Griffith Swans Football Netball Club is mourning the loss of one of its greatest contributors with the passing of George Duncan.
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A Griffith life member, Duncan passed away on Thursday, aged 67, after a short battle with cancer.
While many knew his passing was imminent, the loss of Duncan has rocked the Griffith and wider AFL Riverina community.
Griffith president Jeff Harris said the club, and the code in Griffith, would not be where it is today without Duncan.
"He was a true gentleman," Harris said.
"He epitomised what a lot of people see in the Swans and was obviously a club legend.
"His contribution to the club was massive. He bled red and white. He had a big influence on the club for a long period. From the days he was involved in junior footy when the boys were coming through there, then continuing through to the seniors. He taught myself plenty about presidency and how to go about that.
"It was not only the football club but the league in general. He sat on a lot of league committees so his contribution reached a lot further than the Swans."
Duncan played 113 games for the Swans but it was off the field where he made his greatest contribution.
He served as president twice, from 2004-08 and again in 2012, and also was president of Griffith's junior club for an extended period.
Former Griffith player and coach Adrian Pavese spent many years working alongside Duncan at junior and senior level and had nothing but praise for him.
"It gets said a lot but he was a true gentleman," Pavese said.
"He was very strong with his own opinion but he never stopped the progress of the footy club because of that. He was always willing to hear what others had to say.
"If there was ever a job to be done, George would put his hand up and do it. He was a ripper. It's so sad."
Duncan also had a great passion for harness racing. He and Gary Gardner, along with their wives, had raced horses together for more than 20 years.
Duncan had created a deluxe agistment setting for his horses at his Griffith property and just this month they were represented by Untythehood in the Griffith Pacers Cup.
Gardner will cherish a lifetime of memories with Duncan.
"In the last two weeks he got to see every one of our horses run. Two won, one ran second and one ran fourth. He was rapt," Gardner said.
"George and I used to pay trainers to do the job for us...then I decided to go on my own and do it myself. George and Donna said you're not doing it on your own because we're staying with you.
"I moved back here to Griffith and have been living with George at the block for the last two years. He is closer than a brother to me."
An electrician by trade, Duncan established his successful business George Duncan Electrical in Griffith.
It was through that business he was also very generous to the Griffith community. He often performed voluntary electrical work and sponsored a number of sporting teams.
Fellow Griffith Swans life member Bob Spears said Duncan was successful across a number of different areas in life.
"He was a very, very good businessman and wonderful for the football club," Spears said.
"A wonderful person. It was very sad to see him go so quick."
Duncan is survived by his wife Donna, sons Kane, Rod, Mick and Kris and their families.
His funeral will be held at Griffith Lawn Cemetery at 1pm on Thursday.
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