Geelong farewells a legend
BRILLIANT blue skies and winter sunshine welcomed more than 300 people to Kardinia Park yesterday as Geelong said its farewell to legendary Cat Graham “Polly” Farmer.
The rhythmic hum of the didgeridoo and woody “clack” of clapping sticks was the soundtrack to the smoke ceremony at the front of GMHBA Stadium, where family members of the Geelong giant led mourners into the stadium for his memorial service.
Farmer, a proud Noongar man, died in a Perth hospital earlier this month, surrounded by the loving family who nursed him through a long battle with dementia
Geelong vice-president Bob Gartland was first to pay tribute at the service, remembering the impact Polly had before even wearing the hoops.
“In 1961, when I was seven, our teacher made a point of formally announcing to the school that Polly Farmer was the best footballer in Australia, and that he was coming to play for Geelong,” Mr Gartland said.
“A newspaper cutting was pasted by the back door of the school with Polly’s photo on it, and as we all filed out of the school room at the end of each night, we’d all say ‘goodnight’ to Polly, and this was before he’d even played a game.”
When Polly finally did make it to Geelong, he made a lasting impact in a short time — especially for Mr Gartland and his junior footy teammates who met the legend at one pie night.
“To say that he was a champion is inadequate, he was so much more to so many people,” Mr Gartland said.
“He was a giant to us, but kind and gentle and softly spoken. And he had time for all the boys”
Cats president Colin Carter also remembered the impact Polly had on him as a young man, revealing he may never have become president if it were not for Farmer.
“Polly holds a very special place in my heart, because he is the reason I followed Geelong,” Mr Carter said.
“I came to Melbourne (from Perth) as a 15-year-old and needed to pick a team to support. Polly came to Melbourne a short time later, and because he was a hero of every West Australian kid, his decision to come to Geelong was good enough for me.
“In only 100 games in the VFL, Polly revolutionised our game. And no other player is credited with having such an impact.
“Our club is a much better place because Graham ‘Polly’ Farmer was part of us. We cherish his memory and promise that it will never be forgotten.”
Former teammate Fred Wooller remembered the impact Polly’s attitude and commitment to training had on his new colleagues.
“He was always first to training, or one of the first, and he’d do eight laps,” Wooller said. “And every night before the serious training would start, Polly would practise his goal kicking.
“He had a theory — you line something up between the middle of the goals, you run in straight, you drop the ball straight to your foot, you follow through straight and the ball will go straight.”
Even in his first game, Polly overcame a leg injury to kick four goals “on one leg”, he said.
While Polly’s impact was affectionately recalled at the memorial, his grandson Cole Baxter and daughter Kim Farmer gave insight into the caring family man he was.
“Polly, my grandad, and Marlene, my grandma — their names to me have always been Buddy and Nani,” Mr Baxter said. “Bud was always there for the grandfatherly duties, holding me high for photos, bouncing me on his lap, and pulling the mattress out for sleepovers.
“Whenever I would see Bud, he’d give me the change he had in his pocket.
If I needed a lift to basketball training he’d be there to drop me off without question. It’s in those inherent actions that I see now the behaviours that have been passed on to me.
“Whatever Bud had the family had, and if my plans required his involvement, it was never negotiated. His loyalty always meant participation.”
For daughter Kim, it was a story about her birth that best demonstrated her parents’ incredible — and somewhat dangerous — love for one another and their family.
She recalled how Polly would finish his early morning gym sessions in the days following her birth before heading to the Baxter House Maternity Hospital to see his new daughter and beloved wife.
“Mum would do a bit of a Michael Jackson and dangle me from the second floor showing Dad below … and Dad would be beaming up to Mum, and Mum would be beaming down,” she said.
Ms Farmer also remembered her “dad’s magical powers to make people happy”.