Farewell BulldogBobby

[DIEHARD]

It breaks my heart to share this news that my best friend Bobby passed away from a frightening short battle with cancer. A couple of weeks ago. It's been really hard to come to terms with it and how unfair it is. He had spina bifida and was in a wheelchair his life. But he never had a bad word to say, he was the most enthusiastic about life.

Bobby was always a huge Rugby League fan. Of the Bulldogs and Blues but he also called the Titans his second team. He would come to our games on the Gold Coast and Brisbane all the way from Strathpine. He even came to Test Matches.

Some of you would have met him and shared the games with him. Others will still mourn the passing of one of our rugby league family.

I just wanted to explain why I've disappeared a bit. On one hand seeing Rugby League hurts because it reminds me. But on the other it was what brought us together. And it's a good thing to keep enjoying of course. People like Titan Steve, C Whiz and Greg / Sydney Titan Fanatic have also been very kind during this time. And all shared great times.

I'd like to share some photos and also his eulogy which his mother asked me to write. That was a very bittersweet process.

Chilling at local footy at Dolphin Oval. Bobby also followed the Dolphins. Greg, Steve and me are there too.

We went NRL card crazy a few times

We felt like millionares

My bucks party at the Diehards

2008 World Cup adventures

Can't take the Bulldog out of the boy

Me, Bobby and Greg

 

[DIEHARD]

 

[DIEHARD]

Bobby The Bulldog

My name is Brad, and I was Bobby’s best friend.

This is my story with him. You might see your Bobby in it too, but I invite you to share your own Bobby stories with us all later today.

I first met Bobby at the track at Albion Park. The first thing that struck me about Bobby was his confidence and how friendly he was. He came up and spoke to me and it wasn’t long until we realised, we had each found a new friend.

We both had a love for greyhounds, and we both grew up at the track. We also shared a passion for the sport of Rugby League. Bobby loved his working-class roots. He loved that Jimmy Barnes song “Working Class Man”. That wasn’t just his favourite song, it was his personal anthem.

My favourite quality of Bobby was his positive energy. He wasn’t one of those people who was bitter and cynical about the world and the people in it. He was always keen to hear about your ideas and ready to enjoy the experiences life brings. He was excited to share a joke or story. Or help hatch another crazy plan. Even though he had so many battles with his own health, he was eager to hear about your own health issues. And he would listen and support you with sweet kindness.

Life can be very unfair. And it was to Bobby. We all know that. But we also know that he never let it define him. During all my time with Bobby he never got down about it, he never got angry or showed any jealousy. This showed us his spirit. He clearly thought that was all a waste of time.

Life is like that. But there is something we can do about it. We can seek out injustice in this world and try to balance the ledger in big ways and small. Bobby always did this. He would always be on your side. He was on the side of the greater good. He fought hard for greater access at Albion Park raceway in campaigning for a lift. And he was constantly pushing for more accessible buildings, pathways and especially access on trains and buses.

Before meeting Bobby, I had no idea how difficult it really was for people in a wheelchair to get around town. It wasn’t just a physical barrier to people but a barrier to them participating in our community.

Bobby was kind to everyone, and people were kind to him. He was a magnet for people. Many times, people would come to help him on trains or out and about. Some of my best memories were men his own age, fellow Rugby League fans, pushing him along to the footy while chatting away. The world was perfect in these moments. He also had a habit of making friends with everyone. Even people we wish he didn’t. He loved to chat to many suspicious looking Bulldogs fans on the way home or at games.

Sport and especially Rugby League does so much for the community. It brings people together and makes us more open to each other. It gives us common ground and a shared experience. It helps us pack away our worries, at least for 80 minutes, and place it on the trivial bouncing of an egg-shaped ball. Through sport he made many great friends and had many sweet, silly and amazing memories. Whenever I think of Rugby League I will think of Bobby. Bobby was a true expert when it came to history and knowledge of the game.

But that didn’t mean there weren’t limits to what I would do for him. There definitely was. I had one hard rule. Never, ever take him to Origin. As you’d know he was as big a NSW Blues fan as they come. I tried everything to get him to switch to being a Maroon. He wouldn’t have it! I’d turn to mathematics to push my case. Surely, he had been living in Queensland longer than NSW by now. It didn’t work.

I think being in enemy territory actually cemented his support for NSW. He was loyal and loved the banter. He thrived on it. Bobby’s blue jersey was the perfect red flag to wave at people. The perfect bait for his fishing rod.

Which brings me to my rule, never ever take Bobby to Origin. Can you imagine? It was bad enough taking him to Titans-Bulldogs games. He really got into it. He’d constantly elbow your ribs. I’d wake up with bruised ribs like I played! And not just for tries but for anything that looked like it or anything that went against the Titans. Add Origin to that and our friendship might be over!

