His neighbour and friend Chris McCann announced his death on the Burrawang Village Facebook page with these words:

"It is with a heavy heart that I announce the sudden passing of Russ Watman late last night. Thankfully, he passed comfortably surrounded by his family in Campbelltown. Russ was a great character, a genuine private person, an icon in the area and over the years made a significant contribution to the Burrawang Village and its people."

Mr McCann found Mr Watman, whom he called "an amazing man", following the fall, which occurred on Sunday, June 21.

"I discovered him laying on the floor on Monday morning in his home on Crown Street, Burrawang," said Mr McCann.

"I forced my way into the house, because it was almost like clockwork the way he conducted himself, but he hadn't put the bins away.

"He'd had a fall in the house.

"He was still conscious but had spent the night in freezing cold conditions, so I called the ambulance and they took him to hospital, where he passed away that night."

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Russell Kelvin Watman was the youngest son of Ted and Minnie, and was born in Bowral when the family was farming at Calwalla and attended Elmwood primary school.

His nephew Colin Parker, in a eulogy read at his funeral on June 30, said that the family moved to Burrawang when Russ was 11.

"They then purchased Ashton Park on the Robertson road," he said.

"Russ attended Bowral High School, however Russ was not that keen on school and - against the wishes of his parents - he left as soon as he could at 15 years old, and not being someone to waste any time he was working pulling turnips on the farm across the road the next day.

"Russ continued doing farm work in the area until Grandfather's health declined and Russ took over the running of Ashton Park.

"This is where my memory of Russ starts and the farm was a credit to him - not a stick out of place, with his great work ethic and insistence on doing everything properly and if he saw something that needed doing he would do it himself. This attitude carried over into everything Russ did in his life.

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"Russ sold the farms and he and Grandmother moved to Crown Street Burrawang where he lived till now.

"Russ then worked for the Department of Agriculture, brucillosis testing cattle. He bought a small farm at Crookwell but continued to live at Burrawang and do lawn mowing and odd jobs around town before taking on the mail run, where he got to know just about everyone in that end of the district.

"For most of his life Russ' great love was cricket. He played for Burrawang and later the combined Robertson Burrawang clubs.

"Russ' involvement went way beyond playing and was life member of Robertson Burrawang Cricket Club, Highlands District Cricket Association, HDCA Umpires Association, and Southern Zone Umpires Association and in 2000 he received the Australian Sports Medal for his contribution to cricket.

"It probably won't surprise many that when Stu checked on Russ' house last week there were two books beside his lounge chair - the most recent editions of the laws of cricket and the rules of golf. Dry reading for most of us but must-reads for Russ.

"Russ had a great love of sport but his motivation for involvement in many organisations was his great sense of community, and when he decided to be involved he was active and in for the long run.

"After reading what I have written it seems I have made Russ out to be an irascible old man but all of us who know him well or have played a lot of sport with him know this is far from the truth. He was always quick with a laugh and a smile and I always found him great company and would always look to spend time with him when I could and I know he was a favourite uncle and great uncle to all the family members who lived close enough to get to know him.

"I know our family will miss Russ greatly but I am equally sure the sporting groups he was involved with and the entire Burrawang community will feel there is a gap where Russ used to be."

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