BEFORE Mitchell's Bill Dodd met his fiancee Tracy Brock, he was losing the will to live.

Now the 49-year-old, who has lived with tetraplegia for more than 30 years, is ticking off plenty of the items on his bucket list in2015.

The softly-spoken Bill still draws, paints and writes poetry despite being in a wheelchair and having only partial control of his arms after a river accident when he was 17.

He admitted his future seemed bleaker just a year ago after years without companionship and the tragic passing of a close relative.

Tracy said their love blossomed from the simplest of starts.

"We just built up a friendship - we both loved horses and blue heelers," she said.

"I admire his patience, because he never complains when he has every right to.

"A lot of people have noticed the change in him (since we became a couple)."

Bill proposed on Boxing Day and the couple will celebrate their engagement party next month.

He said he worked up the courage when he realised how special what they had was.

"You appreciate what people do and I've met a lot of good people," he said.

"She's got a good sense of humour."

Now Bill wants to do all the things he wanted to do when he was younger, including visiting the Stockman's Hall of Fame in Longreach.

Some of Bill's friends are looking to raise money to buy a special van to get him to Longreach.

If you would like to help, phone Merle Searle on 46231131.