President Greg Lumby has been the glue that has kept the Rutherglen community together through some devastating times. He spoke to The Border Mail's BRETT KOHLHAGEN this week about the heartache of losing two of the club's favourite sons and daughters within the space of months.
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BRETT KOHLHAGEN: Where do you think your community-mindedness came from?
GREG LUMBY: I left school when I was 15 as my old man was crook with a bit of heart trouble. I was no good at school anyway. The teachers on my last day at Rutherglen said I was going to be a menace to society and no good at anything so I thought stuff it, I'll stick it up you blokes.
BK: Some pretty harsh words there?
GL: I came home on the farm and, with interest rates at 18 per cent, all we did was work, work, work with not many outlets. Then I joined the Young Farmers Organisation and later became president. That's where I hooked up with Kay (wife) and my involvement in the community started I guess.
BK: Tell us how you first got involved with the footy club?
GL: When our eldest boy, Dale, started playing Auskick. I went along as a parent and helped out a bit and then they asked me to be the coordinator in 2007 which I did for three years. I was pretty much hooked on the footy club from that point.
BK: You were named regional Auskick coordinator of the Year in 2009 weren't you?
GL: I went down to Crown in Melbourne and 'Dipper' (Robert DiPierdomenico) made the presentation which was pretty good. I coached the under-14s for two years which was great and (Wayne) 'Porky' Milthorpe saw me one day and asked if I'd go on the main committee and I said I'd love to.
BK: Then in October, 2010 you became president?
GL: There is a bit of a story there. Brian Curran was president at the time and he approached me about what I was going to do and I told him I was going to take on the job as the Rutherglen Ag Society president but was happy to stay involved with the footy club. Brian had planned to stay on for another year but a week later called back and said he wanted out due to family reasons so I ended up doing both.
He told told the boys he had been dealt a shit card but was going to fight to the end. It was powerful stuff
BK: And it's been like that ever since.
GL: I got both jobs within a couple of months of each other. Kay and I tried to spend at least one night at home together without meetings or trainings, which was a Monday night but that didn't always work either.
BK: I know a few presidents like yourself who thought they would do the job for two or three years but remain in the job 10 years later.
GL: That's right (laughs). It probably took me 12 months until I got my head around how it would work and then you have to gain the respect of the committee and players. We had a fair changeover of coaches for a while and that was tough because I got along well with them all as people. It's always hard telling coaches they are no longer required.
BK: Karl Jacka made an incredible impact as coach at Rutherglen before he passed away with cancer in early 2017 didn't he?
GL: He was an amazing coach and person. For a bloke I only knew for a short amount of time, we got on really well. I have no doubt Rutherglen would have won a premiership under Karl because he would have kept at it until we did. That's the sort of person he was.
BK: It took a bit to get him to the club didn't it?
GL: It was a late appointment. We spoke to Karl in the October but he said he was committed to Wodonga Raiders as reserve grade coach. Karl had a disagreement with 'Cressa' (Daryn Cresswell) on the second or third night of training about the reserves and he decided to come out to us. 'Arch' (Archie Jones) and I went to see him again straight away and it went from there.
BK: Rutherglen made the finals in Karl's first year in dramatic circumstances didn't it?
GL: It was unbelievable. We had to beat Beechworth by 15 goals in the last round and the boys did it. The jubilation within the club when we won was just incredible. Everyone was so happy. We lost the following week in the elimination final, but it didn't seem to matter.
BK: And then things got tough for Karl midway through the next season?
GL: We had our black tie ball and he started feeling crook that night in about July. By the end of the footy season he had had a number of operations and was doing it tough. I remember a game at Beechworth on a miserable day when he was just out of hospital and had to sit in the car. It was amazing he went to the game.
BK: Incredibly, Rutherglen went on to make the first semi-final amidst a wave of emotion
GL: Karl's speech after that semi final loss to Barny was priceless, very emotional. I wish someone had recorded it because it just showed the person he was and how he cared so much for everybody at the club. I knew how hard he was doing it and I told him to spend time with his family but Karl being Karl, he organised the pre-season for us even though he wasn't able to be there a lot.
