i Honorary Life Members
No 1 Ernie Verrall 1958. Ernie joined the Club in 1952 and played until 1961 playing approximately 103 games and scoring 2 goals. He was a committee man in 1954. Minutes of a meeting held at the Transport Commission Offices at 7:30pm on 7th October 1958 put forward the granting of Honorary Life Membership. Minutes read and confirmed at a meeting held on the 9th March 1959 and also confirmed by the Chairman Mr Joughin on 9th March 1959. Mr Joughin has verbally confirmed that Honorary Life Membership was given. In two telephone calls Mr Verrall has denied being made an Honorary Life Member. The evidence of the written minutes and verbal confirmation of an irrefutable eye witness lead to the conclusion that honorary life membership was conferred.
No 2 Edward Blundstone 1961. Minutes of Annual General Meeting dated 27 September 1961 held in the Geography room commencing at 5:30pm show that Honorary Life Membership was conferred. Fred Joughin has verbally confirmed that the award was given. Eddie joined the Club in 1956 playing approximately 141 games to the end of 1963. He was a committe man in 1959 and 1960 and also was the Sports Council Representative in those years. A member of the IV committee in 1961.
No 3 Sursen Singh 1961. Minutes of an Annual General Meeting dated 27 September 1961 held in the Geography room commencing at 5:30pm show that Honorary Life Membership was conferred. Fred Joughin has verbally confirmed that the award was given. Sursen joined the Club in 1956 playing approximately 71 games to the end of 1960.
No 4 Frederick Joughin 1966. At a meeting held at the Sports Pavilion on Wednesday 22nd June 1966 it was moved and carried that Mr Fred Joughin be elected an honorary life member and an official announcement be made at the annual dinner. The motion was passed with claps & cheers. At the end of 1966 Fred would have played approximately 275 games and scored at least 34 goals. Fred is the proud holder of honorary life membership badge number one.
No 5 John Nicholson 1967. John had played every year from the time he joined the Club in 1956. He has held many Committee positions including Vice Chairman and Gear Steward. He was Captain of the second team for many years. At the end of 1967 he had played approximately 245 games and scored at least 3 goals.
No 6 Peter Groves 1970. At a meeting in the University Clubrooms on September 2nd 1970 a motion was put and passed that Peter be granted honorary Life Membership. Peter joined the Club in 1959 and by the end of 1970 had played approximately 253 games and scored at least 88 goals.
No 7 Ajit Prasad 1970. At a meeting in the University Clubrooms on September 2nd 1970 a motion was put and passed that Ajit be granted honorary Life Membership. Ajit was a long term member of the 1st Team and coached them in 1967. At the end of 1970 he had played approximately 152 games and scored at least 47 goals.
No 8 David Rayner 1971. At a General Meeting held on 11th August 1971 a motion was put and carried that David be granted Honorary Life Membership. He joined the Club in1963 and was on the Committeee for three years which included Togatus Rep and Sports Council Rep. By the end of 1971 David had played approximately166 games and scored at least 58 goals.
No 9 Denis Whitchurch 1971. At a General Meeting held on 11th August 1971 a motion was put and carried that Denis be granted Honorary Life Membership. He joined the Club in 1965 and was on the Committee for many years being Vice president or Secretary or both. By the end of 1971 he had played approximately 157 games and scored at least 18 goals.
No 10 Peter Imlach 1972. At a General Meeting held on 27 September 1972 a motion was put and carried that Peter be granted Honorary Life Membership. He joined the Club in 1960 and by the end of 1972 had played at least 283 games but had scored no goals.
No 11 Hume Moase 1972. At a General Meeting held on 27 September 1972 a motion was put and carried that Hume be granted Honorary Life Membership. He joined the Club in 1962 and by the end of 1972 had many years of service of the committee as Treasurer and other positions and had played 190 games and scored six goals. Still holds the record for the number of IV’s attended.
No 12 Jack Atkinson 1972. At a General Meeting held on 27 September 1972 a motion was put and carried that Jack be granted Honorary Life Membership. He joined the Club in 1966 and had committee service and by the end of 1972 had played 148 games but scored no goals. He was captain of the first team for several years.
No 13 Peter Cloudsdale 1973. In the Mercury Newspaper on Saturday 20th October 1973 on page 60 the following was printed “Peter Cloudsdale has been honoured with life membership of the University Club. A former secretary and treasurer he has given “very good service to the Club, especially in relation to the organisation of the U17 section.” He went to the Club about six years ago from Hutchins.” In fact Peter had played for eight seasons playing 199 games and scoring 13 goals. Around the Club he had been the captain of the Reserves team and Vice Chairman.
