Colin Tainton Medal
The EBFC Senior Best & Fairest Medal is named the “Colin Tainton Medal”
In 1946 at the age of 16 joined EBFC in the Eastern Suburban Football League
Three time Winner of League Best & Fairest (Wadsworth Medal) – 1952, 1953, 1954
Six time EBFC Best and Fairest – 1950, 1952, 1954, 1955, 1956, 1968 (2nds)
Member of six EBFC Premiership sides – 1954, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1967, 1968
Senior Coach – 1951, 1957, 1958, 1970 & 1971 Reserves Coach – 1968 & 1969
Vice-Captain & Centre of the EBFC Team of the Century
Made No.26 famous in 436 senior games for the Club, from 1946 – 1971 (establishing the club record) with 513 total EDFL games incl. Coldstream FC.
Life Member EBFC and EDFL
A great personal history as a club champion and legend. His contribution to EBFC has been one of remarkable achievement, with honours that still stand unbeaten and of which many players I’m sure would aspire to.
Gary Coleman Award
The EBFC Reserve Best & Fairest Award is named the “Gary Coleman Award”
Gary Coleman played 249 games from 1967-1980.
He played in the 1968 Reserve Premeirship, and was also Captain of the Reserves for a number of years. Gary was a Half Back Flanker and Full Back and wore the No. 31
A Life Member of the EBFC and he was also President of the Sporting Club for 2 years
Gary has been on various committee’s over the years and always lends a hand when needed to do whatever job around the club, he is a great clubman.
Barry Wenker Award
The EBFC Best & Fairest Award for the Colts is named the Barry Wenker Award.
Barry played in the 1960’s with East Burwood – he was a rugged and fearless half back flanker.
He has a tremendous loyalty to the East Burwood Football Club and devotes himself to it.
He has also worked hard at Junior Level, promoting the merger of Blackburn South and East Burwood Junior Clubs.
Has liaised with Glen Waverley Hawks for Seniors, which led to a number of officials coming to East Burwood, who then went on to serve on Senior Administration.
Barry was also responsible for recruiting players from Senior Schools in the area, always on the lookout for players from these schools, ie. St. Leos, Aquinas and others.
A highly respected person whose heart bleeds for our Club….Loved by all.
Alan Shaw Memorial Clubman Award
The EBFC Clubman Award (Player) is named the “Alan Shaw Memorial Clubman Award”
Four time EBFC Best and Fairest – 1961, 1962, 1964, 1967
Member of five EBFC Premiership sides
Captain & Ruck of the EBFC Team of the Century
Made No.16 famous in 338 games for the Club, from 1954 – 1979
Life Member EBFC and EDFL
A great club champion and legend, distinguished captain and team mate and respected opponent to all who played with or against him. He was a true ornament to the club and the game who was loved by all.
Stuart Richardson Memorial Award
The EBFC Best Player in Finals Award is named the “Stuart Richardson Memorial Award”
In the 1950’s at the age of 17 joined EBFC in the Eastern Suburban Football League
Member of 6 EBFC Premiership sides –
EBFC President 4 years – 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983
Selector & Committeeman
Convener & Inaugural President of Past Players & Supporters Group
Made No. 13 famous in 289 Senior Games for the Club
Nominated for EBFC Team of the Century
Life Member EBFC
A tough, wiry, no fuss player who played in various positions, but remembered mostly as a fearless backman. Stuart’s legacy will endure as the Club Patriarch who’s 50 years of service is well documented. He was a true larrikin and loved by all.
Jack Fankhauser Memorial Award
The EBFC Award for Most Outstanding Club Person (non playing) is named the “Jack Fankhauser Memorial Award”
In 1945 at the age of 18 joined EBFC and was instrumental in the revival of the Club following WW2.
Member of the 1954 Premiership (Champions) team
Club Captain – 1950, 1951, 1952, 1953
Reserves Coach – 1957, 1958
Secretary – 1945, 1946, 1947, 1948, 1949, 1950, 1951, 1952, 1953, 1954
Treasurer – 1953, 1954, 1955, 1956, 1957
Life Member EBFC 1954
Played over 200 senior games
In addition to these roles Jack also held positions of:-
Team Manager, Member of the Eastern Suburban League Tribunal, East Burwood Parks and Gardens Committee Chairman and was an extremely popular Master of Ceremonies for EBFC and EB Cricket Club functions for many years. Jack was a truly dedicated member of the East Burwood community.
He was a gentleman, committed community worker, a sportsman and a true legend of East Burwood.
