John Daffy Memorial Long Course
Coffs Harbour Triathlon Club hosts an annual long course event in memory of the late John Daffy who was a part of our club for over 20 years and named a life member in 2014.
The event offers members a chance to test themselves over the longer distance of 1km swim, 30km cycle and 7.5km run. There is also usually a closed transition so that members and first timers can be pre paired for the experience on race day.
The late John Daffy as remembered by Cliff Lloyd:
John was a man who achieved great things throughout his life, but was so humble many people would not be aware of most of them. He was a walking encyclopaedia on all things athletics. What a privilege to have known John for some 20 years, and been part of that night in 2014 when he was inducted as a Life Member of Coffs Tri Club. Despite the fact he had wound down his racing and training Daff remained a regular at the Tri club, and was our much valued run turnaround guy just about every Sunday during our racing season. Like many others in the club, I would look forward to seeing him every lap where he would have a dry-humoured comment each time.
When interviewing him in preparation for his induction as a life member I managed to prise open the ‘vault’ and get some stories. One question I asked him was to "Tell us three or four things that Coffs Tri members DON’T know about you"…………….
John was truly admired by kids, and they held great affection for him. He was like an extra grandparent to a lot of families over the years. John mentored my son Josh around his first ever club triathlon some 10 years ago which Josh still remembers with great clarity today. He fondly called Bronte (my daughter) ‘Tamarama’, ‘Bondi’ or any other southern Sydney beach other than Bronte, all the time telling her with a big smile he was ‘just an old man with a memory problem’. When Bronte and I reminisced about this during the week she said, ‘That was one thing about John, he said everything with that sly grin. He had such a good poker face I could never tell when he was telling the truth or not, even now I’m 20’.
I know he was the same with the Maley kids, and plenty of others as they grew up around the triathlon scene. Mick was telling me how John used to call Alison, his daughter, ‘Son of Ali, who’s Ali? I thought Mick was your dad?’ He used to tell the kids all the time, ‘I’m the closest thing to God you’ll ever see’. Then he’d explain to the kids that because his initials were JD, and that God’s initials were JC, he was the closest thing there was to JC. They couldn’t argue with that Daffy logic. No wonder Bronte was still confused by his stories. The nickname JD seemed to stick after that. Whenever my kids were home from uni or travelling and hanging out at the triathlon club, John was the first person they’d look for to give a hug and catch up with. Mick said it was exactly the same with Tom and Alison.
John and I both grew up on Sydney’s northern beaches and although years apart in age we shared many stories about life on the peninsula including being supporters of the mighty Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles. Geoff Thorsen, one of Daff’s original running and triathlon mates from Sydney, sent through a few of those northern beaches stories this week. One of them goes like this…
In the early 80’s John, Mark Dragan (one of Australia’s first ever international triathletes) and another local Terry Blewett just moved into the area. On Terry’s birthday John went to his apartment in Dee Why with a birthday card which in keeping with John’s quirky sense of humour had a Machine gun on the front. SO he knocked on Terry’s door and got no answer yet he was sure he heard people talking inside. SO receiving no answer he left and was walking down the corridor when he heard the door open quietly behind him and Terry peeped out, so John went back gave him the card and was invited in somewhat reluctantly. There were several rough looking characters in there who looked uncomfortable with John there so he left. Next week Terry Blewett and his friends tried to rob an armoured car, shot the guard in the leg and were caught by Police and sent to Goal.
Now for those that may not know me, I have a background in law enforcement and John and I would often have a chuckle about this matter, and how John always laid low after this incident. We would joke about being an accessory before the fact of armed holdup, being involved in conspiracies, and John being charged with consorting with known criminals. Sometime after the armed robbery took place Terry contacted John through a solicitor and asked John to come to the Supreme Court to provide a character reference at his sentence hearing! John didn’t go and was just a little concerned in the back of his head about what Terry would do if he ever came across him in the street after he finished his lengthy gaol sentence. Terry Blewett has since been found shot dead and buried under concrete in Victoria. John always swore he had an alibi and had no knowledge about this! But he did say it with his trademark smile…..
John had a very accomplished triathlon career from the time the sport started in Australia back as far as 1982. But not many people know he was a budding young boxer back in the day. He said that preparing for a boxing fight was a little like engineering – you’re faced with a problem so you do your homework and prepare the best you can, assess the problem, weigh up the risks of the various options, then selected the best option to move forward with.
So, his first fight is organised. Step 1 – assess the problem, and do your homework and prep. So for his first fight John did his homework and went and watched his opponent spar. Just like engineering he assessed the problem, weighed up his various options now he’d seen his opponent’s strengths and weaknesses (mainly strengths), and selected his best fight option. John’s best option for that first fight? Not to turn up. So he didn’t. I think that’s where his boxing career may have ended but I’m not sure because that was the only boxing story he ever told. True story he assured me. But he did say it with that trademark smile …..