No 14 Don Butler 1974. At a meeting held 11 September 1974 Don Butler was unanimously nominated for Honorary Life Membership. By the end of the 1974 season Don had played for nine seasons and scored many goals. He had been a committee member asTogatus Representative. By the end of the 1974 season he had played 225 games and scored 114 goals.
No 15 Stewart Taylor 1975. At a special general meeting held on 10 September 1975 it was put and passed that Stewart Taylor become an Honorary Life Member. By the end of the 1975 season Stewart had played for ten seasons which consisted of 213 games and he had scored at least 38 goals. He had been on the committee for two years, been captain of the first team and had attended several IV’s.
No 16 Tom Ballantyne 1976. At a committee meeting held on 23 August 1976 it was resolve to nominate Tom Ballantyne for Honorary Life Membership at a Special General Meeting held on 8th September. Tom was subsequently unanimously granted Honorary Life Membership at a Special General Meeting held on 15 September 1976. In The Mercury Newspaper he was described thus “Ballantyne, who is the current Club Manager, has been a University coach for seven years, a player and a committee man. The reward was for outstanding services to the Club.” By the end of the 1976 season Tom had been with the Club for 8 seasons, played 161 games and scored 5 goals. He had been a Coach, Committee man and Club Manager.
No 17 Phillip Sumner 1976 . At a Special General Meeting held on 15 September 1976 the Committee recommended that Phil receive an Honorary Life Membership and the honour was unanimously granted by those in attendance. The Mercury Newspaper described Phil thus “Sumner, head of the social committee, has been a player for a number of years besides captaining the first team. His honour came for services rendered.” By the end of the 1976 season Phil had been with the Club for 10 seasons, played 222 games and scored 23 goals. He had been on the Committee and Social Committee, coached under age players, been first team captain and attended several IV’s.
No 18 Leslie Jackson 1977. At a Special General Meeting held on 31 August 1977 it was put and passed that Les be granted an Honorary Life Membership. By the end of the 1977 season Les had been with the Club for 10 seasons, played 219 games and scored 74 goals. He had been on the Committee as Treasurer for many years, helped manage teams and actively participated in fund raising events.
No 19 Colin Sumner 1977. At a Special General Meeting held on 31 August 1977 it was put and passed that Colins be granted an Honorary Life Membership. By the end of the 1977 season Colin had been with the Club for 12 seasons, played 287 games and scored 11 goals. He had been on the Committee and the Social Committee and been first team captain.
No 20 Michael Thomspon 1977. At a Special General Meeting held on 31 August 1977 it was put and passed that Michael be granted an Honorary Life Membership. By the end of the 1977 season Micheal had been with the Club for 10 seasons, played 243 games and scored 14 goals. He had been on the Committee, in various roles, and the Social Committee, been first team captain and attended several IV’s.
No 21 John Sloane 1978. At a Special General Meeting held on 6 September 1978 it was put and passed that John be granted an Honorary Life Membership. By the end of the 1978 season John had been with the Club for 12 seasons, played 293 games and scored 48 goals. He had been on the Committee and the Social Committee, played in the first team and attended several IV’s - one as a Manager.
1978 Fred Joughin - Meritorious Service Bar - Saturday Evening Mercury 21 October 1978 - Fred Joughin and John Nicholson, who between them have more than 40 years of service to the Club, received special awards for their work for the Club. By the end of 1978 Fred had played 508 games and scored 40 goals. He was now 28 seasons with the Club and he had continued his Committee service, was Chairman of Selectors and generally an inspiration to all.
1978 John Nicholson - Meritorious Service Bar - Saturday Evening Mercury 21 October 1978 - Fred Joughin and John Nicholson, who between them have more than 40 years of service to the Club, received special awards for their work for the Club. By the end of 1978 John had played 467 games and scored 15 goals. He was now 23 years with the Club and he had continued his Committee service as Gear Steward, yearly updated the medical kits and was generally an inspiration to all. (Thanks John for the hot chips after the games!)
No 22 Howard Gomer 1980. At Life Membership meetings held in camera on 11 August 1980 and 18 August 1980 nominations for Honorary Life Membership were decided and subsequently put and accepted at a Special General meeting that Howard be granted Honorary Life Membership. By the end of the 1980 season Howard had been with the Club for 15 seasons, played 278 games and scored 29 goals. He had been on the Committee and played in the first team and had a couple of years off for military service.
No 23 Gregory Joughin 1980. At Life Membership meetings held in camera on 11 August 1980 and 18 August 1980 nominations for Honorary Life Membership were decided and subsequently put and accepted at a Special General meeting that Greg be granted Honorary Life Membership. By the end of the 1980 season Greg had been with the Club for 15 seasons, played 275 games and scored 63 goals. He had played in the first team, coached several teams and attended IV.
