Just two days after a tribute night in his honour, Newcastle Test cricket great, Robert "Dutchy" Holland has lost his fight with brain cancer.
Bob Holland died suddenly, but peacefully yesterday after suffering a brain bleed while he was being treated in hospital for broken ribs suffered in a fall last week.
The 70-year-old was diagnosed with brain cancer in March and surgeons managed to remove 70 to 80 per cent of the tumor.
Dutchy Holland and his wife Carolyn hit the headlines last August when the couple were attacked after telling two motorbike riders not to ride on the cricket field at Awaba.
Bob Holland famously bowled the Aussies to victory in his third test in 1985, cleaning up the mighty West Indies with figures of 6 for 54 and 4 for 90.
The tributes flowing in for Dutchy have come from far and wide. President of Southern Lakes cricket Aaron Gray says it's not surprising.
"It's been overwhelming actually which isn't a surprise to anybody. The impact that he had on people locally, state-wide, internationally and even globally, there's support coming in from everywhere for the family that's for sure."
"Our club was the big beneficiaries of Dutchy's service over more than 50 years so we are forever in debt to his service. The stuff he did for our cricket club won't be matched, it just won't be."
He's survived by his wife Carolyn, sons Craig and Rohan and daughter Naomi.
"Our thoughts are with his family at this time. It's an extremely tough time for everyone that's known him but I can't imagine how tough it is on the family and from the cricket club, you know they're very close in our thoughts and have been for a little while, and will be for a long while," said Aaron.
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| Robert "Dutchy" Holland |
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| Bob Holland in his Test Heyday |
