Bob Blackburn, Gympie cricket stalwart, passes away aged 87

The Gympie cricket community is in mourning after the loss of a former local president, and “extremely well liked” stalwart. Read the tributes:

Tributes are flowing for Gympie cricket stalwart Leslie Robert “Bob” Blackburn, who passed away on March 31, aged 87.

Mr Blackburn, as well as his wife Shirley, were well known in the Gympie cricket community after he served as president for the Gympie Regional Cricket Association for more than a decade.

Former president for the association Scott McIntosh, who knew Mr Blackburn for an estimated 40 years, described him as a “true gentleman”.

“When he was president, he really put his heart and soul into the Gympie Gold’s eleven,” Mr McIntosh said.

“He never missed a game (and) travelled away to every game on the bus with the boys … him and Shirl never missed a Friday night doing a raffle.”

Gympie Regional Cricket Association grand opening – Shirley and Bob Blackburn. Photo: Zahner Photography

He said Mr Blackburn was an “extremely well liked” member of the Wide Bay cricket community, who touched lives from the Sunshine Coast to Bundaberg.

“Every cricketer from Caloundra to Bundaberg … everyone loved him,” he said.

He said his favourite memory of Mr Blackburn was how he reacted to his beloved cricket team’s successes, including premiership wins.

“He got such a thrill … He put the team before himself,” he said.

Even after Mr Blackburn retired, according to Mr McIntosh, he remained heavily involved in the sport up until a few years ago when his health began to decline.

“Even as his health deteriorated, he still got down to cricket as much as he could,” Mr McIntosh said.

Both Mr Blackburn and his wife, Shirley, were well known and respected within the cricket community, and even had an amenities building named after them.

News of Mr Blackburn’s passing sent shockwaves through the cricket community, according to Mr McIntosh, who said he would be “dearly missed”.

He said he understood the Gympie Regional Cricket Association was in talks about doing something to honour Mr Blackburn’s memory.

Online, more tributes flowed from a Facebook post on the Gympie Regional Cricket Association Inc page.

Billy Tillot said Mr Blackburn had an “incredible life”.

Leslie Robert "Bob" Blackburn. 1934 – 2022.

“Loved listening to Bob’s wisdom and passion,” he said.

Neridah Hillcoat said Mr Blackburn was “such a beautiful man”.

Kristy Chandler said he will be deeply missed.

“Such a humble man with a huge love of the game,” she said.

A funeral for Mr Blackburn will be held at the Gympie Funeral Home Chapel in Monkland on Wednesday, April 6, 2022.