Vale

VALE Jeff Griffiths

5 June 1958 - 19 July 2020 Pangryff Labrador Retrievers

Jeff Griffiths, a well-liked and respected member of the gundog community, passed away recently, aged 62 years, after a short and intense battle with pancreatic cancer. Jeff joined the world of competitive dog sport in the late 1980s, when he bought his first Labrador Retriever. As was his nature, Jeff transitioned quietly and capably into volunteer roles within various dog clubs, balancing the training and trialling of his own dog with his service to the dog community. Jeff was a longstanding obedience instructor and committee member for the Springwood and Blue Mountains Dog Training Clubs. He was recognised as one of their most experienced and knowledgeable members and as someone who was admired for his easy-going and relaxed competence. Jeff was a passionate supporter of retrieving trials for gundogs and actively promoted the sport for over 30 years. He was treasurer for the Gundog Society for over 20 years, trial secretary for the Labrador Retriever Club, a RATG and retrieving trial judge, member, and more recently Chair of the NSW Retrieving and Field Trial Committee. Many DOGS NSW members would remember Jeff’s informative gundog training articles in the monthly journal and, more broadly, his coordination of gundog demonstrations at the annual Dogs on Show event. Jeff encouraged and mentored a number of the state’s aspiring retrieving trial judges. His unflappable and pragmatic personality, coupled with the depth of his knowledge, helped us interpret and apply the rules in a practical way. I’m sure we all very much benefited from Jeff’s successful career as a school teacher and careers adviser.

Along with his wife Carol, Jeff actively competed in trials with their Labradors, achieving many titles across retrieving and obedience. Over the years their dogs also graced the stage and screen, starring in TV advertisements, the stage show “Annie”, and the movie “Superman Returns”, amongst many others. Those who knew Jeff will remember and appreciate his enduring and selfless service to our community. He was often (ok, always) late and even his friends from other spheres have laughingly acknowledged the existence of “Jeff Time”. Jeff’s dry sense of humour and repertoire of “dad jokes” made him a pleasant and welcome companion around the campfire, and his fairness and integrity made him a popular and well respected judge. It is perhaps a rare person that ascends to leadership without ambition, ego or motive. But this was Jeff. Ever humble and selfdeprecating, even as he was recognised and awarded in both his professional career and our hobby. A deep thinker and reflector who would question himself before others. A kind and generous giver of himself. If Jeff felt pride he was very good at keeping it to himself. Except when it came to one thing: Jeff adored his family and you could feel the warmth and light of his pride in them when he spoke about Carol, their two daughters and their grandson. A very private person, Jeff did not share the seriousness of his illness beyond his very close friends and family. It was with shock and immense sadness that our close-knit community struggled o absorb the news of his loss. And even as we grieve, we feel keenly the pain and loss of his family, for whom the last ten months have already been so heartbreaking. Together we extend our deepest, heartfelt condolences to Carol and family at this very difficult time. It’s hard to imagine our world without Jeff in it. It’s impossible to consider that his shoes could ever be filled.

Rest easy, our friend. We will miss you always. WORDS: Kirsty Blair (pictured with Jeff below left). IMAGES: Below: Jeff at The Gun Dog Society (NSW) 2018 Retrieving Trial near Marulan with Pangryff Mister Chips NRD.ORA.