Edward Robert Bond: Urunga father and rugby league tragic remembered

Residents along the Coffs Coast are mourning the loss of a loving father and community member described by his family as “happy-go-lucky” and “full of life”

Tributes have flown for a loving father and former Group 2 rugby league referee Edward Robert Bond who passed away in April in Urunga.

Affectionately known as Bob, he has been remembered as a “happy-go-lucky” figure who above all else loved his family, the Newtown Jets, rugby league and life on the mid-north coast.

Born in Marrickville in Sydney's inner-west, Bob was swept up in the beautiful world of rugby league, quickly attaching himself to the Newtown Jets.

He lived in Sydney until he met his future wife who he “fell head over heels” for and moved to Urunga, 28 kilometres south of Coffs Harbour in his early 20s.

His son, Terry Bonds, says he will miss his father more than anything and that he always had a smile on his face that was infectious.

Bob Bond was born in Marrickville and lived in Sydney’s inner-west until he moved to Urunga Picture: Supplied.

“Dad was always happy and full of life,” he said.

“He always looked at the positives in life, always looking to have a joke and make people laugh. He loved to be the centre of attention and was never shy to let you know his opinion.

“Dad was mostly a truck driver all his life but he also managed three fruit and vegetable shops for about 10 years then he went back to driving trucks.

“He also drove buses for a while between Sydney and Brisbane and later in life he drove the school bus and all the kids loved him all around town.

“He had two hobbies he absolutely loved to do on weekends, one was playing golf. He was quite a good player in his younger days.

“His other passion was rugby league, he loved it, watched it, refereed it and he would take myself and my brother to play on Saturday and he would referee first grade on a Sunday. “

Bob was a major part of the rugby league scene on the mid-north coast.

After refereeing for a long time in Group 2, he became a board member of the Referees Appointment Board and trained other referees.

Players on the mid-north coast knew that when Bob was refereeing, he was going to be fair, balanced, authoritative but always smiling when the final whistle went.

Bob was most passionate when he was supporting his Newtown Jets and his most captivating memory remains the 1981 Grand Final against the Parramatta Eels.

Terry says his dad never forgot crying on the hill of the Sydney Cricket Ground as Brett Kenny, Graeme Atkins and Steve Ella put down four tries for the star-studded Eels side to defeat Newtown 20-11.

Bob watched on as his Jets, led by Tommy Raudonikis fall to the beginning of an immortal period for the Eels.

Bob Bond left Sydney behind and moved to Urunga to be with his future wife Picture: Supplied.

“He used to always say he never forgiven Parramatta for beating the jets in the 1981 grand final he would always tell me newton needed to win so they had the money to stay in the competition,” Terry said.

“He was so passionate about the Newton Jets that our last song to say goodbye to dad will be the Newtown Jets theme song.

“Dad always reckoned if we ever won lotto he would help the Newtown Jets get back into the NRL he loved the team that much.”

Bob Bond’s story is one of passion and he will always be remembered as someone who was absolutely dedicated to the people and hobbies that made him happy.

Bob was diagnosed with bile duct and liver cancer but still fought on for as long as he could and outlasted all the doctors predictions.

He sadly lost the battle and died peacefully in Bellingen hospital in April.