Paul Melville Memorial Award
The EBFC Outstanding U21 Player is named the “Paul Melville Memorial Award”
Paul Melville was a dynamic and electrifying player who made an enormous impact at the East Burwood Football Club in a relatively short time. Paul died tragically in the November of 1978 at the age of 21, after suffering a massive brain haemorrhage. He is still remembered fondly by all in the football and cricket world that had the pleasure to cross his path.
Paul began his football career at EBFC way back in 1969 as a 12 year old, he played in the Under 15’s under the tutelage of junior coaching legend Pat King. Paul continued his East Burwood association into the Under 17’s up until the end of the 1973 season and played a total of 70 junior games with East Burwood. From there Paul went on to play senior football at Coldstream.
Fortunately, Paul returned to East Burwood in 1976 to play under newly appointed coach, Colin Bourke. In a premiership year for the newly christened Rams, Paul was the stand out player of the 1976 season. He won the Best & Fairest by a then record margin and there was daylight to second place in his runaway win.
Paul was a match winner in all respects. He attracted some of the most intense even questionable attention of opposition teams, but remained a tough and single minded competitor. His hallmark was his electrifying pace, which he used to his greatest advantage. However, he was by no means a wide running player. He won most of his ball at the seat of the packs, then left his opponents scratching their heads and empty handed with his explosive bursts.
Paul’s blistering speed and phenomenal ball skills were never better displayed than at East Burwood one day, when he went on one of his signature long runs down the wing. On his third bounce, the ball bounced awkwardly over his shoulder, only for Paul to gather it behind his back without breaking stride and continuing on as if nothing unusual had happened.
Paul had only two seasons and 35 games as a senior player at East Burwood, before deciding to concentrate on his cricket. He played his entire junior cricket career with East Burwood Cricket Club and gained selection with the Richmond District Cricket Club to play Under 16 Dowling Shield with two other homegrown boys, Peter Davies and Peter Sacristani. All three went on to represent their State. Paul’s career continued to gain momentum, with a season in the Lancashire League in England and a full season with Victoria in season 1977-78. Just prior to his death the possibility of national selection in the Australian side had been mooted.
Paul played all of his sport at breakneck speed with an intensity not seen in many people. He had the ability to motivate those around him by his deeds and single mindedness to the task. He is a wonderful role model to all those young players that have had the opportunity to vie for the award that bears his name, as East Burwood’s Best Under 21 Footballer for the year.
Margaret and John Trollope
Margaret and John have had an ongoing connection with the East Burwood Football Club for more than 35 years.
It began way back in 1969 when their oldest son Allan joined the Under 17’s, under the watchful coaching eye of the late and great Ken Parry. Allan played only one season before his tragic and untimely death.
Their involvement was renewed in 1971, when their next son Ken, commenced his junior career at East Burwood. For the next four years, John donned the whites and a whistle and boundary umpired, once even having to assume control of the match when the field umpire broke down. Suffice to say, the Rams had a win.
Over the next five or six years, Margaret and John continued supporting both Ken and now Neale “the Slug” religiously every week.
In the eighties, Margaret significantly increased her involvement, taking on the role of Secretary and worked side by side with several Presidents, including Wayne Pattison, Brian Cross and Bruce Armstrong.
This administrative role brought her to the attention of the League who invited her to serve on the then EDFL Executive. Margaret was the first woman ever to take on such a role and was a pioneer for women to become involved in sports administration. Her time in service with the EDFL spanned 10 years and included a period as Vice President of the League.
At the same time John had developed an interest in training and became renowned around the club for his magic hands. That interest has been maintained now for 20 years and hundreds if not thousands of hamstrings, calves and backs have benefited from his ministrations.
The East Burwood Football Club has many reasons to be grateful to Margaret and John and as such has seen fit to recognise their contribution, along with that of their sons, in striking the “Trollope Family Award” to be bestowed upon any Player who polls the most votes in the Eastern Football League Best and Fairest.
Margaret and John’s contribution has not finished, as they continue to be actively involved in the Club to this day.
Ian Laurie Memorial Medal
The Colts Best Finals Player will be awarded from 2005 on, with the “Ian Laurie Memorial Medal” in commemoration of Ian.
Ian moved over to the East Burwood Football Club as part of the junior amalgamation with the Wantirna Warriors in 2000. He immediately took on a position with the junior committee and then the senior committee when son Gordon moved on to the U18’s.
Ian was a hard working committee member and always put up his hand to assist as either interchange steward, goal umpire, umpires escort or whatever job was required to be done.
Even when he was very sick and had little strength, he was still trying to do a job every week and contribute to the club through his committee work.
A remarkable man with great strength, who was committed to his family and the Club.
