It was more than three years ago that Anglican priest and leading psychologist Father Max Eggert and his wife, Jane Robinson, made the decision to pack up from Bondi for a tree-change at Putty.
They quickly became part of the fabric of the village, joining community groups and creating a branch of a church Father Max had first helped set up in Sydney.
But their little piece of paradise has now also become the scene of heartbreaking tragedy, after the 72-year-old was killed by a charging bull on Monday afternoon.
The village's volunteer-run critical response team was first at the scene and said Fr Max "never stood a chance" after the bull became territorial and aggressive.
Fr Max's wife, Jane Robinson, choked back tears as she recalled there were few things her husband loved more than working on the farm.
On Monday afternoon, he was moving a water tank with his car when he was charged.
"They did tell him to get rid of that bull - they said you couldn't keep a bull," Mrs Robinson said. "But that's Max for you. He wasn't going to be told. That was his magic and that's what's made it all possible.
"He made them believe he could do what is possible - including me."
On top of being an ordained priest, Fr Max was a psychologist, successful businessman and an accomplished author. He had more than 20 books published.
Mrs Robinson met Fr Max on a plane and moved to Putty about three years ago after seeing an advertisement in a Richmond real estate shopfront.
"He had this picture in his head of what he wanted his farm to look like," friend and neighbour Peter Smith said.
"Every time you saw him he was in the paddock or doing something for someone else in the community. He loved it here."
Devastated residents came together on Monday night soon after learning of his death.
Mr Smith said his phone had been ringing non-stop as news of Fr Max's death spread throughout the valley.
"He's only been here about three or four years," he said. "He upset a lot of people in that time, but people had respect for him. It's admiration — you may not like someone, but you can still admire them."
Fr Max embedded himself in the community "from day one" by establishing the village's only Anglican church service, using it as a launch pad into the lives of others.
He was a firefighter, a passionate advocate on local issues and the unpaid counsellor who many Putty residents turned to when they were doing it tough.
"He wore his collar whenever he was in public," Ms Robinson said.
"He would get so crass with clergymen who didn't. He would tell them it was their duty — and their job had responsibilities. Those responsibilities were listening to people and helping them with their problems. He was a sensitive soul and I loved him — and he loved me."
Mrs Robinson said the last she saw of her husband was in the rear-vision mirror of the car as she headed to work in Sydney.
"He was waving from the porch," she said. "We both said we loved each other and we'd see each other again soon. It was beautiful. We had no unfinished business."
Born in the United Kingdom, Fr Max was ordained in England and studied psychology before moving to Australia.
He was assistant priest at St Mary the Virgin, Waverley before becoming the community's priest in 2011.
Fr Max helped set up his own church, known as the Communities of our Lady of Advent, and extended his ministry to nursing homes and aged care centres in other parts of Sydney.
He was also about to launch a healing ministry in Putty and was described as a leading psychologist in the corporate field.
Fr Max is survived by Mrs Robinson and his two children Max-Charles Eggert and Mary-Sian Eggert.
Funeral details are yet to be finalised.
