Island stalwarts lost during Covid

The Phillip Island Football Netball Club (PIFNC) is holding a tribute luncheon in their clubrooms on Saturday, May 7, to honour the memory of two club life members, Ian Hill and Barry Toovey, both of whom passed away during the Covid lockdown.

Former PIFNC president John Weston and a small committee are organising this very special event, and extend a warm invitation to anyone who would like to attend to join in this special occasion.

“Both men died during Covid, when funerals were very difficult to organise, and numbers attending were limited to ten.

“This is one way that the Club they did so much for can pay tribute to them.

“Now that we are finally able to, PIFNC wants to acknowledge and honour the contribution to the Club made by both Ian and Barry over many decades,” John said.

Ian Hill died in early 2020, in the early days of Covid.

He was heavily involved in the Phillip Island Football Club over a period of 15 years; in the role of president for ten years and on the main committee for the rest of that time.

“Ian was president when the seniors team took out the 1981 premiership, thanks in no small part to the hard work he put in,” said John, who was captain-coach at the time.

“He was also president of the Club when the social rooms were built by volunteers, helping to bring this project to fruition.

“The social rooms are still in use to this day,” he added.

“Ian was made a life member of PIFNC for his very valuable contribution.”

The contribution by Barry Toovey, who died last year, was similarly described by John as significant.

“I don’t know of many people who have made a more significant contribution to the Club than Barry,” he said.

“As a young man, he was a great player.

“But his football career was curtailed at one point through a leg injury.

“He retired from the game fairly early because of this, taking on administrative roles within the Club, including periods as secretary and treasurer.

“He was secretary of the Club in 1981 when the premiership cup was won by Phillip Island.”

John said Barry was one of the main instigators of the building of Clubrooms around this period, along with Wally Winder.

“As a builder by trade, his contribution and his skills were so generously given, at no cost to the Club, by Barry.”

Tributes

Representatives of both families will be in attendance at the Club, and among the speakers.

Barry’s older son Dean has already booked his ticket from WA to be here.

“We are encouraging all past players, old committee members, and supporters from those days to attend.

“And also of course friends of the men from the old days.”

John said he expects many old friends and players to arrive on the island on the Friday night (May 6) and said that an informal “meet and greet” evening will be held in the Clubrooms, ahead of the Saturday lunch.

Meals will be available and the bar open.

The lunch will start at midday.

To book, see details in the paper on these pages.

For further information, call John Weston (0417 516 983) Kaye Beaton (0412 439 945) or Richie Davie (0400 531 777).