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rythdale cardinia 1928-1976
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officer 1932-1975
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rythdale officer cardinia 1977-current
frank wyatt
Officer & Rythdale-Officer-Cardinia (ROC) Football Club
With permission, the following article is an edited version from Fay McCoubrie’s Life Members Book (Released 2005).
Frank Wyatt first became involved in the club through schoolmates, Greg Waterhouse and Sid Gray, who asked him to come down and have a kick. It was around 1958 and they played in the Officer Under 17’s. His father Reg Wyatt came and acted as the Property Steward from 1964 to 1968.
Frank started to play Seniors in 1962 and played with Officer for ten years. He played most of his football on the back line, mainly holding down the position of Centre Half Back. Frank won his first senior Best and Fairest in 1966. Frank was also selected in interleague teams numerous times. In 1967 Frank played football in the Victorian Football Association (VFA) with Dandenong. He played there for three years then came back to Officer. In his words “A much better player” because of the experience of playing at a higher level.
Frank won the Best and fairest again in 1970 and in 1971 his two brothers John and Dallas joined him in the Seniors. That year his brother Dallas won the Best and Fairest and Frank was Runner-up. The next three years Frank had a monopoly on the Best and Fairest award as he won three in a row. A feat not repeated to this day, in our club. The year 1974 was a very successful year for Frank. It was the third year of his trifecta of Best and Fairest awards with the club, and he was also Runner-up in the league Best and Fairest voting. A car was the prize for the “player of the season”. Frank won this car. He still maintains that he would have preferred to have won the league Best and Fairest award.
Whilst he was still playing for Officer, Frank commenced his foray into the administration side of the club. Frank commenced as Secretary in 1972 and held that position for the next four years. Frank with Ted Bryant, Robin McCoubrie, Ivan Board and John Tivendale played in the last Officer game. All five are Life Members of the Club.
In November 1975 Frank, with his wife Wendy went to New Guinea where Frank worked for the next three years. He didn’t let his football skills slip as he won a Best and Fairest whilst playing for Port Moresby in 1976.
Frank was nominated for his Life Membership on 7th November 1975 and missed out on having it presented to him as he had already left to work in New Guinea. Along with Kevin Gilbert and Peter Scroop, they were the last to receive Life Memberships from the Officer Football Club.
When Frank moved back to Australia in 1979 the Officer Football Club had disbanded and Rythdale-Officer-Cardinia (ROC) was in existence. He moved straight back into playing with ROC.
Frank joined the ROC committee in 1980 and in that time, Frank has been a Treasurer for nine years, Membership Secretary two years, Vice President four years, Assistant Treasurer two years, Finance Committee four years, Social Committee two years, President for eight years, and League Delegate from 1990 to 2004.
In 1994 Frank was awarded the Club’s “Best Clubman” award.
His eldest daughter Samantha played with ROC Under 16’s in 1987, playing in the Grand Final that year. They were Premiers and Champions. Frank would take Sam to netball in the morning then take her home then come back again for the football. Plenty of petrol was used that year.
Frank continued to play with ROC until he retired in 1986. He was captain of the Seniors in 1982. In 1981 Frank was Runner-up in the Seniors by one vote. If he had won this Best and Fairest it would have been one in every decade from the 60’s to the 80’s. In all the time that Frank played football he was never reported and this is a true indication of the type of player that Frank was. He went to the tribunal once as he was the victim. Frank answered honestly and said that he thought it was only a slap that the player gave him. The tribunal was not impressed and warned him that he was on delicate ground for changing the evidence. They nearly gave him a sentence.
Frank coached for one season but decided that coaching was definitely not his calling.
Highlights for Frank are many. His first Best and Fairest award, making the senior side in Dandenong, being in representative teams, receiving a Life Membership but the most rewarding was the first senior flag that ROC won in 1983. It was the Reserves team and Frank was a player in the team.
