We would like to extend a warm welcome to everybody here today at the Arkaba Oval, especially to Richard Melhuish who is doing us the honour of tossing the commemorative Life Member coin for this important Cup game against Bridgewater.
A life time resident of the area, Richard or Mel or Wally as many know him, is a Life Member of both Heathfield Aldgate United (1978) and the Mt Lofty District Football Club (1986) recognising years of distinguished service as both a multi Premiership player and official of both clubs.
Richard started his junior football at Heathfield, went on to play at Sturt and was enticed back to Heathfield Aldgate United in 1969 to play with his mates and go on to be a member of seven A Grade Premierships at Full Back for HAU and multiple Premierships for Mt Lofty, playing until 1987 at A, B and C Grade levels.. Also a very talented athlete who held many Heathfield High School records for decades, he played 345 games and was a member of the HFL team which won the Lovelock Shield for the first time in 1973.
His record as an official and volunteer was as impressive as his playing career – He became Secretary of HAU at the age of 20 and held the position from 1971 to 1978, sat again as Secretary of Mt Lofty from 1980 to 1984, Football Director from 1980 to 1986, Chairman of the Club in 1989 and finally served as A Grade Team Manager from 1984 to 1994.
Stan Evans is being celebrated today as he does us the honor of tossing the commemorative coin for the A Grade game.
At 91 years of age he is one of our longest serving Life Members and was awarded HAU Life Member status in 1976.
Stan played B Grade for Stirling FC between 1949 and 1955 and then led the formation of the Heathfield Football Club in 1955.
Stan then played for Heathfield, Heathfield Aldgate United and finally Mount Lofty, hanging up his boots at the age of 55.
He has served as president for all three clubs, a devoted man that has spent a lifetime beside his beautiful wife Barb to build these facilities and our great sense of community.
It is with great sadness that we advise of the passing of David Fuller, a very much loved member of and Premiership player with both the Heathfield and Heathfield Aldgate United Football Clubs.
Sadly, Dave’s long battle with illness ended on Saturday night and a service in his memory may take place late this week. David’s family will provide us with more detail as soon as available and we will forward that on together with his wonderful club record.
Our thoughts are with his family at this sad time.
The Lofty Legends Group Mt Lofty District Football Club
Cliff Chaplin is being celebrated today as he does us the honor of tossing the coin for the A Grade game against Uraidla.
At 97 years of age he is one of our oldest Life Members and was awarded Life Member status in the 1976.
An original Heathfield Football Club player who spent much of his playing career in the B Grade and coaching our Under 14’s, before moving into extended service as our A Grade Goal Umpire.
Peter “Barney” Allen, one of Heathfield Aldgate United’s great players, has sadly passed away at just 66. Never without a smile, Barney was an extremely popular and dedicated clubman. As a tough “no nonsense” defender, his record is quite incredible from the amazing HAU era, making him one of the club’s most decorated as a member of the following Premierships:
1971 Senior Colts
1972 A Grade,
1973 A Grade
1974 A Grade
1975 A Grade
1976 A Grade
1977 A Grade
Peter “Barney” pictured centre with brothers and sisters,left to right, Barry, Judith, Lynette and Greg.
The Lofty Legends Group and the Mt Lofty District Football Club, offer our sincere condolences to Barney’s mother, Roma, children Adam and Megan and son in law Ben, Grandchildren Jae, Savannah and Abbey, brothers Barry and Greg, sisters Lynette and Judy and their families.
Barney will be very sadly missed by so many people, but his contribution to the team and the club will never be forgotten.
The following Funeral notice appeared in the Saturday Advertiser:
“The family and friends of Peter (Barney) are invited to his funeral service to be conducted entirely at the Carr Memorial Chapel, 1 Morphett Street, Mount Barker on Wednesday 30th March, 2022 at 2.00pm. In lieu of floral tributes, donations to the Flinders Cancer and Wellness Centre would be appreciated. Envelopes will be available at the service. This funeral service is being live streamed and available to view via our Adelaide Hills Funerals Website.”
The Lofty Legends Group
Mt Lofty District Football Club
Peter “Barney” pictured centre with brothers and sisters, left to right, Barry, Judith, Lynette and Greg.
It is with much sadness that we advise the passing of one of the club and local community’s most dedicated members, Lorraine Pawlak, nee Hampton.
Sadly, Lorraine passed away on Saturday 4 December after various health issues suffered over a period of years. In her typical no-nonsense approach to life, her family and friends were extremely shocked by a deterioration in her health in the few weeks prior. (Refer below for Memorial Service details).
A resident of Heathfield for most of her life and made a Life Member of the Mt Lofty District Football Club in 2004, Lorraine was a member of the Hampton family, which is so prominent in the history of the Stirling, Heathfield, Heathfield Aldgate United and Mt Lofty Football Clubs going back many decades. Lorraine gave so much, never attracting attention in any way, just doing things quietly and efficiently which she knew needed to be done. The Football Clubs were so fortunate in so many areas with her being a very active member of the Junior Committee when her sons Glen and Jason played in the junior grades, going on to be involved for decades in so many roles including Canteen Manager, Catering Manager and a myriad of other tasks. When the club was having difficulty in recent years with obtaining stock for the canteen, BBQ and kitchen Lorraine again came to the fore and continued up until 2020 even during periods of ill health.
Lorraine’s life away from football was also typified by her giving nature, taking care of people less privileged to the general community. A proud Parent and Grandparent who loved looking after her grandchildren, Lorraine also dedicated herself, together with her sisters and brother and families, to the care of her parent’s Jack and Joyce Hampton who themselves also gave so much to the clubs.
The Lofty Legends Group and the Mt Lofty District Football Club offer our sincere condolences to Jack and Joyce, as well as Glen and Jason and their families and to Margaret, Kevin, Robyn and Sharyn and their families. So sad to lose such a beautiful person and as one former Heathfield Aldgate United Life Member put it “An Angel is created.”
Lorraine won the Club Person of the Year award and was also appointed as a Life Member in 2004.
Here she is pictured below with her nephew Josh Healey (now a senior player) on the occasion of him winning the Junior Club Person of the Year in 2007.
A huge family contribution – father Jack won a Club Person award with Heathfield Aldgate United and was also an HAU Life Member and Nephew Joel also won a Club Person of the Year with Mt Lofty.
Memorial Service – details from today’s Courier:
“A memorial service will be held on Thursday, December 16 at 2 p.m. at the Mt Lofty Clubrooms (Longwood Road, Heathfield), Afternoon tea and a drink to celebrate Lorraine’s life. Because of COVID-19 restrictions please RSVP to Kevin Hampton on 0407 616 632 or Sharyn Healey 0407 474 934.”
COVID has certainly led to great pressures on the community and with Lorraine’s parents and several friends being quite elderly with health issues, regrettably, the family respectfully ask that people attending have proof of double vaccination available please.
Sadly due to Covid restrictions, limitations on event numbers are in place too. RSVP’s are essentials please, and the family ask that only immediate family children attend.
