The death of Mr Downs, 80, has had a huge impact on the bowling and football fraternities, along with his home town of Rutherglen where he grew up.

Mr Downs had an avid interest in sport starting when he was young being a mascot for the Rutherglen Football Club.

He was the Ovens and Murray Football League secretary from 1977 to 1991 and in bowling ranks was elevated to president of Bowls Australia and the vice-president of World Bowls.

But he was a humble man and significant contributor to his community, serving 37 years as a councillor on the Rutherglen Shire with three terms as the municipal leader.

He was awarded an OAM in 1995 for his community and civic contributions.

Mr Downs was initiated into the Masonic Lodge in 1951, held senior positions with it and was treasurer of his local lodge for 35 years.

He was a primary and secondary teacher for 35 years and the caller for 30 years at the rowing regatta held at Lake Moodemere a short distance west of Rutherglen on New Year’s Day.

His nephew, Bill Campbell, said Mr Downs had a good life with a diverse range of interests.

“He enjoyed life, met a lot of people and enjoyed every moment of it,” Mr Campbell said.

Fellow Rutherglen resident and the member for Murray Valley, Ken Jasper, described Mr Downs as “a true son of Rutherglen and an icon in the town and further afield”.

Mr Jasper said Mr Downs was deeply involved in the community.

“He was a strong supporter of me in my politicial career,” Mr Jasper said.

“It will be a massive funeral.”

Graeme Bulgin was Ovens and Murray president for nine years during the period when Mr Downs was secretary and worked closely with him.

“I reckon he was terrific as far as I was concerned,” Mr Bulgin said.

He said Mr Downs had been an outstanding administrator.

The Ovens and Murray was blessed with astute leaders at the time with Mr Downs, Cleaver Bunton and H. J. “Did” Simpson.

Ovens and Murray chairman Greg Claney said Mr Downs was involved in the league’s transition from a delegates system to a board of directors in the late 1980s.

He was highly respected throughout the league, still attended matches and had been on the league’s hall of fame selection panel since its inception.

Mr Downs joined the Rutherglen Bowling Club in January 1960 and became the sport’s top official.

He won 16 club championships between 1964 and 1988, Ovens and Murray (Group 6) championships, was runner-up in Victoria’s country singles in 1965 and the state’s champion of champions in 1971.

He represented Victoria 36 times and was an interstate skip in 1978 and 1979.

Mr Downs held many positions in Group 6, progressing to president in 1980 and ’81 and was secretary-treasurer from 1986 to the present time.

He became a state selector in 1989, Victoria’s chairman of selectors in 1995-96 and state president in 1996 and 1997.

In 1992-93, he was chairman of selectors for Bowls Australia and national chairman of selectors in 1995-96 before serving two terms as Bowls Australia president in 1999 and 2000.

On the international scene, he was junior vice-president of World Bowls in 1998, chairman of the Asia Pacific Association from 1999 to 2001 and senior vice-president of World Bowls in 2000.

His contribution to the sport earned him life membership of the Rutherglen club, Group 6 and the Royal Victorian Bowling Association.

Mr Downs had been advocating for years the unification of the men’s and women’s associations in Victoria and both voted overwhelmingly for that to happen earlier this month.

His funeral will be held next Monday at 11am at St Stephen’s Anglican in Rutherglen.