A very special memory for Frank is that he has been President and Robin McCoubrie Treasurer when ROC has won all their senior premierships. A very unique experience. The first senior flag that ROC won in 1995 was a day that Frank will hold as another special moment in his career.
Disappointments are very few in Frank’s career. The only one that Frank remembers was when Officer was playing Keysborough at home and his opponent kicked twelve goals on him. Frank said he did everything wrong and his opponent did everything right.
Frank in his own words had an encounter with greatness. Frank was about thirty-eight years old and they were playing Drouin at Drouin. Frank lined up at full back and this young sixteen-year-old, a snowy headed kid, lined up beside him. After spending the day with this kid climbing up and over his back taking screamers Frank asked, “who is he”. He was told “Gary Ablett,” to which Frank replied, “I’ve never heard of him”. He certainly knows who he is now.
Goal umpiring, ground marking and gate keeping are also jobs that Frank finds time to do on game day.
When you examine the work and time that Frank has spent at the football club you realise that his Life Membership has been earned many times over. Frank has certainly been a great servant to the club and has contributed much to our history.
Footnote. Frank was President of the ROC FC up until 2008 which was a total of thirteen years in three stints and twenty-eight consecutive years on the ROC FC committee. You will see Frank and wife Wendy at nearly every ROC game and since 2024 their grandson Diesel Desantis has been playing senior football at Officer.
Frank Wyatt first became involved in the club through schoolmates, Greg Waterhouse and Sid Gray, who asked him to come down and have a kick. It was around 1958 and they played in the Officer Under 17’s. His father Reg Wyatt came and acted as the Property Steward from 1964 to 1968.
Frank started to play Seniors in 1962 and played with Officer for ten years. He played most of his football on the back line, mainly holding down the position of Centre Half Back. Frank won his first senior Best and Fairest in 1966. Frank was also selected in interleague teams numerous times. In 1967 Frank played football in the Victorian Football Association (VFA) with Dandenong. He played there for three years then came back to Officer. In his words “A much better player” because of the experience of playing at a higher level.
Frank won the Best and fairest again in 1970 and in 1971 his two brothers John and Dallas joined him in the Seniors. That year his brother Dallas won the Best and Fairest and Frank was Runner-up. The next three years Frank had a monopoly on the Best and Fairest award as he won three in a row. A feat not repeated to this day, in our club. The year 1974 was a very successful year for Frank. It was the third year of his trifecta of Best and Fairest awards with the club, and he was also Runner-up in the league Best and Fairest voting. A car was the prize for the “player of the season”. Frank won this car. He still maintains that he would have preferred to have won the league Best and Fairest award.
Whilst he was still playing for Officer, Frank commenced his foray into the administration side of the club. Frank commenced as Secretary in 1972 and held that position for the next four years. Frank with Ted Bryant, Robin McCoubrie, Ivan Board and John Tivendale played in the last Officer game. All five are Life Members of the Club.
In November 1975 Frank, with his wife Wendy went to New Guinea where Frank worked for the next three years. He didn’t let his football skills slip as he won a Best and Fairest whilst playing for Port Moresby in 1976.
Frank was nominated for his Life Membership on 7th November 1975 and missed out on having it presented to him as he had already left to work in New Guinea. Along with Kevin Gilbert and Peter Scroop, they were the last to receive Life Memberships from the Officer Football Club.
When Frank moved back to Australia in 1979 the Officer Football Club had disbanded and Rythdale-Officer-Cardinia (ROC) was in existence. He moved straight back into playing with ROC.
Frank joined the ROC committee in 1980 and in that time, Frank has been a Treasurer for nine years, Membership Secretary two years, Vice President four years, Assistant Treasurer two years, Finance Committee four years, Social Committee two years, President for eight years, and League Delegate from 1990 to 2004.
In 1994 Frank was awarded the Club’s “Best Clubman” award.
His eldest daughter Samantha played with ROC Under 16’s in 1987, playing in the Grand Final that year. They were Premiers and Champions. Frank would take Sam to netball in the morning then take her home then come back again for the football. Plenty of petrol was used that year.
