Gavin, 37, died after a car crash at Shepparton on Saturday night. 

He had worked as an acting sergeant for the Victoria Police, based in the Goulburn Valley, for about 10 years.

Gavin grew up at Pimpinio before his father Paul took the reins as the police officer at Minyip. 

Older brother Brad Sproule said Gavin was like any little brother. 

“He was very adventurous, very boisterous, full on, flat out. But then he also had a very soft side,” he said. “He was very caring and loving.” 

Brad said Gavin took those traits into fatherhood and became an exceptional parent. 

Gavin and wife Jayne have two sons, Max and Beau. 

“He and Jayne were a really good couple. There are always highs and lows in relationships and they just got through everything.They worked together,” Brad said. 

Brad said Gavin wanted to follow in their father’s footsteps as a police officer, but tried several jobs before he embarked on that journey. 

“He was a farm hand and did a bit of truck driving, but he loved the police force,” he said. 

Gavin started his policing career in Horsham and later worked in Shepparton.

“When he was younger he pushed a lot of boundaries but he ended up being a very respected and very good police officer,” Brad said. 

“He loved the job and was good at it.” 

Brad said Gavin had the perfect personality to be a policeman. 

“(Police officers) deal with a lot of things and he was good at dealing with it. 

“My hat goes off to them because they see things that (everyone else) thankfully doesn’t have to see,” Brad said. 

Brad said their relationship was special. 

“Brothers are just your mates, that’s the way it is – whether you don’t see each other or you do see each other,” he said.  

“Even though he was my little brother, I really looked up to him.” 

The funeral will be in Shepparton on Monday.