We are deeply saddened to share that Richard ‘Dicky’ Symons has passed away peacefully in the late hours of the evening 20 June surrounded by his loving family.
The family asks for privacy at this time.
Funeral and proceedings expected to be on Friday 4 July from 10am.
MLDFC and our clubs pass on our sincerest condolences to Betty and the extended family.
We are deeply saddened to share that Herman Johannes de Roos (79) has passed away peacefully in the early hours of this morning 20 June surrounded by his loving family.
The de Roos family asks for privacy at this time and a celebration of his life will be announced in due course.
We would like thank Brian Penny who is did us the honour of tossing the coin for the important match against last year’s A Grade Premier, Hahndorf for the Round 8 Coin Toss. Brian was joined on the day by his wife Ann and son Rob.
Brian’s journey began in 1970, when his son Rob first pulled on the boots for the junior colts. Like many great football stories, it started on the sidelines, serving as goal umpire and team manager. But that was just the beginning.
By 1973, he was on the ground, acting as trainer for the Junior Colts, who went on to become premiers that year. His contribution was hands-on and heartfelt, helping to shape a winning team and a stronger club culture.
Throughout the 1970s, he poured energy into a variety of fundraising efforts, finding creative ways to support the club financially, long before sponsorships and grant money were common. These were grassroots efforts driven by passion and perseverance.
In 1977, he took on the role of Assistant Secretary, stepping into the administrative side of club life and further cementing his role as a key figure in our community.
During the 1970s he worked alongside the late, great Frank Clements, assisting in player recruitment and helping to lay the foundations for the future of the club. His support during that time helped shape the teams and culture we still see today.
Brian is also lucky to have seen his son Rob, and Grandson’s Adam, Matthew and Josh all play for the Devils.
On behalf of the the Mt Lofty District Football Club, we thank Brian for his time, his dedication, and his lasting impact on our club.
We would thank Geoff Hampton, a Life Member of both Mt Lofty and Heathfield Aldgate United, did us the honour of tossing the commemorative Life Member coin for the important match against Mt Barker for R6 on 24 May 2025.
Growing up in the local area, Geoff was a very gifted footballer who played in 15 Grand Finals at Junior and Senior Levels, becoming a member of 13 Premierships, including 7 in Heathfield Aldgate United’s A Grade and in the first Mt Lofty A Grade’s Premiership in 1981. His achievements show that he was one of the best footballers to have played in the Hills Football League. From the Captain of United Junior Premierships to the winner of 3 A Grade Best and Fairest Awards, the first of which was in 1969 at just 17 years of age, Geoff had also shown outstanding form in lowering the colours of two champion SANFL players when he played in trial games for Sturt.
While he would probably have gone on to be a very good player at South Australia’s top level, he instead decided to remain with his United mates where they went on to achieve the Australian record of 87 wins without loss, that record only beaten 3 years ago after 44 years.
Geoff was a very consistent player who rose to another level in the big occasions as illustrated by the fact that at just 18 he was named best afield after kicking 5 goals from the wing in United’s 1971 Premiership and then, 10 years later, repeat that effort in Mt Lofty’s inaugural A Grade Premiership win when he was again best afield and again kicked 5 goals.
Throughout his career Geoff also carried out a lot of voluntary work, using his building skills in projects for United and Mt Lofty. An incredible level of courage and determination was a hallmark of his football life and his life as a builder after early years as a carpenter. Those same qualities have been a key to Geoff’s inspirational battle against ill health in recent years.
The Hampton family was a huge part of United where all 4 brothers played for the club, with Geoff, Ian “Doug” and Darryl (also a Mt Lofty Life Member) playing in a total of 17 United A Grade Premierships and many Junior Premierships along with youngest brother Phillip. Geoff, Doug and Darryl also played in a total of 5 Mt Lofty A Grade Premierships between them.
Geoff’s dedication to football continued after his playing days when he coached his son Peter’s junior teams for quite a few years, played some B Grade matches in his 40’s and also volunteering for Hahndorf Football Club where the family has lived for over 40 years.
We thank you sincerely on behalf of everybody at Mt Lofty for all that you do for our club.
MLDFC usual home game Life Member coin toss took a different slant for Round 5, so we could take time to acknowledge and celebrate the inauguration of the scoreboard this season as well as express our deep appreciation and respect to all major contributors and their generosity that have made this scoreboard possible.
There have been numerous examples of club spirit that have occurred to realise the commissioning of the scoreboard and whilst there has been an inauguration ceremony last month, we wish to honour publicly all who were unavailable to make the unveiling and ceremony.
Some were unavailable to join us on that day and we have invited one of the families that made a personal significant contribution to do the coin toss this week.
Present from the De Roos family we have Glenda, Son Simon and Daughter Nikki, Simon’s wife Emma, and Glenda and Herman’s grandchildren Isaac, Stella, Hanna and her partner Tyler.
We also pay our greatest respect and best wishes to Lofty Club Legend Herman whose playing career and then committee involvement is well documented in the club’s history, who couldn’t be there for the day.
Glenda, Herman’s wife, has a long-documented history of involvement in the Club.
Nikki their daughter is now our Head Trainer and this year put her hand up to take over from Haydn as convener of the Lofty Legends Group, working to build the groups dynamics.
Hanna, Tyler and Hanna’s sister Emily (not present) also being involved in 2024 in bar duties. What a long history!
MLDFC wish to express our most sincere gratitude to the De Roos family and all of the major contributors to the amazing new scoreboard that all of our members can enjoy.
We would like to thank Kevin Hampton who did us the honour of tossing the commemorative Life Member coin for the match against Uraidla no Saturday April 26th 2025.
Growing up in Heathfield, Kevin was awarded Life Membership of Mt Lofty in 1990, 12 years after the formation of the club in 1978. A member of the first Mt Lofty A Grade Premiership squad in 1981, and the 1986 A Grade Premiership on return to the HFL, he has always been known for his encouragement of young players and coached Mt Lofty junior grades for 6 seasons. A Committee member and Junior Director, Kevin’s untiring service to the club, supported by wife Kathy, culminated in being elected President in 1998. He was also a founding driver of the Lofty Legends Group where he initiated awards to Junior players to encourage their team development and to build links throughout the club.
The Hampton name has been a huge part of Stirling, Heathfield, Heathfield Aldgate United and Mt Lofty history. Both Kevin’s parents, the late Jack, and Joyce, who is here today, were tireless volunteers for United, with Jack being awarded Life Membership for his service to the club as a junior coach and many other roles. This followed a wonderful playing career for Mylor, Stirling and Heathfield. His sister Lorraine, who sadly passed just 3 years ago, was a dedicated volunteer for the Devils and managed the club canteen for many years, culminating in Life Membership. Kevin’s sons Michael and Joel also represented Mt Lofty, with Joel playing many games at Junior and Senior level. Kevin’s involvement goes right back to a picture of he and David Evans as young boys seen in 1964 when clearing commenced for the Heathfield Oval.
Kevin’s Devils playing days as a solid defender, were highly regarded, with teammates recalling him as a committed team man who always supported the younger players in the team.
This followed a dedicated career with Heathfield Aldgate United where he was a member of 7 Premierships in total across A Grade, B Grade and junior sides. Kevin retired as a Mt Lofty player, after more than 300 senior matches, including for our heritage clubs, Heathfield Aldgate United and Stirling.
Everybody connected with the Mt Lofty District Football Club appreciate and say thank you to Kevin for his exceptional dedication and service.