Frank continued to play with ROC until he retired in 1986. He was captain of the Seniors in 1982. In 1981 Frank was Runner-up in the Seniors by one vote. If he had won this Best and Fairest it would have been one in every decade from the 60’s to the 80’s. In all the time that Frank played football he was never reported and this is a true indication of the type of player that Frank was. He went to the tribunal once as he was the victim. Frank answered honestly and said that he thought it was only a slap that the player gave him. The tribunal was not impressed and warned him that he was on delicate ground for changing the evidence. They nearly gave him a sentence.
Frank coached for one season but decided that coaching was definitely not his calling.
Highlights for Frank are many. His first Best and Fairest award, making the senior side in Dandenong, being in representative teams, receiving a Life Membership but the most rewarding was the first senior flag that ROC won in 1983. It was the Reserves team and Frank was a player in the team.
A very special memory for Frank is that he has been President and Robin McCoubrie Treasurer when ROC has won all their senior premierships. A very unique experience. The first senior flag that ROC won in 1995 was a day that Frank will hold as another special moment in his career.
Disappointments are very few in Frank’s career. The only one that Frank remembers was when Officer was playing Keysborough at home and his opponent kicked twelve goals on him. Frank said he did everything wrong and his opponent did everything right.
Frank in his own words had an encounter with greatness. Frank was about thirty-eight years old and they were playing Drouin at Drouin. Frank lined up at full back and this young sixteen-year-old, a snowy headed kid, lined up beside him. After spending the day with this kid climbing up and over his back taking screamers Frank asked, “who is he”. He was told “Gary Ablett,” to which Frank replied, “I’ve never heard of him”. He certainly knows who he is now.
Goal umpiring, ground marking and gate keeping are also jobs that Frank finds time to do on game day.
When you examine the work and time that Frank has spent at the football club you realise that his Life Membership has been earned many times over. Frank has certainly been a great servant to the club and has contributed much to our history.
Footnote. Frank was President of the ROC FC up until 2008 which was a total of thirteen years in three stints and twenty-eight consecutive years on the ROC FC committee. You will see Frank and wife Wendy at nearly every ROC game and since 2024 their grandson Diesel Desantis has been playing senior football at Officer.
frank lansdown
Rythdale-Cardinia Football Club
With permission, the following article is an edited version from Fay McCoubrie’s Life Members Book (Released 2005).
Frank Lansdown, alongside his sister Gwen, are the children of the first Life Member of Rythdale-Cardinia Football Club, Charles “Pop” Lansdown. Frank was born in 1922 and was the third youngest in a family of eleven children.
The family moved into the area in 1928 and Frank is first mentioned in the local paper in July, 1938 when Rythdale-Cardinia played Pakenham. Along with Ernie Sippo they were named amongst the best players. Frank played with Officer in 1944.
In 1947 he was named in the minute books as being on the Social Committee and in 1950 saw him as a Property Steward and on the selection panel.
In 1951 he married Sadie Evans and they had three children Jim, Maree and Trevor. Jim and Maree played football and netball respectively with Rythdale-Cardinia whilst Trevor played in the ROC Juniors.
Frank was a member of the team that played in Rythdale-Cardinia’s first finals appearance in its history on 6 September 1950. They won the Semi Final but lost the Preliminary Final. Then in 1951 Rythdale-Cardinia finished fourth on the ladder. They won their way through to their first Grand Fina unfortunately losing by nineteen points. Life Members in that team were Frank, Geoff Rosetti and Norm Walker.
In 1953 and 1954 Frank was Vice President of the Club. Frank was a Club Delegate to the Dandenong and District Football League.
In 1953 South West Gippsland Football League was founded with Beaconsfield, Cranbourne, Officer, Rythdale-Cardinia and Tooradin-Dalmore as the founding clubs. Frank was one of the foundation members. He was one of the three Vice Presidents of this league in 1972 and 1973.