Speaking of engineering, John used to tell the story how as a fairly senior engineer working on major construction sites he enjoyed getting his hands dirty. He used to relate better to the workers, and enjoyed dressing like them and sharing the physical work rather than just staying in a suit and directing the action. To this end he actually used to enjoy when the ‘corporate suits from head office’ would attend the work sites looking for the Engineer on site. Expecting to see someone in a suit and tie, they would instead be faced with John covered in dirt wearing King Gees and a singlet. Not a good look for the head engineer apparently.
Now, for those who may not know, John used to enjoy a chat and also enjoyed writing the odd letter. Back in the days when the local Coffs Advocate newspaper was published 5 days a week you could be guaranteed that every couple of weeks there would be a letter from one Mr J Daffy. John would often address the big issues like the width of parking spaces in the city centre, and sometimes more day to day things like why God didn’t exist. However, one thing that really irked him, was a fellow prolific letter writer by the name of Mr Peter Rake. Quite regularly there would be a letter to the editor from Mr Rake about something just as important as the width of carparking spaces. Sure enough, a few days later, there would be a reply from Mr J Daffy arguing against whatever Mr P Rake had said. John was too smart for Mr Rake and would baffle him with bullshit and come out on top every time. I think the editor enjoyed the backwards and forwards as much as anyone because he just kept on publishing whatever was written.
I remember one such letter that John wrote, it was absolute trivial garbage. I said, ‘John, what was that rubbish about in the Advocate yesterday?’ He said, ‘Just wait and see.’ Sure enough, a few days later was the equally nonsensical response from Mr P Rake. I said, “Daff, what did that prove?” John said, ‘Well I hadn’t heard anything from Mr Rake for a couple of weeks and wanted to make sure he was still alive.’ One of the great disappointments in John’s life was when the Advocate when from being published 5 days a week to only 2. Apologies to Mr Rake if you’re in the audience today.
Quirky, obstinate, sharp, self-deprecating, humble, successful, fantastic sense of humour, selfless, club man. These words go some of the way to summing up John’s character.
John was one of those people that seemed to be around all the time at every event, whether competing, supporting or volunteering. Someone you genuinely looked forward to catching up with, spending time with and having a chat to. One of the faces that has always been there and you think will always be there, a true piece of ‘Club furniture’. A true gentleman and triathlon icon.
My sincere condolences to Peter and the extended Daffy family. Whilst we are all feeling Johns loss, we acknowledge that your sense of loss is infinitely deeper.
I’m sure I speak for all his friends when I say we are all the richer for knowing John, and we will all be affected by his passing. He will be sadly, sadly missed.
The event offers members a chance to test themselves over the longer distance of 1km swim, 30km cycle and 7.5km run. There is also usually a closed transition so that members and first timers can be pre paired for the experience on race day.
The late John Daffy as remembered by Cliff Lloyd:
John was a man who achieved great things throughout his life, but was so humble many people would not be aware of most of them. He was a walking encyclopaedia on all things athletics. What a privilege to have known John for some 20 years, and been part of that night in 2014 when he was inducted as a Life Member of Coffs Tri Club. Despite the fact he had wound down his racing and training Daff remained a regular at the Tri club, and was our much valued run turnaround guy just about every Sunday during our racing season. Like many others in the club, I would look forward to seeing him every lap where he would have a dry-humoured comment each time.
When interviewing him in preparation for his induction as a life member I managed to prise open the ‘vault’ and get some stories. One question I asked him was to "Tell us three or four things that Coffs Tri members DON’T know about you"…………….
- Member of Australian Bedpushing Team. Competed in World Bedpushing Championship held in Hawaii.
- Member of team that pushed a loaded wheelbarrow 355km from Burra (SA) to Broken Hill (NSW).
- Introduced Handicapping to CH Tri Club races
- According to Anne Grundy I may have introduced the club colours ... but I cannot remember this ... honest!
John was truly admired by kids, and they held great affection for him. He was like an extra grandparent to a lot of families over the years. John mentored my son Josh around his first ever club triathlon some 10 years ago which Josh still remembers with great clarity today. He fondly called Bronte (my daughter) ‘Tamarama’, ‘Bondi’ or any other southern Sydney beach other than Bronte, all the time telling her with a big smile he was ‘just an old man with a memory problem’. When Bronte and I reminisced about this during the week she said, ‘That was one thing about John, he said everything with that sly grin. He had such a good poker face I could never tell when he was telling the truth or not, even now I’m 20’.
I know he was the same with the Maley kids, and plenty of others as they grew up around the triathlon scene. Mick was telling me how John used to call Alison, his daughter, ‘Son of Ali, who’s Ali? I thought Mick was your dad?’ He used to tell the kids all the time, ‘I’m the closest thing to God you’ll ever see’. Then he’d explain to the kids that because his initials were JD, and that God’s initials were JC, he was the closest thing there was to JC. They couldn’t argue with that Daffy logic. No wonder Bronte was still confused by his stories. The nickname JD seemed to stick after that. Whenever my kids were home from uni or travelling and hanging out at the triathlon club, John was the first person they’d look for to give a hug and catch up with. Mick said it was exactly the same with Tom and Alison.
