About 80 family and friends of Bruce Trevorrow travelled from the Murraylands to Bairnsdale yesterday for the funeral of the man who has left a legacy of justice behind him.

Mr Trevorrow died on June 20 and had reportedly been battling serious respiratory problems.

At 13 months of age he was taken from his Coorong-based family after a short stay in an Adelaide hospital at 13 months in 1958.

He was not reunited with his family for another decade.

Due to the trauma and impact of being a Stolen Generation member, Mr Trevorrow was awarded $525,000 in damages from the State Government in August and then $250,000 in interest in a further ruling.

Mr Trevorrow has left behind four children, grandchildren and sev-en brothers and sisters, many of whom still live in the Meningie area.

Mr Trevorrow died at a hospital in Sale, Victoria, south-west of his home town Bairnsdale.

Ngarrindjeri elder Tom Trevorrow said the community was mourning the loss of his brother.

“We are as a family and the Ngarrindjeri people hurting and saddened at Bruce’s death,” Tom said.

“It is very hurtful after what happened to him in his life and of his 10-year court struggle for justice to show that a wrong was committed against him, and he was so grateful and happy when Justice Gray handed down his judgement.”

However Tom said he was disappointed the State Government had not removed its appeal against the judgement of Supreme Court Judge Tom Gray.

At the time Premier Mike Rann said it was important there was not a “knee-jerk reaction” to the wider implications of the case.

The Government has not attempted to appeal the amount of compensation awarded.

The Attorney-General’s Department has sent its condolences to Mr Trevorrow’s family and friends.