Sutherland Shire legend Billy Collis, the founder of Billy's Bush Runners, known as the Bushies, passed away on Sunday aged 81.
Mr Collis has been an institution with the running fraternity in Sutherland Shire for forty-five years.
Known as ‘The Captain’ he was involving in organising each week’s run up to three weeks ago.
‘’Anyone in the shire who was a runner would know about Billy's Bush Runners, more commonly known as 'The Bushies',’’ his friend Bill Hick said.
‘’Billy started the running group 45-years ago. It began with Billy and some of his football mates and then grew to the stage where there are now 80 to 90 or even more, runners and walkers turning up every Saturday morning.
‘’About 7am, rain, hail, storms, floods, heatwaves or freezing cold, Billy still managed to get a big roll up every week.
‘’Billy would have the group running at Kurnell one week and Sublime Point the next. Wattamolla the following week followed by Como or Garie.
‘’Every week was an adventure and he always had a new track or a shortcut that no one knew about.
‘’And the reason everyone turned up was because of Billy. He was the glue that bound them together.
“He was rude, gruff, loud, irreverent, tactless, and he thought subtlety was something you got at Subway. The term 'negative motivation' could have been coined for him. He was an expert in its application, and what's more, it worked.’’
Mr Hick said that as a group Billy's Bushies unique.
“There is no president, secretary, treasurer, or heaven forbid, a membership director,’’ he said.
“There is no membership form, no joining fee and no uniform.
“The only requirement was to turn up and run or walk and put up with Billy's yelling.
“A thick hide and a reasonable sense of direction would also be an advantage.
“Runners would joke that the Bushies was a dictatorship, but it was true.
‘’Billy made all the decisions, and if anyone wasn't happy, they could always take their grievance to the Appeals Committee, whose only member was Billy.
‘’Anyone who has been fortunate enough to have run or walked with the Bushies would know that they are really more of an extended family than a sporting group.
‘’Many have been running on Saturday mornings with Billy for thirty to forty years.
“For some of the women and girls he was like a surrogate father, and for the blokes, he was just a good mate.”
Mr Hicks said the hole that Billy Collis’ passing will leave in the shire is immense.
“Without exaggerating, there would be very few shire people involved with running, swimming, cycling, kayaking or multi sports who wouldn't know about Billy and his Bushies.
‘’To go further, it could be said that over the past 40 years there would have been thousands of shire sportspeople who have run, walked or cycled with the Bushies.
‘’Billy was also well known at Sutherland Aquatic Centre and at the Tradies.
“’He loved his Sandburn Swimming Club and with his booming voice, everyone knew when Billy was in residence.
“The Tradies have helped the Bushies over many years and there is a very strong connection between the club and the Bushies.
“Over the years, staff from both the Aquatic Centre and the Tradies have run, walked and cycled with the Bushies, and some still do.
‘’Finally, Billy was special, and whilst it is a very hackneyed saying that they broke the mould when they made Billy', it is just so accurate in this case.
‘’The Bushies will continue on, after all, they are a large and ever-growing family, and like any family, they look after each other.
‘’However, there was only one Billy. RIP mate.’’
Billy Collis played rugby league with St George in the lower grades and worked as a refueller at Sydney Airport until he retired.
He passed away at Sutherland Hospital on Sunday, June 26 11 days short of 82nd birthday.
He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Jan.
His funeral service will be held at the South Chapel, Woronora Crematorium on Tuesday, July 5 at 12pm.
A wake will be held from 1.30pm at Tradies.