I first met Greg Townsend at South Bondi when I was about 16.
Greg was born June 11, 1954 at the Royal Hospital for Women, Paddington. He attended Cleveland Street High School and grew up in Redfern.
A rugby league footballer, he played junior football for the Paddo Colts.
While playing for the Colts A-grade side in 1975, Greg was scouted by super-coach Jack Gibson to play first grade for the Eastern Suburbs Roosters, as a replacement for fullback Russell Fairfax. The Roosters won the premiership that year.
Greg remembers Arthur Beetson struggling to complete 400-metre sprints at training, and playing alongside Ian Schubert, John Brass, John Quayle, Kevin “Stumpy” Stevens and a number of superstars from the ’70s.
Greg’s footy career – including two midweek cups, a first-grade premiership and world club challenge – was cut short by a collarbone injury. He retired after the 1978 season.
These days he likes to walk and talk to random people. He is friendly and good-mannered, intelligent too. And the fastest walker I’ve ever met!
Greg looked after his mum while she was alive. He lived in Morehead Street, Waterloo, most of his life.
Not only did he play for Paddo Colts, he always had a close connection to the old Paddo.
I’ve always known him to have close relationships with shopkeepers all the way down Oxford Street, from Bondi Junction through to the City – a local boy who knows the ins and outs throughout the inner city.
Greg is a good man. He has always been protective and respectful toward the elderly. And now that he is in his old age, he should be respected, too, as an Indigenous man, elite sportsman, good bloke, humble bloke. My good friend for almost 50 years. Love ya Gregory.
