I remember very clearly at Mitchell's school graduation the John McGlashan pastor, Rolly Scot, asking those present to think for a moment about their dash - the bit between the start and the end of life. Would it be full of things to be proud of and to inspire others?
Mitchell was going for it with every bit of energy he had from day one and he had an astonishing amount of it, with the biggest heart I have ever seen.
He was following an unusual route into the fashion business by working in the dairy industry and loving it.
Mitchell was by all accounts not the biggest drinker in his group of peers, but unfortunately a combination of hard work, beer and euphoria that can come with a birthday along with a great win by the Highlanders, perhaps, contributed to his making a very bad decision.
That decision to go back out and drive after the sober driver had everyone safely home cost Mitch his life and his family incalculable grief and pain.
The ponderings of the coroner will, either this year or next, give consideration to the various factors leading to said decision.
While those who knew me as a younger man may see some hypocrisy in these words, we are supposed to learn from our mistakes.
Mitchell cast a huge shadow and the country lost a truly outstanding citizen early that Sunday morning, Jared and Logan lost the best brother you could wish for, and Sue and I lost one of our three champions.
Mitch's was one of several similar events that and every other weekend. There will be accidents for ever, but there does not have to be another Mitch ...
Please remember that each beer, each rum mixer, each tequila takes you one step closer to making a poor decision just like Mitch did at some time on Sunday morning.
The Government has started a process of lowering allowable breath-alcohol in young drivers to zero.
This will have far greater value when 0% is applied to all drivers.
The young people learn from us and to totally remove ambiguity from the road rules in this regard would be a valuable step in the right direction.
This call will require courage!
- Graham Clarke