Football shake-up

The Wimmera’s football and health-services fraternities are mourning the death of influential Nhill personality John Smith.

Mr Smith, 81, as prominent in regional sport as he was in health administration, died in Adelaide last week after a long battle with illness.

Mr Smith was part of AFL Wimmera Mallee Regional Commission, chairman until about 12 months ago, and was still on the commission at the time of his death.

He was also a Wimmera Football League life-member and league commission chairman and for many years an advocate for Wimmera football, cricket and sport in general.

During his heavy involvement in sport he was West Wimmera Health Service chief executive for almost 53 years and had the title of the longest-serving chief executive of a Victorian health service.

AFL Wimmera Mallee’s Stephen Mcqueen, who worked alongside Mr Smith for many years, said he was saddened by the news.

“John’s contribution to football and netball in the region has been outstanding and the respect he held was deserved,” he said.

“His personal contact with the clubs, officials, umpires and general public was commendable.” Mr Smith’s funeral will be at Nhill Uniting Church at 11am on Friday.

The news came as a shake-up continued in AFL Wimmera Mallee Regional Commission roles.

The commission and AFL Victoria announced Jason Muldoon as AFL Victoria Wimmera-mallee area manager last week.

Mr Muldoon stepped into the role after being the AFL region’s football development manager since 2013.

AFL Victoria created the position as part of an AFL Victoria restructure that also led to a former managerial position held by Bruce Petering, who had managed Central Murray and Sunraysia regions as well as Wimmera-mallee, becoming redundant.