President of the Orange Country Labor branch Bernard Fitzsimon said the death of his friend Mr Edwards on Thursday although not unexpected, was sadly untimely.

“This has come as a great blow to the Orange Labor branch, The Central West Community Alliance and the Unions NSW community.

“Gregson was the sort of bloke who could mix just as easily with labourers as he could with lawyers and political leaders.

“We will miss the company of our urbane, witty, sophisticated comrade who never lost the common touch.

“Our hearts, our sympathies and our thoughts are with his wonderful wife Maria, his two sons and their respective partners and families,” Mr Fitzsimon said.

Mr Edwards began his journalism career in Orange at the ABC in 1966 and enjoyed a career in journalism and  with the Australian government where he lived and worked overseas in various countries including the Netherlands, Japan, Indonesia, and China where he became caught up in the conflict surrounding the Tiananmen square massacre and he escaped by hiding in nearby streets.

After 36 years in government employ, he resigned to set up Gregson Edwards Communications, which operated from his home office in Orange where he lived with his wife.

Mr Edwards was due to celebrate his 70th birthday today with friends and family at Duntryleague and has passed away after a short illness.