Mr Condron died peacefully at Emmaus on Saturday morning with close friend Sandra Wilson holding his hand.

A long-time member of the Labor Party movement, Mr Condron wore numerous hats during his lifetime. He would arguably be best remembered for his involvement in local radio with 2MC and his work in events management on the Mid-North Coast.

Miss Wilson said it was a privilege to have called Jeff a friend since the early 80s.

“I am really going to miss him. Jeff gave me a lot of advice over the years which I would always listen to and act on,” she said.

“I suppose he took me under his wing. But we had a great friendship across the church and Country Labor membership.”

Jeff moved into Emmaus in 2013 and regularly ‘held court’ an area christened ‘the den’, Miss Wilson said.

“Every Sunday we would meet in ‘the den’ and share a bottle of wine between us and his great friend Ken,” she said.

“He just drew people to him by organising different events including Octoberfest and St Patrick’s Day.

“Jeff even organised for me to meet the Pope. And when I got back from the trip I gave him some rosary beads the Pope had blessed.”

Those rosary beads, along with his photo and a South Sydney cap will form part of the funeral service.

Miss Wilson said hospital tests conducted the previous week showed extensive bowel cancer.

He returned to Emmaus last Monday with visitors pouring in to visit him.

“But he was getting weaker,” his friend said. “By Thursday the staff stopped visitors but Jeff insisted that I was to continue to visit him.

“I stayed overnight on Friday just to be with him and during Saturday morning I sat beside him and just held his hand.

“At one point he opened his eyes and gave my hand a bit of a squeeze.

“And then he just slipped away.”

Jeff Condron’s funeral service is on Wednesday at St Agnes Church at 9.30am. Labor’s Senator Sam Dastyari and friend John Hamblin from Young will deliver eulogies.