GRAHAM Mieglich was a knockabout bloke who played the guitar at his local church and was always up for a chinwag. Police were last night hunting his killer.

The 56-year-old Hills dairy farmer was found shot dead in his bedroom on his Charleston property yesterday morning.

Mr Mieglich's surviving children Adam, Fiona and Christopher have now lost two parents and a sibling in tragic circumstances, after their mother Louise and sister Melissa died in a car crash in 1999.

His brother and dairy-farming partner, John, discovered the body and raised the alarm. The Hills community was last night struggling to come to grips with the murder of a "gem of a guy".

Friend and fellow dairy farmer Michael Kowald said Mr Mieglich was a "top bloke" who was the "best operator in the field".

Mr Kowald operates the nearest dairy farm to Mr Mieglich's property and said he often received tips from the more established farmer.

"As a fellow dairy farmer he was the one to look up to in the district, on top of his game and running a great farm," he said. "He was a top bloke overall in everything, he was 20 year older than me but I've known him all my life.

"He was generous with his time and information for other farmers and it is very sad to see him go."

Neighbour Allan Webster described the victim as a "happy-go-lucky-guy" who never let the tragic death of his wife and daughter show on the outside. He said he had known Mr Mieglich and his family for about 18 months.

"In that time you can get a very clear picture of a very good, close-knit family," Mr Webster said.

"He was a very nice chap, he was no concern for me and the other people around him.

"I have no idea what his personal life was, but to me and to others around him he was a gem of a guy and so is his brother."

John called police shortly after 8am after discovering the body.

Police said Graham Mieglich's daughter Fiona, who also lived at the Springhead Rd house, was not home on the night of the murder.

Mr Mieglich's wife Louise and daughter Melissa were killed in a car accident at the bottom of Springhead Rd in May 1999 - just a short distance from their home.

Mr Mieglich was a member of Lobethal Lutheran Church, where he regularly played the guitar in a band.

A congregation member described him as friendly, outgoing and the "last person you'd expect somebody to want to shoot".

He also said he was approachable and got on well with other members.

The congregation's minister was last night offering support and guidance to Mr Mieglich's family.