It is with considerable sadness that I write to inform Club members and friends of the Sprite Club of South Australia of the passing of former Club President, Paul Doube.
Following a long battle with his health, Paul passed peacefully in his sleep on Tuesday night. He put up a great fight right to the end. Not one to let his condition slow him down, Paul travelled to Perth last year and sought the warmth of Northern Australia during our winter. Remarkably, he had just come back from a beach sojourn at Stansbury where he and the family went every year for so long. There, with family and friends he spent a last, lovely summer holiday. Just back home with Ruth, the disease took its toll and he could fight no more.
Paul and Ruth were one of the founding members of ClubbiesSA, present at the very first gathering at Kilikanoon Wines and is one of the only Clubbie owners who attended every National meeting (and, indeed, every ‘Not the Nationals’ meeting). Paul, along with Clubbie stalwarts Barry and Sean, was also instrumental in developing the long relationship that the Sprite Club has with Clubbies SA and, to the best of my knowledge, is the only non-Spridget owning President of the Club, serving three terms.
Paul didn’t let his condition slow him down. He was often seen at the wheel of his beloved Clubbie or his MGTC with the oxygen bottle attached to the roll bar (and his wheelchair on a specially made rack on the the spare wheel!). Once asked why he was so slow up over a pass on a Clubbies Run he quipped that he had to slow down to change his oxygen bottle. Such was his determination not to allow his condition to slow him down.
Associate Driver of the Year, owner of the Associate Car of the Year, as a club member Paul gave the Sprite Club and ClubbiesSA his all and we are better clubs for that. We are a better club for his association and his enthusiasm, wit, and, most of all, friendship will be sorely missed.
Our deepest condolences to Ruth and his family, and his dear friends, many of whom are members of the Sprite Club, at this time.
Details of his funeral will be announced when they are known.
My personal thanks to his dear friend Sean Power for helping me writing this article. Photo credit to Gordon Boyce or as marked.
