The group rode from Jamieson Hotel at Penrith to Kurrajong Hills to the roadside memorial of David Dawson, who died in that spot exactly a year before.

The hotel had been his 'local'.

The head-on accident in which he died was between a car driven by Joshua Galbraith, 18, of Bilpin and a ute driven by Mr Dawson, with his wife and his younger daughter travelling with him.

His wife and daughter managed to escape, but Mr Dawson was trapped and died in the fire.

Mr Galbraith also died in the accident.

"Although he was small in stature, he has left a hole the size of Capertee Valley in all of us," Gerzurgan member Levi Roberts said of his mate 'Gerzurgan Dave'.

"My dad Chris said a few words, saying it was almost a year to the minute as we stood around his memorial imagining the scene of carnage, smoke and flames that would have been there a year ago.

"Thanks and remembrance were passed on to those who gave assistance, especially the truck driver who stayed with Dave until he could stay no longer."

He said the efforts by the emergency services, Kurrajong Heights Rural Fire Brigade and Hawkesbury Police were also mentioned in the service at the memorial.

"He will be sorely missed and fondly remembered by Caroline, Jennifer and Valerie and the Gerzurgan Tribe."

Mr Dawson's family were also in attendance, and the whole party then proceeded to the Gerzurgan club ground outside Mudgee, where Mr Dawson is buried.

It was also where he was heading for a break on the day of the accident.

The tribe still want to personally thank the truck driver who sat with Mr Dawson but have not been able to trace him, and asked that he contact The Gazette, which will contact the tribe.

n Mr Dawson's younger daughter Valerie, who was also in the accident, tends to her father's memorial, watched by Gerzurgan members (right).

Photo: Kylie Pitt