Cairns father Hugh Price farewelled by family, rugby league fraternity

Actors, sporting greats and business leaders have paid respect after Cairns dad Hugh Price’s shock death – but the most touching tributes came from his own three kids.

A GENTLE giant, dedicated family man and pillar of the community has been lost after the shock death of Cairns identity Hugh Price.

Tributes are rolling in as friends and family struggle to come to grips with their loss.

Mr Price, well-known through his years of security work at the Reef Hotel Casino and Gilligan’s, suffered a medical episode on Saturday and hit his head after falling.

By the time he was found, it was already too late.

He leaves behind three children, Jake, Sharday and Laylah, who have taken solace that he has joined their late mother, his beloved Kate, in the afterlife.

Cairns identity Hugh Price, pictured with his children Sharday, Jake and Laylah and a photo of their late mother, Kate, has died suddenly and left friends and family across Far North Queensland in a state of shock and sadness. Picture: Supplied

His children said they wanted to share a quote for their father as a trio: “Never above you, never below you, always beside you.”

Laylah Price, 19, said he was the best dad imaginable.

“He couldn’t ever go anywhere without you bumping into someone and having a chat,” she said.

“I would hear all the time from different people: ‘Are you Hughie’s daughter?’

“Loved by the whole FNQ, Dad. Forever in my heart is where I’ll hold you and Mum, until we meet again.

“I love you.”

Hughie, as he was known, with his daughters Laylah and Sharday. Picture: Supplied

Jake Price said his dad was the strongest man he knew.

“He always loved us and put his family first,” he said.

“Raised us right and we wouldn’t be the people were today without him.

“I’m glad I got to spend 26 years with him and will always cherish the memories we had together.

“I know you’re at peace with Mum and Molly now.

“Always and forever with us. We love you Dad and always will.”

Hugh Price has now joined his beloved late wife, Kate. Picture: Supplied

Sharday Price, 20, said her dad remained her biggest inspiration.

“I was so proud to have him as my father as everyone had kind words to say about him everywhere I go,” she said.

“A true gentleman that raised me to be such a strong woman. Him and I shared great banter and I valued his advice so deeply.

“I always felt so safe with him. I will hold him in my heart forever and I feel at somewhat peace that he is reunited with my beautiful mother.

“I will miss you and I will make you so proud, I promise.”

Security officers from Gilligan's paid tribute to their mate and mentor by getting his number, 14, tattooed on their ankles. Picture: Supplied

Mr Price lived and breathed footy and was a mainstay of the Kangaroo Rugby League Club.

He has been remembered as a loyal friend, a loving father and a walking encyclopaedia when it came to rugby league statistics.

The current security officers at Gilligan’s have been so moved by his passing that five of them had his security officer number, 14, tattooed on their ankles.

Here are just some of the tributes from those people who knew him best.

Peter Wright

Motor racing identity

To be honest, I am still in disbelief that he is gone and I find it very hard to put into words how much Hughie meant to myself and many others.

I have known him since we played footy together when we were 12 years old.

So he has always been a part of my life.

He never spoke a bad word about anyone.

He had a beautiful soul.

If you were ever in trouble he would be the first to help anyone in need.

He was a gentle giant who will be greatly missed.

The world is a poorer place without him.

Cairns identity Hugh Price, pictured on the back right with the 1984 Kangaroos A Grade premiers rugby league team, has died suddenly and left friends and family across Far North Queensland in a state of shock and sadness. Picture: Supplied

Danae Jones

Media consultant

We are all still in shock and completely and utterly devastated by the news of his passing.

Hughie was one of the greats in every way.

A loyal friend, a loving father and a devoted husband.

Not to mention a damn fine human being with a heart of gold.

If there was an example of a true friend in the dictionary his name would be front and centre.

He ALWAYS found time for his mates.

Hughie was adored by our family having known him for many years.

My husband (David) and him were the best of friends and there wasn’t a footy season that went by when we didn’t have the constant flow of phone calls and text messages with the two of them giving their running commentary on player form and team performance.

Hughie’s detailed commentary during State of Origin was something that we all looked forward to.

He was meticulous in his blow-by-blow accounts and he had a phenomenal memory for key dates and statistics.

Given he was actually a decent player in his day, his accounts were treated with the greatest of respect.

We also have great memories to cherish of attending a number of footy matches with him over the years.

There is a gaping hole in the fabric of the football fraternity and our friendship circle without him in it.

He will be deeply missed by so many.