In 1973 Frank was an executive member of the South West Gippsland Football League, and on the Umpires board. He acted as a delegate to the league for many years.
Frank played on the half back flank in the 1955 premiership team. He retired from playing in 1956, but this was the start of a long involvement as a committee man. He acted as trainer from 1956 to 1977. He was President from 1960 to 1963 and Vice President in 1970, 1974 and 1975. Frank was also a selector from 1973 to 1975.
In 1964 Frank was recognized for his years of service to the Rythdale-Cardinia Football Club with the presentation of a Life Membership. Frank was very flattered to receive the same award as his father. This combination of father and son is the first of many for Rythdale-Cardinia.
In 1966 Frank was accorded the honour of a Life Membership with the South West Gippsland Football League in recognition of his long service to the league.
1975 capped of Frank’s football career when he was recognized by the Victorian Country Football League with the presentation of a Service Medallion for outstanding service to Football in the Victorian Country Football leagues.
In 1976 Frank is recorded in the minute books as the mover of the motion to amalgamate with Officer Football Club. Frank was on the committee of ROC in its inaugural year. He remained until 1980.
Frank was a firefighter for most of his adult life, fighting fires such as Black Friday in 1939 and Ash Wednesday in 1983. He served with Toomuc, Nar Nar Goon and Pakenham. He was made a Life Member of the Pakenham Rural Fire Brigade in 1993.
In October 1994 the Victorian Country Football League resolved to merge the South West Gippsland Football League into the Mornington Peninsula Nepean Football League, effective from the 1995 season. This new league recognized Frank as a Life Member and would always invite him and Len Webster to the annual dinners.
When you look at the Life Member’s in this family group, namely Pop, and son Frank, and daughter Gwen Webster, and her husband Len they have contributed a lot to the history of our clubs.
The family moved into the area in 1928 and Frank is first mentioned in the local paper in July, 1938 when Rythdale-Cardinia played Pakenham. Along with Ernie Sippo they were named amongst the best players. Frank played with Officer in 1944.
In 1947 he was named in the minute books as being on the Social Committee and in 1950 saw him as a Property Steward and on the selection panel.
In 1951 he married Sadie Evans and they had three children Jim, Maree and Trevor. Jim and Maree played football and netball respectively with Rythdale-Cardinia whilst Trevor played in the ROC Juniors.
Frank was a member of the team that played in Rythdale-Cardinia’s first finals appearance in its history on 6 September 1950. They won the Semi Final but lost the Preliminary Final. Then in 1951 Rythdale-Cardinia finished fourth on the ladder. They won their way through to their first Grand Fina unfortunately losing by nineteen points. Life Members in that team were Frank, Geoff Rosetti and Norm Walker.
In 1953 and 1954 Frank was Vice President of the Club. Frank was a Club Delegate to the Dandenong and District Football League.
In 1953 South West Gippsland Football League was founded with Beaconsfield, Cranbourne, Officer, Rythdale-Cardinia and Tooradin-Dalmore as the founding clubs. Frank was one of the foundation members. He was one of the three Vice Presidents of this league in 1972 and 1973.
In 1973 Frank was an executive member of the South West Gippsland Football League, and on the Umpires board. He acted as a delegate to the league for many years.
Frank played on the half back flank in the 1955 premiership team. He retired from playing in 1956, but this was the start of a long involvement as a committee man. He acted as trainer from 1956 to 1977. He was President from 1960 to 1963 and Vice President in 1970, 1974 and 1975. Frank was also a selector from 1973 to 1975.
In 1964 Frank was recognized for his years of service to the Rythdale-Cardinia Football Club with the presentation of a Life Membership. Frank was very flattered to receive the same award as his father. This combination of father and son is the first of many for Rythdale-Cardinia.
In 1966 Frank was accorded the honour of a Life Membership with the South West Gippsland Football League in recognition of his long service to the league.