No 24 John Hargrave 1981. At a Special General Meeting held on 18 September 1981nominations for Honorary Life Membership were put and passed that John be granted Honorary Life Membership. By the end of the 1981 season John had been with the Club for 10 seasons, played 222 games and scored 4 goals. He was a highly regarded first team goalkeeper, had coached under-age players, been on Committee and attended several IV’s.
No 25 Guy Clift 1981. At a Special General Meeting held on 18 September 1981nominations for Honorary Life Membership were put and passed that Guy be granted Honorary Life Membership. By the end of the 1981 season Guy had been with the Club for 10 seasons, played 202 games and scored 23 goals. He had been Club Secretary for many years, had done some coaching and attended several IV’s.
1982 Tom Ballantyne - received his Merit Bar for meritorious service to the Club. He was now 14 years with the Club and he had continued his Committee service as Bar Manager and Club Manager and still managing to play games along the way.
No 26 Andrew Robinson 1983. At a committee meeting on 5 September it was decided that Andrew would be recommended for honorary life membership. A subsequent Special General meeting approved the recommendation. By the end of the 1983 season Andrew had been with the Club for 12 seasons, played 267 games and scored 69 goals. He had been a Club Committee member, Social Committee member, had done some coaching and attended several IV’s.
No 27 Colin Pidd 1983. At a committee meeting on 5 September it was decided that Colin would be recommended for honorary life membership. A subsequent Special General meeting approved the recommendation. By the end of the 1983 season Colin had been with the Club for 11 seasons, played 231 games and scored 9 goals. He had been a Club Committee member, Dinner Committee member, Dinner MC, had done some coaching and attended several IV’s.
1984 Michael Thompson - received his Merit Bar for meritorious service to the Club. He was now 17 years with the Club and he had continued his Committee service and worked on a variety of sub-committees for fund raising, social activities and the annual dinner while still playing games.
No 28 Wayne Goninon 1985. No committee minutes mention Wayne’s nomination but there is no doubt that honorary life membership was conferred. By the end of the 1985 season Wayne had been with the Club for 14 seasons, played 304 games and scored 107 goals. He had been a Club Committee member, Coach and manager of Grads and had attended several IV’s.
No 29 Tom Pilkington 1985. No committee minutes mention Tom’s nomination but there is no doubt that Honorary Life Membership was conferred. By the end of the 1985 season Tom had been with the Club for 12 seasons, played 235 games and scored 16 goals. He had been a Club Committee member, Club Secretary, helped out around the Club and had attended several IV’s.
No 30 Jeffrey Connolly 1986. At a committee meeting on 18 August it was decided that Jeff would be recommended for honorary life membership. At a subsequent Special General Meeting held on the 3rd September the meeting approved the recommendation by acclamation. By the end of the 1986 season Jeff had been with the Club for 12 seasons, played 219 games and scored 26 goals. He had been a Club Committee member, Vice-Chairman, Women’s coach for three years, Dinner MC and attended several IV’s.
No 31 Len Armsby 1987. At a committee meeting on 29 July it was resolved that Len be recommended for Honorary Life Membership. At a subsequent Annual General Meeting held on the 2nd September the meeting approved the recommendation by acclamation. By the end of the 1987 season Len had been with the Club for 22 seasons, played 435 games and scored 7 goals. He had been a stalwart of the Club, played in all grades and attended several IV’s.
No 32 Rod Miller 1988. No committee minutes mention Rod’s nomination but there is no doubt that Honorary Life Membership was conferred. By the end of the 1988 season Rod had been with the Club for 9 seasons, played 188 games and scored 17 goals. He had been a Club Chairman and helped out considerably around the Club, being especially helpful in preparing the new Clubrooms at the beginning of 1988.
No 33 Ron Coutts 1988. No committee minutes mention Ron’s nomination but there is no doubt that Honorary Life Membership was conferred. By the end of the 1988 season Ron had been with the Club for 9 seasons, played 181 games and scored 9 goals. He had been a First Team Coach for four years and helped many with his knowledge of sports injuries.
No 34 Peter Crowther 1989. No committee minutes mention Peter’s nomination but there is no doubt that Honorary Life Membership was conferred. By the end of the 1989 season Peter had been with the Club for 13 seasons, played 305 games and scored 67 goals. He had played almost exclusively in the first team and been a first team Assistant Coach.
35 1990 Lisa Hutton
36 1992 Mick Horne
37 1993 Paul Kuzis
38 1995 Peter Apted
39 1996 Michael Sprod
40 1997 Robert Mason
41 1997 Roy Swain
Andrew Robinson - merit bar
42 1998 Matthew Shaw
43 2001 John Parry
44 2001 Michael MacDonald
45 2002 Greg Meyer
46 2003 Graham Smith
47 2003 Chris Hargrave
48 2004 Karen Gorsuch
49 2004 Chris Green
50 2007 Grant Anderson
51 2007 Colin Shepherd