John Digby

🕯 Mr Mark Digby lit a candle Dear friends and colleagues Thank you for visiting John Digby's memorial page. Please feel free to leave your messages and memories here - we will cherish them as part of celebrating his life! Kind regards Mark, Lance and Quentin

🕯 John Rouse lit a candle I remember John very well. He was a great Keeper of the Stud Book. More importantly he was a true gentleman and a lovely human being. John Rouse, former AJC CEO.

🕯 Jacqueline Stewart - Eighth Keeper of the Australian Stud Book lit a candle John was the sixth Keeper of the Australian Stud Book when he employed me 19 years ago and I will be forever grateful for the opportunity he gave me. John will be missed dearly however his legacy will continue for years to come with his foresight and adaptation to techn...more

🕯 Justin Blackburne lit a candle Shared 16 years of working with John and his team and had to keep reminding him he was actually a Kiwi. Enjoyed our many long Trans-Tasman conversations about all things racing. His enthusiasm was unbounded and his legacy remains. Will always remember attending various Stud Book conferences together presenting th...more

🕯 Patricia Portway lit a candle Was great knowing you John and also hi to Betty back together again. Thanks for the friendship and memories. We cannot make the funeral as in Singapore on hols. See again in the not too long future. Love Clive and Pat

🕯 Michael Ford lit a candle John Digby was my boss and mentor for sixteen years before I succeeded him as seventh Keeper of the Stud Book in 2004. He taught me many things about managing a regulatory organisation but many more things about people. What stood out was how much he loved his wife Betty, his three sons, his daughter-in-laws, and all...more

🕯 White Lady Funerals lit a candle I first met John when researching a book on the origin and development of the Australasian Racehorse. In conversation we soon discovered that we were both born in New Zealand in 1933 and thus found many matters of mutual interest. John took a keen interest in my project and kindly gave me access to many early rar...more

🕯 Sue Ormsby lit a candle I had the pleasure of working with John for his duration of Keeper of the Stud Book, he was a good man with ideas way beyond his years, ups and down sure, he was a wonderful tough mentor, and will be sadly missed, time now to find his true love Betty and rekindle what he so sorely missed, forever in my heart John.... RI...more

🕯 Karina Berryman lit a candle I am sad to read that John passed but I will always remember him with a smile. What a gentleman! I met him in Argentina and I will never forget him and Betty. His astounding memory (he had learned the Buenos Aires street names by heart before his 1st trip!! just amazing), his sense of humor and curious, young and li...more

🕯 Ray Alexander lit a candle VRC CEO Rod Johnson and I interviewed candidates for the position of Keeper of the Stud Book following Jim McFadden's retirement. We selected John, but AJC chairman Jim Bell told me i had fallen for the three-card trick because John was working for the Victorian Department of Primary Produce from the same offices as th...more

🕯 Richard Robert lit a candle My great friend John Digby and I shared many happy years since the day he bounced into my office at Randwick Racecourse. I was somewhat alarmed until he stuck out his hand and said, I am John Digby and am starting here as Keeper of the Stud Book. He continued, more importantly, said Rod Johnson of the VRC said you...more

🕯 Diane Hills lit a candle I began working for John at the Stud Book in 1997, arriving from the Registration Department who were moving off Randwick Racecourse and relocating elsewhere. I found John a firm taskmaster who had a wealth of knowledge,with progressive ideas for the Stud Book. I became his PA one year later and was really in the deep ...more

🕯 andrew harding lit a candle John took me lunch at the Rusty Shovel when I first moved to Sydney in1998- typical of his generosity . I admired him greatly from that very first meeting . He was an extraordinarily capable Keeper of the ASB. He brought to the role not just a fine intellect and a great capacity for innovation-he had a determination...more

🕯 Andrew Speedy lit a candle I always enjoyed being in the company of Mr Digby. He was a great teacher and storyteller and there was always much for one to learn. He was dedicated to the integrity of the Stud Book and protecting the rights of breeders. His invaluable contribution to the thoroughbred industry could not be quantified today. Here is ...more

🕯 Melissa Digby lit a candle I only had the pleasure of John's company on 3 occasions and a lovelier gentleman you'd never meet. The first time I met him in Sydney, he took me to Watson Bay for lunch and we spent a lovely afternoon together. I was so pleased I saw him again in April and although his health was failing, his spirit was strong and he...more