John and I both grew up on Sydney’s northern beaches and although years apart in age we shared many stories about life on the peninsula including being supporters of the mighty Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles. Geoff Thorsen, one of Daff’s original running and triathlon mates from Sydney, sent through a few of those northern beaches stories this week. One of them goes like this…
In the early 80’s John, Mark Dragan (one of Australia’s first ever international triathletes) and another local Terry Blewett just moved into the area. On Terry’s birthday John went to his apartment in Dee Why with a birthday card which in keeping with John’s quirky sense of humour had a Machine gun on the front. SO he knocked on Terry’s door and got no answer yet he was sure he heard people talking inside. SO receiving no answer he left and was walking down the corridor when he heard the door open quietly behind him and Terry peeped out, so John went back gave him the card and was invited in somewhat reluctantly. There were several rough looking characters in there who looked uncomfortable with John there so he left. Next week Terry Blewett and his friends tried to rob an armoured car, shot the guard in the leg and were caught by Police and sent to Goal.
Now for those that may not know me, I have a background in law enforcement and John and I would often have a chuckle about this matter, and how John always laid low after this incident. We would joke about being an accessory before the fact of armed holdup, being involved in conspiracies, and John being charged with consorting with known criminals. Sometime after the armed robbery took place Terry contacted John through a solicitor and asked John to come to the Supreme Court to provide a character reference at his sentence hearing! John didn’t go and was just a little concerned in the back of his head about what Terry would do if he ever came across him in the street after he finished his lengthy gaol sentence. Terry Blewett has since been found shot dead and buried under concrete in Victoria. John always swore he had an alibi and had no knowledge about this! But he did say it with his trademark smile…..
John had a very accomplished triathlon career from the time the sport started in Australia back as far as 1982. But not many people know he was a budding young boxer back in the day. He said that preparing for a boxing fight was a little like engineering – you’re faced with a problem so you do your homework and prepare the best you can, assess the problem, weigh up the risks of the various options, then selected the best option to move forward with.
So, his first fight is organised. Step 1 – assess the problem, and do your homework and prep. So for his first fight John did his homework and went and watched his opponent spar. Just like engineering he assessed the problem, weighed up his various options now he’d seen his opponent’s strengths and weaknesses (mainly strengths), and selected his best fight option. John’s best option for that first fight? Not to turn up. So he didn’t. I think that’s where his boxing career may have ended but I’m not sure because that was the only boxing story he ever told. True story he assured me. But he did say it with that trademark smile …..
Speaking of engineering, John used to tell the story how as a fairly senior engineer working on major construction sites he enjoyed getting his hands dirty. He used to relate better to the workers, and enjoyed dressing like them and sharing the physical work rather than just staying in a suit and directing the action. To this end he actually used to enjoy when the ‘corporate suits from head office’ would attend the work sites looking for the Engineer on site. Expecting to see someone in a suit and tie, they would instead be faced with John covered in dirt wearing King Gees and a singlet. Not a good look for the head engineer apparently.
Now, for those who may not know, John used to enjoy a chat and also enjoyed writing the odd letter. Back in the days when the local Coffs Advocate newspaper was published 5 days a week you could be guaranteed that every couple of weeks there would be a letter from one Mr J Daffy. John would often address the big issues like the width of parking spaces in the city centre, and sometimes more day to day things like why God didn’t exist. However, one thing that really irked him, was a fellow prolific letter writer by the name of Mr Peter Rake. Quite regularly there would be a letter to the editor from Mr Rake about something just as important as the width of carparking spaces. Sure enough, a few days later, there would be a reply from Mr J Daffy arguing against whatever Mr P Rake had said. John was too smart for Mr Rake and would baffle him with bullshit and come out on top every time. I think the editor enjoyed the backwards and forwards as much as anyone because he just kept on publishing whatever was written.
I remember one such letter that John wrote, it was absolute trivial garbage. I said, ‘John, what was that rubbish about in the Advocate yesterday?’ He said, ‘Just wait and see.’ Sure enough, a few days later was the equally nonsensical response from Mr P Rake. I said, “Daff, what did that prove?” John said, ‘Well I hadn’t heard anything from Mr Rake for a couple of weeks and wanted to make sure he was still alive.’ One of the great disappointments in John’s life was when the Advocate when from being published 5 days a week to only 2. Apologies to Mr Rake if you’re in the audience today.
Quirky, obstinate, sharp, self-deprecating, humble, successful, fantastic sense of humour, selfless, club man. These words go some of the way to summing up John’s character.
John was one of those people that seemed to be around all the time at every event, whether competing, supporting or volunteering. Someone you genuinely looked forward to catching up with, spending time with and having a chat to. One of the faces that has always been there and you think will always be there, a true piece of ‘Club furniture’. A true gentleman and triathlon icon.
My sincere condolences to Peter and the extended Daffy family. Whilst we are all feeling Johns loss, we acknowledge that your sense of loss is infinitely deeper.
I’m sure I speak for all his friends when I say we are all the richer for knowing John, and we will all be affected by his passing. He will be sadly, sadly missed.