1975 capped of Frank’s football career when he was recognized by the Victorian Country Football League with the presentation of a Service Medallion for outstanding service to Football in the Victorian Country Football leagues.
In 1976 Frank is recorded in the minute books as the mover of the motion to amalgamate with Officer Football Club. Frank was on the committee of ROC in its inaugural year. He remained until 1980.
Frank was a firefighter for most of his adult life, fighting fires such as Black Friday in 1939 and Ash Wednesday in 1983. He served with Toomuc, Nar Nar Goon and Pakenham. He was made a Life Member of the Pakenham Rural Fire Brigade in 1993.
In October 1994 the Victorian Country Football League resolved to merge the South West Gippsland Football League into the Mornington Peninsula Nepean Football League, effective from the 1995 season. This new league recognized Frank as a Life Member and would always invite him and Len Webster to the annual dinners.
When you look at the Life Member’s in this family group, namely Pop, and son Frank, and daughter Gwen Webster, and her husband Len they have contributed a lot to the history of our clubs.
kevin Gilbert
Officer & Rythdale-Officer-Cardinia (ROC) Football Club
With permission, the following article is an edited version from Fay McCoubrie’s Life Members Book (Released 2005).
The Gilbert name has long been associated with Officer. Kevin’s parents were both supporters and workers for the local football club. Kevin recalls going to the football as a youngster to watch Officer play in the Dandenong and District Football Association. They would travel to the football in the back of Pidgeon’s truck. He remembers listening to Charlie Drew the coach of the 1948 team.
Kevin started to play around 1954, in the Juniors with the South West Gippsland League forming Juniors in 1955, and Officer entered a team. Kevin was named in the best players a few times during the season. Officer made the First Semi Final only to be beaten by Beaconsfield.
In 1956 with the Juniors Kevin won the award “Most Determined”. In the Seniors in 1958 Kevin won the “Most Improved Player” award. In the 1960 season, Kevin won the award for “Best Club Man”. He was only twenty years old when he was awarded this trophy.
Kevin recalls as a junior the different places that they had to get changed in before the games. At Tooradin they changed in a little shed behind the hotel, Hampton Park was inside a cow shed, and at Narre Hallam they had a very small tin shed beside the creek, with a milk can full of cold water, you could put one leg in at a time to have a wash. These very basic conditions applied at most clubs.
1961 proved to be one of the most exciting in Kevin’s football career. Kevin played in the Officer team that won the 1961 Premiership. Kevin recalls that the after-match functions provided a lot of entertainment. Other Life Members that played in that team are Ivan Board, Robert Porter and David Whiteside. Kevin played most of his football on the half-back flank and wore jumper number three. Kevin was lucky to be able to go on the trip away after the Premiership as his employer was not keen on giving him time off. As it happened when they came home on the Monday morning, Kevin had to get off the bus at his workplace and work the rest of the day.
Kevin’s work commitments stopped him from playing football around 1962.
In 1969 Kevin became involved with the football club on the administration side of the club. Over time Kevin held many positions within the club. He was on the committee with Officer, from 1969 to 1977, and in that time he was Treasurer from 1970 to 1976. Whilst he was Treasurer he also acted as gate keeper. Kevin was also a selector of the Officer teams with Reg Wyatt and Keith Board. Then in 1978 he was the Vice President of the newly formed ROC Club. He acted as Vice President until 1980, and then remained on the committee until 1983, when he became Secretary for the next fourteen years. Over that period Kevin saw ROC grow from the easy beats to the most successful and professional club in the league. A lot of that credit must go to the executives of the club for this emergence. Kevin continued on the committee until 1998, then, in the season 2000 took over the job of timekeeping from his Uncle Clive Gilbert. He is currently still time keeping.
Kevin acted in many capacities during this time, including being a selector, Recruitment Officer, League Delegate, grounds committee representative and team manager. Looking at this list one wonders if he saw any matches.
As Recruitment Officer’s Kevin and Pat Pipicelli spent many hours travelling to other games, looking for the type of player ROC required.
