to wheelchair, always happy to give "pick-up men" instructions.

People in Birdsville pushed him through the sand at the cattle drive in 2002.

The snow was another area where help was at hand.

The Sydney and Darwin ferries tend to rise and fall, which is not good for wheelchairs, but the rodeo champion managed the lot.

He was admitted to a nursing home in Toowoomba in February last year for the 24-hour nursing care he required.

He attended parties, the most recent being their 60th wedding anniversary, and spent Christmas with the family, who visited him regularly.

He is survived by his wife Dorothea, children Dorelle and David and their families of six grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren, and brothers Brian and John.

He was not a man to impart knowledge and wisdom, but in one of the last visits, when my youngest son Harry had just finished school, Terry said "his talent will not come from what he learnt at school, more from what he will learn on the way to and from it".

A man resilient, bold and spirited, a talent, sharp and colourful, released now and unbound.