Boroondara’s Australia Day honours listGreg Gliddon,
Progress Leader
27 January 2017BILL Meaklim has spent much of his life documenting the history of the Richmond Football Club and he admits to be a little embarrassed to see his name alongside the club greats.
The 83-year-old is one of a host of Boroondara residents who has received an honour as part of Australia Day.
Mr Meaklim was awarded a Medal (OAM) of the Order of Australia for his decades of service to the club.
Mr Meaklim has volunteered in a variety of roles with the Tigers, including club statistician for 25 years, club historian since 1986, chairman of the museum committee for 20 years and he has been a life member since 1992.
“To think of all the people who have been through Richmond and you look at those who have been honoured, it’s (Jack) Dyer, (Kevin) Bartlett, (Kevin) Sheedy and Meaklim,” he said.
“I have to say that I’m quietly chuffed and I have have absolutely no idea of the origins of this, but obviously someone has pushed a button and my name has come up.”
Mr Meaklim is still heavily involved with the club, having began his passion when he was just 10 years old.
“I was asked at school which club I barracked for and because Richmond had won the premiership the year before, I said them,” he said.
He lists 1948 Brownlow Medallist Bill Morris, Royce Hart, Ian Stewart and Maurice Rioli as the greatest players he had seen. He also lists the “three B’s” (Bill) Barrett, (Francis) Bourke and Bartlett among his favourites.
“I only saw the last few years of Jack Dyer, but even in his last game, he kicked six goals,” he said.
“But generally the best players I’ve seen have all been left footers. I don’t know what it is about them, but they are the most beautiful kicks.”
As well as his service to the Tigers, the Hawthorn East resident has also been the president and treasurer of the Hawthorn Community Gardens since 2004.
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/leader/inner-east/tigers-stalwalt-bill-meaklim-leads-boroondaras-australia-day-honours-list/news-story/1aa75a04945c72ecf7f6426c03d9cc5c
