Monique Sherry, 17, and her siblings Elise, 14, and Nicholas, 9, have said they will never go to a beach again after their parents were swept away by a rip and drowned during a family holiday in Ballina.

Joe and Carole Sherry, from Orangeville, have been described as beautiful parents who lived for their children.

They had bought their rural property about 18 months ago and were living in a shed while they prepared to build a house this year.

A neighbour from their Orangeville street, Marilyn Searle, said this was the family's big holiday.

``They were genuine Australian battlers that wanted the best for their family,'' she said.

``Why should this happen to people who create a good home for their children and then die in the attempt to try and save them?''

Mrs Sherry was a teacher and Mr Sherry was a commercial cookery teacher at Campbelltown, Wetherill Park and Padstow TAFE.

Aside from his TAFE classes he also taught high school students, children with a disability and boys in Reiby Detention Centre at Airds how to cook.

Fellow staff member at Campbelltown TAFE Cherie Rauch has been friends with Mr Sherry for 18 years and said he was a beautiful gentleman.

``Joe loved his family and sacrificed everything for them,'' she said.

``He never raised his voice or swore.

``He had a very soft, gentle soul and appreciated the smallest things in life.''

Ms Rauch said she remembered how hard Joe worked to save up to buy a Honda Prelude many years ago.

``He saved so hard to get this car,'' she said.

``And once he bought it he would take a cup of tea into his garage every night and just sit down and look at his car.

``He just loved it and that was Joe. He loved his kids and he loved Carole.

``Those kids were loved so much by their parents.''

Mr Sherry's colleagues will return to work in February and say they will still expect to see his pushbike in their staffroom each day.

``Joe rode his bike to work to save money for the house,'' Ms Rauch said.

``We have a small office and he used to put his bike in front of my desk.

``I'm going to walk in and expect to see it there.''