On reflection I should have taken him to a game when the Maroons had Lockyer, Thurston, Cronk, Inglis, Slater and Smith running around. I did look at records. Since I met him, Queensland won 12 series and NSW won 3. Just to remind you Bobby. But you would not know it by the way Bobby the Blue carried himself. Even with those legends on the field it was still too much of a risk to unleash Bobby the Beast! Origins were relegated to television events with a seating arrangements at a safe distance.

Bobby did amazing things. He went to World Cups, the EKKA, road trips, and even watched Riverfire fireworks from the Commonwealth Parliament Offices. From the same room the Prime Minister would hold Cabinet meetings in Brisbane.

I feel disappointed, my life is going well and the first person I wanted to share it with was Bobby. But after thinking about it, the flashy stuff was great to do, but it wasn’t what Bobby really found memorable. The ideal was still great company, a footy game or TV show and some KFC chips.

Bobby was patient. That’s rare too. Not in a rush. I think this comes from being in greyhound racing. You could be waiting quite a while for your race to come around after kennelling your dog. You’d carefully study the form as you waited. I loved how he was never eager to be somewhere else. He would love to sit with you and enjoy your company.

I would have met Bobby when he was about 22 years old. But I felt like I knew him a lot longer. This was because we shared a similar age, interests, and family values. Often, I’d hear Bobby say things and I would say to myself “That’s dad.” or “That’s mum.” His parents did a tremendous job. He loves his brother and sister too. He was such a gentleman. He always asked how my parents were. And I always loved that.

I haven’t really had what I’d call a best friend since High School. I retired the term. I had many friends. But usually, they’d be a best friend based around a certain topic. But with Bobby there wasn’t a topic that was untouched. We’d talk about sport, politics, business, film, health and our plans. He was a true all-rounder. And for these reasons I call him my best friend. He was someone you could trust, not just with embarrassing secrets but to give you good advice or unyielding support. He’d also cut you right down to size if you got too full of yourself. I had some difficult times, and it was always Bobby who would be there for me. He knew the full picture. That was Bobby making life fairer and Bobby seeking justice.

Bobby’s love for the Bulldogs went beyond just sport. It was his animal spirit. He had a big bark, but he was really a puppy. He was ferociously loyal to his family and friends. He was a guard dog, and his instinct was to protect everyone.
How about some memories?

There was the time we got some cheap boxes of NRL cards and opened them all chasing complete sets and all the special cards. We had piles of cards from teams all over his table, in front of the TV, along his bed and even on the windowsill. Between us we were delighted because whatever our junk cards were it would be the other’s treasure. We truly felt like millionaires!

We loved to go to the city. Eat at the old JoJo’s restaurant in the mall. He’d order a Hawaiian pizza and a coke. We’d check out the shops and of course hit the casino. Bobby loved poker and roulette. Bobby’s independence grew and grew. He’d get the train from Strathpine and meet me in the city. He’d tell me what train he was on and I’d meet him at Central. It was like a military operation. I think it meant a lot to him that he could simply say “Meet you in the city.”

We even started to go to movies. Being conscious that he had epilepsy and he was sensitive to flashing lights, I knew we had to select an appropriate movie. So, we went to see Star Wars! But don’t worry, I saw the movie the week before, so I knew what parts to tell him to close his eyes and turn away.

Staying out until 4am on New Years Day. Watching the fireworks outside the casino. Being surrounded by people dancing to a drum a busker had well into the night.

And of course, the countless times he went to the footy and the times he shared with all his friends there. They loved him. Bobby grew a soft spot for the Titans. I guess it helped that they wore blue and were half from NSW. But he also saw the club be born and he valued all the times he had with it.

Right now, things hurt very badly for us all. They hurt badly because things were so good. Bobby would be worried about us. He wouldn’t want us to hurt.

We now have our guard dog looking over us. And we all remember the advice he gave us. Team Bobby is still on the field. That’s us.
Bobby would want us to keep trying to make life fairer for everyone and to make the world more just.

He would want us to never be caught up with the silly and unimportant things of life. And focus on the beauty of the present time and the company of each other.

As Bobby moves on, he doesn’t do it alone. Can you believe that his hero Tommy Raudonikis, rugby league hero, is going to be travelling with him? Sometimes life is unfair. Sometimes life gives you a cosmic wink. Bobby the Bulldog and The Cattledog. Watch out!

So, you have your orders from your coach, Bobby. Get out there and savour life and share it with your loved ones. Embrace the things you enjoyed with Bobby and grip them tighter.

Team Bobby is still on the field, and we play to win!