It was a huge weekend at Malseed Park at the weekend. West Gambier played in the opening round as one of the foundation clubs in the newly formed Bendigo Bank Limestone Coast Football Netball League; the club celebrated 50 years of calling Malseed Park home and 40 years of the netballers being part of the West Gambier story.
A huge crowd was drawn to the opening round at Malseed Park, where the Roos took on former Vansittart park co-tenant North Gambier – the club who West played on August 31, 1974.
After a meet and greet night at the club on Friday night all was set for a huge day on Saturday with games being played across the football ovals and netball courts by all grades.
Icing on the cake for the club was wins by both senior football and netball teams with the footballers reversing the result from 50 years ago.
Around 250 attended the post-game celebrations with a sit-down meal with highlights of the night being the announcements of the teams of the decades for both football and netball and the inaugural induction of recipients to the West Gambier Football Netball Club Hall of Fame and Immortals.
A Hall of Fame recipient is a life member whose prolonged efforts are far above and beyond, they are the fabric that has shaped this great club, and they are the greats that have laid the foundations for our future.
The West Gambier Immortals are the club’s greatest and most revered in the field of play. They are the most respected in their generation and their ability, loyalty and courage stands them above all others.
IMMORTALS
Barrie Hudson; Bill James; John (Seedy) Yeates; Leon Kruger; Paul Beckham; John Beaton & Melissa Ryan.
HALL OF FAME
JILL HOSKING
Netball Player, Coach, Umpire – Played over 150 games. West Gambier Ladies Committee 1980’s. Football Committee 1984 -2004 (total 19 years) – 6 years as President
ROBIN WHITE
Committee 1995 – 2004 (total 10 years) – 2 years President. Club Coach 4 years. BBQ shed coordinator many years.
BILL JAMES – (Posthumously)
Committee 1978-1988 (total 11 years) – 5 years as Chairman, 4 years as President. Club Coach 6 years. 210 club games
DAVID THOMPSON
Committee 1968–1975, 1982-1985, 1989-1991 (total 15 years). Treasurer. 2 years as President
TERRY PLOENGES
Trainer – Keeper of keys. Every job man. Committee 2012, 2014-2017, 2021-2022 (total 7 years)
DAVID BADMAN
Committee 1995, 2000-2001, 2014-2021 (total 12 years) 4 years President. Portfolios – groundsman, sponsorship, membership. 136 club games.
DOT SHERIDAN (Posthumously)
Netball Player, Coach, Umpire. West Gambier Ladies Committee 1980’s. Football Committee 1992 -19995, 1997-2006, 2010-2012 (total 17 years). 12 years as Secretary.
DAVID LOCK
Committee 1974-1977, 1980, 1982, 1985-1986, 1990-1991, 1995 (total 12 years). President 2 years. 217 club games.
