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.
