LAUNCESTON rower Lewis Hendey's 21 years of life was remembered yesterday as one that was immensely full with not a moment wasted.
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His funeral was attended by between 400 and 500 family members and friends yesterday at the Tailrace Convention Centre.
Twelve members of his beloved Tamar Rowing Club formed a guard of honour as the casket left the service for a private cremation at Carr Villa.
A wake held later at the club was attended by more than 200 people, who spent the rest of the day sharing stories about the young man, tragically killed on Sunday when the bike he was riding on the West Tamar Highway was hit from behind by a car.
His single scull rowing boat was set up with crossed oars at the club in his memory.
Rowing Tasmania development manager Rob Prescott said along with rowing, Lewis was an enthusiastic diver, snowboarder and skier, and dabbled in wakeboarding and kite surfing.
Mr Prescott said Lewis had enrolled in a pilot licence course a short time ago and had bought a catamaran with a close friend.
``Lewis was one of those guys that wanted to jam so much into his life - he was always up for a challenge with anything,'' he said.
He said Lewis had started rowing while at Riverside High School, and after a short hiatus, returned to the sport two years ago where he became well-known in rowing circles.
``He was known as a fierce competitor; someone who was happy to beat someone fairly and squarely on the river but also happy to sit down and have a beer with them afterwards,'' Mr Prescott said.
Tamar Rowing Club president Alan Weeding said Lewis had been awarded the club's prestigious Merv Green Perpetual Trophy last year - a symbol of the high regard with which all club members, from juniors to masters, held towards him.
``Lewis was loyal; one of those people that you meet in life that you instantly liked,'' Mr Weeding said.