Our love goes out to his three beautiful children who he lived for, Jake, Sharday and Laylah, at this incredibly difficult time and his brother Tony, sisters Jacqui and Bernie and their families.

Pat Bailey

Cairns District Rugby League stalwart

I have known Hughie since he was a junior league player with the Kangaroos football club.

He grew from a great young boy into an even greater man.
I am deeply saddened by his passing as is the entire rugby league community.

He was one person who was always happy to help and always willing to put up his hand if a job needed doing.

Hughie was such a beautiful person.

He was taken far too young and he will be missed so much.

My thoughts are with his family at this very sad time.

Tom Obah

Cairns security identity

Hugh was a great family man who adored his children.

He was a great mentor to myself and many other locals and was highly respected.

Hugh loved his sport, especially rugby league and he read the game perfectly.

He loved boxing and would often ask for my opinion on professional fights.

His work ethics were second to none and he was great to work with.

Whenever he wanted company going out for a drink or a catch up with friends he would always call myself, Peter Wright and David Jones.

And we all loved spending time with him.

Days were always brighter with Hugh around.

I worked security with Hugh since the power brewing days before the Reef Hotel Casino was built, where we later also worked together.

You could always count on Hugh to back you up if there was a confrontation.

He always had your back.

He will be greatly missed by us all.

My thoughts are with his family, especially his children (Jake, Sharday and Laylah) at this very sad time.

Aaron Fa’aoso

Actor, screenwriter and producer

Words cannot express nor articulate the loss that we all feel at this time.

Like all of your family, friends and colleagues, we are still all are in utter disbelief.

So many memories come flooding back, Roos, Casino and just catching up out & about.

You had so many great qualities, however, what stuck out for me and how I will always remember you is that you were a proud family man, through and through.

You always spoke of your love for your dear wife Kate and your children Sharday, Jake and Laylah.

You walked the talk mate and you always kept your word.

Always the straight shooter.

I’m gonna miss you bala and our catch ups.

Rest easy my friend.

I offer my deepest condolences to Sharday, Jake and Laylah and the entire Price family.

My sincere thoughts and prayers are with you all at this time.

Bernie, Jacquie and Tony Price

Hugh’s siblings

Our hearts are broken at the passing of our dear brother.

Hughie was a dedicated family man.

Growing up he loved and idolised our mum and dad and would do anything for them.

They were proud of the man he became, and together with his precious wife Kate, the family and life they built together.

As a brother, we had our ups and downs as siblings do but the love we have for him has never wavered.

We have so many memories of the times we’ve shared as kids and later as adults with our respective families.

Hugh, you were so many things to so many people but to us you were Hughie, Pooh Bear, the Angry Ant.

We love you and always will.

Rest easy brother with your precious Kate.

We will be there for Jake, Sharday and Laylah and know you’ll both be watching over them.

Gavin Allen

Queensland State of Origin great

The news of Hughie’s sudden passing has sent shockwaves through our family.

I have had all five of my siblings call me to alert me of the tragic news.

That’s how big of a deal it is to our family.

Everyone loved Hughie and none of us can believe it. It came out of nowhere.

The Allen family and the Price family go back a long way.

I have known Hughie since I was 12 years old through football and when we become young adults we ended up living together in Brisbane and Sydney for many years.

He was always a very bubbly person and good to have around.

He was also great for team morale in any environment.

He always had a good story to tell and a great sense of humour.

He was a man of very high morals and ethics passed on from his mum and dad.
Their whole family were very good friends of ours.

His father Ronnie actually gave my brother Barry a job on the prawn trawlers years ago as he was a fisherman.

And Hughie’s mum Tess was always at our place and my mum at theirs having cups of tea.

Our families spent a lot of time together.

Hughie and I both shared a love of football and we trained and played a lot together and I have many fond memories of our younger shenanigans as kids.

My Mum would drive us to training and so would Tess (his Mum) in her black dodge.

Football was always a part of our lives.

While I moved to Brisbane later in life permanently to pursue my professional football career, I always remained close to him and we kept in touch.

Whenever we spoke it was like not a moment had passed.

It’s hard to believe our phone conversation just prior to Christmas was our last one.

Hughie was always easy to get on with, but he also stood up for what he believed in and wouldn’t let anyone try and pull the wool over his or his friends’ eyes.

He had a really good work ethic and his word was his bond.

He always did the right thing by people.

No-one ever said a bad word about him and he never did about anyone else either.

He was just a top bloke who we will miss greatly.

Follow @chriscalcino

Originally published as Cairns father Hugh Price farewelled by family, rugby league fraternity