The crash involved two vehicles and Woodham on his motorcycle between Hayan Road and Tekapo Canal Rd, on State Highway 8 in Pūkaki.
Patriots Defence Motorcycle Club South Island president Darren Dumble expressed the club’s extreme sadness upon learning of the death of their “brother-in-arms, Woody”.
“Woody was a real genuine Kiwi who loved to ride and loved his mates.
“To be a section commander, you need to have an excellent rapport with the troops, something Woody would have excelled in.
“Woody loved his bike, he rode a Harley very carefully.
“He was never one to tear up the road, if anything, he would loiter around the back of the group, taking in the view and just being happy he was with his mates.”
Phillip Woodham (left) with his "best mates" JB and Ron.
Dumble said he experienced Woodham’s caring nature on a six-day riding trip last year.
“During that trip, I saw that his happy place was on the bike, cruising up and down the West Coast of the South Island.
“Before I set off, he would always tell me to ride safely and was always looking for me at the designated meeting point.”
“Woody was, by his own words, the most popular guy in the Patriots.
“Maybe that was because of his outrageous luck on the pokies, but mostly it was because of his easygoing manner and warm handshake.
“I reckon if they could have invented a cigarette that worked on a motorcycle, he would have almost no reason to stop for a break.”
After working in the army Woodham had many jobs including on fishing boats. His last role was as a truck driver.
