Sydney identity Brian Rudd is set to get his final wish, in death. Credit:Peter Rae "And it's funny how life works. Five years ago I was working in finance and told Brian over a shoeshine that I didn't fancy the industry much. He replied, 'Wanna work for me?' " At the same time, another Australian who remembered him fondly, and who is now living in India, volunteered to return to pick up his ashes. A third offered to do so on her holiday planned for India and a fourth, a former felon who has reformed himself into a successful businessman, wrote to Father Bob, saying, "It would be an honour to fulfil Brian's wishes. There but for the grace of God go I." Father Bob is now talking to surviving members of Mr Rudd's family about conducting a funeral in his home city of Melbourne and possibly a memorial service at his adopted home of Martin Place. Mr Rudd, 58, touched many people's lives during his work shining shoes in Sydney's Devonshire Street Tunnel in the mornings, and Martin Place from lunchtime every day.

The report of his death unleashed a not-quite-unprecedented flood of tributes; he received a huge number, too, when he was erroneously reported dead in 2013. Well-wishers have been bombarding Fairfax Media with their own fond memories and stories of his razor-sharp wit, his kindness and his inventiveness whenever there was money to be made. Often, when customers heard a smidgen about his tragic life - taken into care at three months old, separated from his four brothers and moved from boys' home to boys' home, regularly the victim of cruelty - a simple $5 shoeshine would turn into a $50 donation. Sleeping between the streets and the odd boarding house, he sometimes claimed he was saving up for a bond on a rental house, or needed money to attend his father's funeral in Melbourne. He was always so charming and chipper, most were happy to contribute. "It's those random acts of kindness that make us all human," Father Bob said. "I'm not surprised at all that so many people cared for him. One man posted a picture of himself on social media wearing a pair of boots Brian polished and saying he'd put them out today in honour of him."

Don Tilley, who once operated a liquor store in the city centre, said that, at one stage, Mr Rudd became his "tenant". "There was an alcove at the store's back door and he moved in there with a mate," he said. "We were a little concerned at first but we were soon OK with it and regarded Brian and his mate as 'back-door security'. "The only time we used the back door was to take the wastepaper bales out every second Monday and Brian would make sure that he was packed up so we could get the bales out. "Five minutes later, he would set up again. I offered him a bottle of wine at Christmas but he politely told me that he was a non-drinker but if we had any spare toilet rolls he would gladly accept those … "