As the nation paid tribute to one of its most celebrated literary giants, Albury-Wodonga winter solstice co-founder Stuart Baker remembered a "humble, witty genius" who had survived a lifetime of debilitating mental illness.

Leslie Allan Murray, known as the Bush Bard of Bunyah, died at a nursing home at Taree on the New South Wales north coast on Monday.

The nation's unofficial Poet Laureate made a rare public appearance on the Border in 2018 as an honoured guest speaker at its annual winter solstice event.

For the past five years the esteemed poet has in a sense been patron of the community event that shines a light on the dark grief of suicide as the longest night of the year closes in.

Murray battled through the "miseries of mental anguish" and depression since his teens and penned the courageous memoir of those struggles, Killing the Black Dog.

Mr Baker said in every sense of the word the poet had "written the book" on surviving mental illness.

"His way of dealing with it was to live long enough to outlast it," Mr Baker said.

"The Albury region was very lucky that he came here and spoke - it was an honour for Annette and I personally to come to understand what a unique Australian Les was.

"His candour, his humour ... his incredible poetry."

FURTHER READING: Leaving behind the 'miseries of mental anguish'

It was no mean feat that Murray was coaxed out of his hinterland retreat for the 10-hour drive to the Border for the solstice ceremony.

Even then, Mr Baker said, it was apparent Murray was already frail in health.

"His mind was sharp but his body was failing him," he said.

The Bakers had been in regular contact with this "down to earth and very special" man since the death of their daughter Mary.

The Albury schoolgirl suffered with an eating disorder and depression for three years before she took her life in March, 2011 at just 15 years of age.

Before she died Mary compiled an anthology of poetry, Out of the Shadows, which explored the topic of mental illness and included an analysis of one of Murray's poems.

Mary's grieving parents reached out to the esteemed poet in the mind-numbing months after her death.

Murray responded with a poignant, now "cherished", letter to the family in which he proclaimed: "What a filthy, unjust thing mental illness can be ..."

Mr Baker said the poet's insightful reflections provided a soothing balm in the days, weeks and months after Mary's death.