The doctor, formerly of Bathurst, died suddenly in Ireland last week after suffering a heart attack at 77, and Angus McKibbin and John Deane-Butcher only have fond memories of their friend.

Dr Dowse was buried last Friday in Ireland but a memorial service is being held at 4pm on Friday at the All Saints’ College Chapel, the school both his daughters attended, and drinks will follow at the Family Hotel.

Dr Dowse was born in Ireland and, after gaining a medical degree at Trinity College, went to Kuala Lumpur for 13 years to practise medicine.

He married his Irish girlfriend Catherine Slattery and they raised three children, Siobhan, Richard and Catriona.

Looking to gain further opportunities in education and connect with family roots, Dr Dowse and his family moved to Bathurst in 1975, taking a position at the Russell Street Medical Centre alongside Ralph Cameron and John Stephenson.

Dr Dowse, an avid rugby union fan, took over coaching second grade and colts in 1976 and although he had only been in Bathurst a year, he was one who helped change the name from Bathurst Rugby Club to Bathurst Bulldogs.

“He was deeply involved with the Bulldogs and was the volunteer doctor for the club,” Mr Deane-Butcher said.

“He was very popular and was part of so many groups. He really was a great man and a great friend.”

Mr Deane-Butcher and Dr Dowse became friends as Mr Deane-Butcher was the first grade coach. After a few years they decided to give up coaching and start a running group – just the two of them at first, and then Mr McKibbin joined shortly after, followed by many more.

“We wanted to still be active, so we started a club called the Ba-Thirst Joggers and would jog, then go and have a beer,” Mr Deane-Butcher said. “We needed the pain before the gain.”

Rugby was not Dr Dowse’s only passion and when he and his family moved to White Rock he became involved with the community church.

Dr Dowse moved back to Ireland in 1996 with his wife Catherine and they later moved to England.

“His death was a shock,” Mr McKibbin said.

“He was still very fit and no one expected it. We still kept in close contact and would go to Ireland and he’d come back to Bathurst. I remember once 70 people turned up at the Family just to see him, that is how much he was liked.”