Jesse Baird‘s Studio 10 colleagues have released a joint statement remembering Baird and his partner Luke Davies.
The pair were allegedly murdered by former police officer Beau Lamarre-Condon, who has been taken into custody. Whilst the pair’s bodies have yet to be found, police established a crime scene at a dam near Marulan on Sunday night.
“Jesse was so much more than a colleague. He was a cherished friend who brightened every day with his positivity, cheeky winks and brilliant smile,” the statement said.
“He could handle anything from croc feeding to speeding down a river on water skis on live TV – anything to keep the audience entertained.
“Through his roving reporter role he travelled the country and met hundreds of people from all walks of life. They were all without a doubt left a little brighter having been touched by his presence.
“As his workmates and friends, we are completely shattered. Nothing was ever too much trouble. He worked so hard to make his dreams come true. He was up for anything and the life of the party always. It is quite simply impossible to overstate how much we adored him.”
The statement concluded “Our hearts ache for his family, who he loved so much and spoke of often. We’re also thinking of Luke’s family and what could have been for both of them.
“Jesse and Luke, forever adored. Forever young and beautiful. Inside and out.”
On Sunday night, Sarah Harris – a former Studio 10 co-host – paid tribute to Jesse Baird on Channel 10’s The Project. She began by saying that it had been a “really hard week” for the network’s staff.
“It is hard to talk about Jesse in the past tense because he was more than just a colleague, he was our friend, a little brother,” she said, adding that he “had a big smile, big talent, and even bigger heart.”
“We are all so sorry.”