Highly-respected Hunter police officer and foundation Newcastle Knights hooker Tony Townsend will be farewelled at McDonald Jones Stadium on Thursday.
The 61-year-old, who was diagnosed with leukaemia almost a decade ago, died on 23 August after a lengthy battle with the disease.
The dearly loved father and father-in-law of Kaitlin and Declan, Lauren and Jackson, made his first grade debut for the St George Dragons in round 13, 1985, against the North Sydney Bears at North Sydney Oval.
He played seven games for the outfit that season.
Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service (WRHS) CEO, and former St George team-mate, Richard Jones said Townsend was humble to the core.
“You just wouldn’t meet a nicer bloke,” he stated.
In 1988, Townsend signed with Newcastle for its inaugural campaign.
And, he took the field in the Knights’ historic introduction against the Parramatta Eels, alongside the likes of Tony Butterfield, Sam Stewart, David Boyd and Glenn Miller.
He then represented Newcastle on another 25 occasions before retiring at the end of 1990.
“Tough, resilient and one of the nicest blokes you could meet, he epitomised the Knights early culture, which set a standard for unparalleled later success,” the NRL club said in a statement.
“He didn’t complain, despite his various health battles over many years, he just smiled and got on with life.”
Townsend joined the NSW Police Force in 1983, where he rose through the ranks to Chief Inspector.
“Tony was self-effacing and humble, intelligent, dedicated to keeping our community safe and always took time to engage with everyone,” Maitland state MP Jenny Aitchison said.
NSW Police Association vice-president Ian Allwood added Townsend was “just loved” by the organisation’s members and himself.
“I think he just encapsulated the core values of what being a police officer is,” he explained.
The full police funeral, which is open to the public, will start at 10am on 1 September.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be forwarded to The Leukemia Foundation or Men of League in Townsend’s memory.
Following the service in Broadmeadow, he will be laid to rest in Dungog Cemetery.
For more news stories:
