Sue Duffy obituary: Family pays tribute to the 71-year-old, allegedly murdered in Rockhampton

A loving family matriarch has been remembered by her grieving family as “fierce, independent and compassionate”. It comes as her son-in-law remains before the courts charged with murder.

Sue Duffy was sadly allegedly murdered on Sunday August 21.

When Gavin Duffy pulls up outside his childhood home in Rockhampton, he still looks to the kitchen window from where his mother would always greet him.

That, sadly, is now just a precious memory after Sue Duffy lost her life on August 21, the victim of an alleged murder.

“Whenever I’d pull up here I’d know if mum was home because the kitchen window would fly open and she would be out there gleaming, with her dog Archie next to her,” Gavin said.

“I still pull up now and look up at that window.

“There was always a welcome smile here. It didn’t matter what kind of mood you came around in, mum always gave you the uppity feeling.”

Sue was 71 years old. She is survived by her husband of 41 years Dan, children Gavin, Debbie and Jim and grandchildren. 

The Duffy family – Debbie, Dan, Sue and Gavin.

The family remembers Sue as a kind, caring, compassionate woman who was like a second mum to all of her children’s friends.

Debbie said her Mum was her “biggest cheerleader and greatest role model”.

“Mum has always been so proud of me, even over the tiniest things. I admired her tenacity from my earliest days. She was fierce, independent, confident and compassionate and instilled these qualities in me and shaped who I am.

“She taught me how to love deeply and how to show compassion for all people and their situations.”

Those special traits were no better reflected than in Sue’s job. She worked as a carer for Disability Services Queensland for 20 years, retiring at age 70.

Dan and Sue Duffy were married for 41 years.

Sue was born at Kogarah Hospital on May 25, 1951, the daughter of Ron and Bridget.

During her younger years, she excelled at athletics and set a number of records during her time at Our Ladies Christian College.

That sporting spirit carried through to her more senior days, with Sue only retiring from competitive netball at 55.

Dan said he was “dazzled” the first time he saw Sue – at the Bankstown RSL in the late 1970s.

It was love at first sight and he was not going to miss a chance at an introduction.

A lucky punter at the club had enjoyed a good win on the horses, promptly yelling “champagne all-round”.

Quick as a flash, Dan grabbed a bottle of bubbly and headed straight to the table where Sue was sitting with her mother.

Dan Duffy met his future wife Sue in Sydney in the late 1970s.

He knew he had found his life partner, and he and Sue would soon leave Sydney, travelling the country in search of their forever home.

They found it at Emu Park, settling on one acre and tending to their horses, chickens, dogs and the occasional pig.

After six years, they moved to Rockhampton, buying their West Street home 35 years ago.

The family made so many special memories there, saying: “It was never just a house, it was always a home”.

Dan said Sue loved the in-ground pool, and he nicknamed her Esther Williams after the Hollywood actress.

Rugby league was a big part of the Duffy family’s lives. Dan was a founding member of the Emu Park Rugby League Club, while Gavin played just shy of 50 games in the Q-Cup and had a lengthy career with Rockhampton Brothers.

He won eight A-grade premierships with the Brethren and, he said, his mum was there for every one of them.

Rockhampton's Gavin Duffy, who played just under 50 games in the Q-Cup, with his father Dan and his mother Sue, who he said was his number one supporter.

Club members paid their respects to Sue, forming a guard of honour at her memorial service and filing into the tabernacle behind the family to the customary skirl of bagpipes.

Gavin said the family all supported the Wests Tigers but unbeknown to them, Sue was actually a North Queensland Cowboys’ fan.

“She was my number one supporter, she supported everything that I was involved in and of course, her beloved Cowboys,” Gavin said.

“She loved them to death but she kept that pretty quiet for quite a few years.

“She came clean eventually. There were a few subscriptions sneaking around and she’d signed up as a member actually and there was always that extra cheer when the Cowboys were playing.”

The Duffys said they appreciated all the support they had received since Sue’s tragic passing.

That included all the police involved in the investigation, Catholic Care and everyone who reached off with messages of condolence.

“We’ve had to overcome a lot of hurdles as a family and we’re doing it in her honour, gracefully and accepting and controlling the things that we can control,” Gavin said.

“I had friends at the funeral who I’ve known for 35 years and they turned up to show how much they appreciated mum and how much we’ve lost – a wonderful human being.”

Sue’s estranged son-in-law Portmoresbey “BJ” Cecil has been charged with murder and is being dealt with by the courts.