Kevin was a delegate to the South West Gippsland League and West Gippsland Football League for over twenty-one years. Kevin recalls that in South West Gippsland the meetings were held in the Berwick Hotel and the tribunals in the Berwick Library.
When we were in West Gippsland Kevin recalls the delegates were heatedly discussing ROC’s club colours. One official smartly suggested that perhaps we could use brighter washing powder. Kevin was not impressed.
Kevin also recalls the many talks held in the old tin shed at Officer, when Officer and Rythdale-Cardinia amalgamated. There were lots of discussions about names, club colours, venues, teams and officials.
For a few years Kevin was team manager of Reserves, Seniors and the Under 17’s. This also involved bringing all the tracksuits home for Margaret to wash. Another fairly big task. Margaret also helped in the canteen and helped Elise Young with the Thursday night meals.
Whilst Kevin was Secretary, he performed many jobs that probably are not classed as a Secretary’s role. Along with other helpers Kevin would clean the change rooms after all games and training, and he would always switch the lights of as soon as training finished as he was very aware that they were costly to run.
After every home game Kevin would be back up to the ground on a Sunday cleaning up the surrounds of the oval. Kevin also acted as the Property Steward, ordering all the football gear including footballs.
Kevin with his wife Margaret had two boys Andrew and Darren. Both boys played football with ROC with Andrew winning “Runner-up” in the Under 17’s and Darren winning “Best and Fairest” in the Under 17’s. Andrew went on to win some trophies in the Seniors.
Kevin and Margaret’s grandchildren are now playing in Auskick and the Juniors at the Officer ground, and they love going to watch the next generation of Gilbert’s play.
Kevin recalls working behind the bar at social events until one in the morning. After a 7am start Kevin was always ready for bed. It was a very long day. Kevin has worked tirelessly for the club for many years in many capacities. He was another person who was always at working bees held at the grounds and was part of the group that built the rooms in 1974 and extensions in 1983.
In 1978 Kevin again won a “Best Club Person” jointly with Duncan Beard.
A funny incident Kevin recalls was coming home from a training night at Cardinia and being caught out by the flooded roads. With water flowing all around him, he spent a fair while sitting in the car waiting for the water to recede. He was relieved and lucky the car started after the water had gone down.
When Kevin was presented with his Life Membership in 1976 he felt it was a great honor. Kevin with Frank Wyatt and Peter Scroop were the last recipients of a Life Membership from the Officer Football Club.
Kevin believes that the friendships and many social events have been the best part of belonging to the ROC Football Club.
The Gilbert name has long been associated with Officer. Kevin’s parents were both supporters and workers for the local football club. Kevin recalls going to the football as a youngster to watch Officer play in the Dandenong and District Football Association. They would travel to the football in the back of Pidgeon’s truck. He remembers listening to Charlie Drew the coach of the 1948 team.
Kevin started to play around 1954, in the Juniors with the South West Gippsland League forming Juniors in 1955, and Officer entered a team. Kevin was named in the best players a few times during the season. Officer made the First Semi Final only to be beaten by Beaconsfield.
In 1956 with the Juniors Kevin won the award “Most Determined”. In the Seniors in 1958 Kevin won the “Most Improved Player” award. In the 1960 season, Kevin won the award for “Best Club Man”. He was only twenty years old when he was awarded this trophy.
Kevin recalls as a junior the different places that they had to get changed in before the games. At Tooradin they changed in a little shed behind the hotel, Hampton Park was inside a cow shed, and at Narre Hallam they had a very small tin shed beside the creek, with a milk can full of cold water, you could put one leg in at a time to have a wash. These very basic conditions applied at most clubs.
1961 proved to be one of the most exciting in Kevin’s football career. Kevin played in the Officer team that won the 1961 Premiership. Kevin recalls that the after-match functions provided a lot of entertainment. Other Life Members that played in that team are Ivan Board, Robert Porter and David Whiteside. Kevin played most of his football on the half-back flank and wore jumper number three. Kevin was lucky to be able to go on the trip away after the Premiership as his employer was not keen on giving him time off. As it happened when they came home on the Monday morning, Kevin had to get off the bus at his workplace and work the rest of the day.
