It is with great sadness that I advise club members and supporters of the death of long time club stalwart Doug Stewart.
Doug was a key member of the club in its formative years and served as President of the club in the 1970’s. In his period of Presidency the club won State League Premierships and saw the development of many fine young players who went on to represent the club, the state and our nation.
I remember Doug as a great mentor as I served on the committee with him and other club greats. He had a great vision for the club’s future and was keen to give a young fellow such as myself opportunity as an administrator. I also remember him winning the club goal hitting trophy many times and his mentoring Junior players starting out on their career in the Metro teams.
I am sketchy on Doug’s early playing career but I believe that he played for Camberwell before joining Ric Purser and others to get our outer suburban club going. Hopefully others will let me know more about that part of his career and we can update this post when several key people with knowledge of Doug return from holiday.
In recent years Doug spent a lot of time caring for his wife and was not able to come to the club as often as he would have liked. He always enjoyed his days watching the Premier League and seeing so many young players enjoying success. He especially liked seeing players who had worked their way up from the Juniors representing the club. I can remember him commenting to me in the late 1990’s that the quality of Juniors at that time would ensure that the club had a sustained period of success. He was a great judge.
Personally in my period of Presidency at the club he was very supportive and encouraging of me and the direction of the club.
Doug was one of nature’s gentlemen.
He has requested that there not be a funeral and that his ashes are spread around the Greensborough Hockey Centre. His family will conduct that event on a private basis and I know that
you all join with me in sending our sympathy and thanks for the wonderful contribution he made to the club and hockey in general.
Bob Crowley – Vice President.