Greg ‘Doddy’ Dodd funeral: Crowds gather for their final goodbye

The family and friends of ‘rugby tragic’ Greg ’Doddy’ Dodd have paid an emotional tribute to the popular Sunshine Coast and Noosa sporting legend.

Crowds have gathered for their final goodbyes to Sunshine Coast sports personality, Greg ‘Doddy’ Dodd, as his daughter paid emotional tribute to her beloved dad.

“He’s left a hole in my life that will never heal,” Jordan Dodd said at his funeral service on Friday.

Mr Dodd, known as “Doddy” was farewelled this week after he suffered a heart attack on January 26.

The 68-year-old was a life member and former president of Sunshine Coast Rugby Union and also served as a president for Noosa Dolphins and Queensland Country Rugby Union.

Mr Dodd’s daughter, Jordan said he was her ‘best friend’.

“He was the most generous man as he was always the first to offer help and the last one to ask or accept it,” she said.

“I know he was always so proud of his family and his extended family of what they were doing in their lives.

“Dad was my best mate and anytime anyone's ever asked me who my best friend was my answer was always dad.”

Today our thoughts are with the family and friends of former Queensland Country Rugby Union president Greg Dodd,...

Posted by Queensland Rugby on Tuesday, January 25, 2022

Ms Dodd said she remembered spending every Friday and Saturday at the Noosa Dolphins Rugby Union Club.

“Dad and I were always at the rugby club and I found after a while that the best time to ask dad for money was five minutes into the A-grade game as he would hand me his wallet and always forget to ask for change,” she said.

Ms Dodd concluded her speech with a quote she best remembered her dad saying.

“A great quote that dad always said was if you're the smartest person in the room you’re in the wrong room, but if I was ever in a room with dad, I was in the perfect place,” she said.

Mr Dodd stepped down from his role as Queensland Country president last year and his partner Jo Pruss said he had impacted everything and everyone he touched.

“He was so full of life and so passionate for many things,” she said.

“Whatever he was involved in such as rugby, cars, boating and his relationships he was always 100 per cent.

“He would bring me red roses for no reason and he was excited to retire and spend his time sailing up and down the Queensland coastline.”

The Sunshine Coast sporting community is mourning the sudden loss of Greg 'Doddy' Dodd.

Mr Dodd was involved in countless teams including City Redskins Townsville, Queensland Country Rugby Union, Woodville Wasps South Australia, Old Collegians South Australia, Noosa Rugby Union Club as well as South Australian and Tasmanian representative teams.

Current Noosa Dolphins president Jon Lewis said he never met someone as passionate for the sport.

“He was always a presence and I’m not sure I knew anyone who had as much passion towards rugby as he did,” Mr Lewis said.

“He was the ultimate rugby tragic.”

Mr Lewis said the conversations away from the rugby field would always involve his family.

“When you would have a conversation with Doddy inevitably it would lead to how important a front rower was to the game but also the pride he had for his family,” he said.

“That’s something that’s always resonated with me is how he would always talk about what his two daughters, Jordan and Kirsty, and his partner Jo were doing.”

Greg 'Doddy' Dodd (left) was a big advocate for grassroots and women‘s rugby union.

Many people have left their tributes to Mr Dodd on numerous Facebook posts.

“Rest easy mate! The many rugby circles you were apart of will sorely miss your presence. A great man of the club and the sport we all love. Thinking of Jo and the family. Rip mate,” Kyle Beakey commented.

“Sad news. Doddy was a true clubman and always a helpful voice in my time on and off the field. He will be missed. Condolences to Jo and family. RIP Doddy,” Chris Gray commented.

“He used to take me fishing as a young fella and managed and coached me as a teenager/young man. He was such a nice man that taught us all a lot about the tricks of the scrum. A huge loss. RIP mate. Love to Jo and family,” Sam Hansen said.

“Larger than life, always passionate about rugby and especially Noosa Rugby. My heart goes out to his family and he has left a wonderful legacy in his daughters. Will always be remembered as a great club stalwart,” Gail Hunt said.

Originally published as Greg ‘Doddy’ Dodd funeral: Crowds gather for their final goodbye