Kevin’s work commitments stopped him from playing football around 1962.
In 1969 Kevin became involved with the football club on the administration side of the club. Over time Kevin held many positions within the club. He was on the committee with Officer, from 1969 to 1977, and in that time he was Treasurer from 1970 to 1976. Whilst he was Treasurer he also acted as gate keeper. Kevin was also a selector of the Officer teams with Reg Wyatt and Keith Board. Then in 1978 he was the Vice President of the newly formed ROC Club. He acted as Vice President until 1980, and then remained on the committee until 1983, when he became Secretary for the next fourteen years. Over that period Kevin saw ROC grow from the easy beats to the most successful and professional club in the league. A lot of that credit must go to the executives of the club for this emergence. Kevin continued on the committee until 1998, then, in the season 2000 took over the job of timekeeping from his Uncle Clive Gilbert. He is currently still time keeping.
Kevin acted in many capacities during this time, including being a selector, Recruitment Officer, League Delegate, grounds committee representative and team manager. Looking at this list one wonders if he saw any matches.
As Recruitment Officer’s Kevin and Pat Pipicelli spent many hours travelling to other games, looking for the type of player ROC required.
Kevin was a delegate to the South West Gippsland League and West Gippsland Football League for over twenty-one years. Kevin recalls that in South West Gippsland the meetings were held in the Berwick Hotel and the tribunals in the Berwick Library.
When we were in West Gippsland Kevin recalls the delegates were heatedly discussing ROC’s club colours. One official smartly suggested that perhaps we could use brighter washing powder. Kevin was not impressed.
Kevin also recalls the many talks held in the old tin shed at Officer, when Officer and Rythdale-Cardinia amalgamated. There were lots of discussions about names, club colours, venues, teams and officials.
For a few years Kevin was team manager of Reserves, Seniors and the Under 17’s. This also involved bringing all the tracksuits home for Margaret to wash. Another fairly big task. Margaret also helped in the canteen and helped Elise Young with the Thursday night meals.
Whilst Kevin was Secretary, he performed many jobs that probably are not classed as a Secretary’s role. Along with other helpers Kevin would clean the change rooms after all games and training, and he would always switch the lights of as soon as training finished as he was very aware that they were costly to run.
After every home game Kevin would be back up to the ground on a Sunday cleaning up the surrounds of the oval. Kevin also acted as the Property Steward, ordering all the football gear including footballs.
Kevin with his wife Margaret had two boys Andrew and Darren. Both boys played football with ROC with Andrew winning “Runner-up” in the Under 17’s and Darren winning “Best and Fairest” in the Under 17’s. Andrew went on to win some trophies in the Seniors.
Kevin and Margaret’s grandchildren are now playing in Auskick and the Juniors at the Officer ground, and they love going to watch the next generation of Gilbert’s play.
Kevin recalls working behind the bar at social events until one in the morning. After a 7am start Kevin was always ready for bed. It was a very long day. Kevin has worked tirelessly for the club for many years in many capacities. He was another person who was always at working bees held at the grounds and was part of the group that built the rooms in 1974 and extensions in 1983.
In 1978 Kevin again won a “Best Club Person” jointly with Duncan Beard.
A funny incident Kevin recalls was coming home from a training night at Cardinia and being caught out by the flooded roads. With water flowing all around him, he spent a fair while sitting in the car waiting for the water to recede. He was relieved and lucky the car started after the water had gone down.
When Kevin was presented with his Life Membership in 1976 he felt it was a great honor. Kevin with Frank Wyatt and Peter Scroop were the last recipients of a Life Membership from the Officer Football Club.
Kevin believes that the friendships and many social events have been the best part of belonging to the ROC Football Club.