Whether that be in our personal lives or professional lives, these people are to be cherished and honoured.

So a tragedy like the deaths last week of Daylesford couple Don O’Connor and Sue Ewart O’Connor, hits a community, it hits hard.

Don and Sue were integral parts of the Daylesford and Hepburn Shire communities. Their good work not only in the business and arts worlds were renowned. But it was their work helping others that truly had wide-reaching effects.

Their deaths, following a car crash near Denver early last week, has rocked not only the Daylesford community, but has resulted in an outpouring of grief from right around the globe.

That is the affect Sue and Don had on not just their family and friends, but complete strangers.

Don and Sue ran The Timber Benders, a historic rural factory that steam bends timber into unique furniture and equipment. So popular and so well known, they appeared in a Better Homes and Gardens episode only a few weeks ago.

They also ran a second business called Gentle Earth Walking, where they offered tipi camping on their property, workshops and healing activities.

Over the years, the couple helped many people – complete strangers – including those who have been drug and alcohol dependent or have suffered terrible tragedy in their lives.

Don and Sue were good, salt-of-the-earth people who were willing to help others and ask for nothing in return.

Heartbroken family and friends have said people have contacted them from all over this week just to convey how much of an impact Sue and Son had in their lives. That’s our far reaching their compassion and passion for helping others was.

They were quiet leaders in the community, but their force was powerful, said one family friend after last week’s tragedy.

Many in the Daylesford and Hepburn communities were privileged to have known Sue and Don.

Many more were privileged to have been helped by them to overcome adversity and to live better lives.

The community is the poorer for Sue and Don’s deaths, but we can all learn from their selfless contribution.