Loving husband, father of three, local electrician, keen fisherman and one of Dubbo’s best and most loved cricketers Danny Bower tragically lost his life on Saturday doing what he loved best - his newfound hobby of skydiving.
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He will be remembered for the positive influence he had on so many people in so many walks of life, but most notably on the cricket pitch.
A life member of the Dubbo Rugby Cricket Club, Danny always endeavoured to help the younger players improve and develop as cricketers and ensure they enjoyed their time on the field.
As a team-mate he was a role model and mentor who always led by example and encouraged his mates to succeed.
He was willing to pass on his knowledge and experience and to give everyone a fair go.
Despite the tragedy, his wife Cassie Bower yesterday spoke to the Daily Liberal and said one of his mottos was “you get out of life what you put it into it”.
“His thing was to help people to strive to be the best they could be,” Mrs Bower said.
“He really valued his friendships and was always a team player, a great person and a great dad.”
On a personal note, I was fortunate enough to have Danny batting at the other end when I scored my only hundred in a second grade game for Rugby during the 2006-07 season.
That day we both made unbeaten centuries, mine taking the duration of the 45-over innings, Danny’s in about 25 overs.
He had taken a particular liking to CYMS in recent years including scoring centuries in four consecutive matches against them in the 2006-07 and 2007-08 seasons.
But Danny’s prolific run-scoring abilities stretched over three decades and there were many who shared similar memorable moments with the affable character.
“It is a huge loss for the cricketing fraternity,” Dubbo and District Cricket Association president Aaron Etcell said.
“He played cricket at a high standard and was captain when I first played representative cricket for Dubbo’s Brewery Shield side in the late ‘80s.
“On behalf of the association and Dubbo’s cricket community our hearts go out to his wife Cassie and his kids Brad, Mitch and Kate.”
In 1986-87 Bower started playing first grade for Colts, who won the grand final, and he was named the competition’s Rookie of the Year.
From 1987-88 he and good mate Wayne Munro became the backbone of the Dubbo City team who won four consecutive Brewery Shields.
Bower was named Dubbo Cricketer of the Year at the end of the 1990-91 season and again in 1991-92 when he represented Western Zone, led Dubbo to victory in the Brewery Shield final and won his first of four Whitney Cup premierships with Rugby.
Mrs Bower said the family was appreciative of the support from the community, with numerous friends knocking on the door and calling the family to offer their condolences over the weekend.
It hurts us all.
We will miss you ‘Boon’.
bill.north@ruralpress.com
