VALE - KEITH 'COCKY' CALDWELL
It is with the greatest sadness that Bulli SLSC announce the death of Keith ‘Cocky’ Caldwell, our Club President for the last 17 years, on the 30th May 2021 at 5:47pm. Keith passed away peacefully surrounded by his family Maria, Jamie, Alicia, Natalie, and Catherine in the Intensive Care Unit of Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney. Keith will forever be remembered as a loving husband, dad, poppy, mate, and mentor.
The family and our Club are heartbroken at this time and yet we take tremendous pride in the fact that Keith leaves a legacy that will endure for many years to come.
Keith spent his entire life in the service of others. He loved and protected this community with over 30 years of service in the NSW Police Force and a lifetime with us in the Surf Life Saving movement. He was a Life Member of not only Bulli SLSC, but of Surf Life Saving Illawarra, Surf Life Saving NSW, and in 2021 was recognised as a Life member of Surf Life Saving Australia These accolades however are no measure of his true greatness. He was an inspiring leader who has been described as ‘the best team manager’ that Surf Lifesaving has ever known. Keith embodied the notion that teams, clubs, and organisations thrive on people connecting with one another. In knowing this, he constantly drew out the best in people regardless of who they were.
"It's not what you take when you leave this world behind you,
it's what you leave behind you when you go" - Randy Travis
A message from Jamie Caldwell on behalf of the Caldwell family:
Family, friends and wider community;
Maria, Natalie and myself together with our families invite you to join us in celebrating the outstanding life of Keith ‘Cocky’ Caldwell. The service and wake will both be held at Kembla Grange Racecourse on Friday June 11, 2021 beginning at 1.30pm. As a family we encourage everyone to wear colour to the service especially any surf life saving members to wear their club colours. The wake will be an opportunity to catch up with friends, share stories about Keith and have a good time well into the night like he would want us to do!
Further details in relation to the service and wake will be published mid next week. We would like to thank our family, friends and the wider community for the outpouring of support and love, it really is greatly appreciated and gives us great comfort knowing the amount of people Keith has had a positive effect on.
To carry on the positive impact Keith has had in the community, the Caldwell Family together with trusted friends would like to announce the establishment of the Keith ‘Cocky’ Caldwell Memorial Scholarship! We would respectfully ask that in lieu of flowers, donations of any amount be made to the fund which will support youth and young adults achieve goals in life via annual scholarships which will provide both mentorship and financial support.
To make a donation and view further details please view: https://gofund.me/a1ec344c
PADDLE OUT MEMORIAL (BULLI BEACH)
Bulli Surf Life Saving Club friends, family and fellow clubbies are invited to a “paddle out” ceremony in honor of our inspirational Keith ‘Cocky’ Caldwell. Clubs are welcome to bring along RWC, IRB, Surf Boats, Surf Craft or just yourself!
Saturday 12 June 202, Bulli Beach
10.30am – meet up
11am – paddle out
Paddle Out Registration: https://forms.gle/HFAN94tqZVrqLM46A
To assist the club with memorial logistics and bar supplies it would be great to know if/how you will be joining us.