Footy legend farewelled
DON Mathieson was an ordinary man who lived an extraordinary life.
His farewell yesterday at St Mary’s Basilica was a fitting tribute for a 97-yearold who will be remembered for changing the lives of those he encountered for the better.
More than 800 people flocked to Don’s “home base” ” to pay tribute to his legacy of compassion, grace and good humour at what was described d as a party in his honour.
Mr Mathieson’s grandson Chris Povey said he would never forget the endearing twinkle in his Pop’s eye and would forever be influenced by his sense of justice.
“People would go out of their way to say hello to Pop. He made people feel like they really counted,” Mr Povey said. “He was the peacemaker, the person you came to when you were really in strife.
“You only had to look at his fridge with all the photos of his children and grandchildren to see how connected he was. We loved him tremendously.”
A president for more than a quarter of a century at his beloved St Mary’s Football Club (1954-80), the great- grandfather was still a regular face in the crowd this year, following the fortunes of the football and netball sections from the comforts of the pavilion named in his honour.
His legacy lives on through the Geelong Football League, a competition he helped form in 1979 and presided over for 16 seasons from 1980-1995.
Greater Western Sydney AFL club chief executive and long-time friend David Matthews said interleague footy was “Donny at his best”.
He even recalled the footy stalwart helping him set up his first office downstairs at Moorabool St’s Palais, complete with bingo calls ringing in the background.
“In life, you need people to give you great confidence. Rest in peace, great man,” Mr Matthews said.
Fr Kevin Dillon said Mr Mathieson tackled life with grace and integrity.
“You were enriched by the experience of having this great man in your life,” he said.
“He went to war for four years, he lost a child ... but he got on with it in no uncertain terms. Resilience is a great characteristic and it was there in abundance for Don Mathieson.”
Mr Mathieson’s coffin, adorned with white roses, left St Mary’s to applause from a guard of honour made up of friends, family and fans.