BK: When Karl received some really bad news in his final days, he wanted to tell the players personally. How did that unfold?
GL: After getting some bad results from more tests, he told the nurses he wanted to tell his players and organised a training session in Albury before getting everyone to meet at the hospital to catch up there. We thought we would get 15 or 18 along but about 40 of our players went. He had booked the conference room and set up with chairs as well as sandwiches and drinks. This was the night he told the players he had terminal cancer. We went and got him from his room and he had his drip and everything with him. He told the boys he had been dealt a shit card but was going to fight to the end. It was really powerful stuff.
BK: All this seems unimaginable considering all the club had been through after one of the club's netball coaches, Jess McLennan, died in a car accident just a few months earlier?
GL: That was tragic with Karl front and centre there too. We played Dederang and a few of us thought they were more than likely going to turn Jess's life support off that day. We had called off the junior netball which Jess was coaching as the kids were so young but Jarryd (Hatton) wanted the boys to play the footy.
BK: Jarryd actually called during the senior game to tell you they had turned off Jess's machine didn't he?
GL: He rang Karl but was adamant the players weren't told during the game.Karl knew what had happened and it was incredible how he was able to speak at three quarter-time with all that emotion stored up inside him. I'll never forget it. Then at the end of the game Karl got the players together on the ground and told them. I remember looking around and there was nobody around the clubrooms or fence. There was just a massive ring of supporters and netballers around the players.Jess was a fantastic young person. That day and those to come showed me just how important football and netball clubs can be in tough times.
BK: And Karl organised Martin Cross to come to the club to speak the following week.
GL: Martin came down the following Tuesday or Thursday and he was brilliant, We tried to support the players as much as we could with some handouts and things like that to help them deal with the stress. Within weeks of Jess dying, Karl got sick.
BK: You are very proud of what the club has been able to achieve since Karl and Jess passed away aren't you?
GL: Incredibly proud of the way the club and community in general has got behind the Cancer Awareness Day, Donatelife Day and Jess McLennan Nursing Scholarship.
BK: You were honoured to hand over a big cheque to Albury-Wodonga Regional Cancer Centre
GL: In the May after Karl died I was privileged to take a cheque of $93,000 to the cancer centre as well as a framed jumper of Karl. I took it up to the level where Karl had stayed and saw the nurses who he had spent time with. That was a special day. It was a privilege to present it because so many people had been involved.
BK: You say it's a privilege but it must have been difficult as the face of the club?
GL: It has at times for sure, but I've had some great mentors, made some close friendships and just tried to do my best. Through all this I've been so fortunate to have unbelievable support from Kay and our four kids. It goes without saying that I couldn't have done half what I have without that backing and their assistance. Kay has been heavily involved with Rutherglen and now Corowa-Rutherglen United Hockey Club for the same length of time I have been involved with footy.
BK: You were awarded the TDFL and AFL NEB Volunteer of the Year awards in 2016 as well as the Rotary International Paul Harris Fellowship Award. A humbling experience I'd imagine?
GL: It was for sure. You don't take on these positions for awards bit I appreciate bring recognised. Carrying the Olympic Torch prior to the Brisbane Commonwealth games was another massive thrill.
BK: Did you play much footy?
GL: A bit of juniors but that was about it until around 10 years ago in the reserves when I filled in at Tallangatta for coach Darren Hatton. It was one of the funniest days I can remember as the boys who I was coaching in the under-14s were carrying the water. The little smart arses were running out telling me how to get a kick and giving me a spray of water as they ran past. I kicked three points.
BK: Rutherglen has produced some good players in recent times hasn't it?
GL: Damien Wilson and Marty Brennan are the best players I've had the pleasure of watching. You can't help but admire the role 'Damo' played at the club as senior coach under very difficult circumstances. Our A-grade netball coach Em Browne is another one of those people that you just love watching apply her trade. Em is a brilliant netballer, a wonderful leader and mentor for our young girls. With her mum Tracy, they have rebuilt our netball department into a powerful unit. As president, I'm stoked about that.
BK: I understand Archie Jones keeps you honest when things get tough as president?
GL: Arch's grandfather, Arthur Jackson, was president of Rutherglen in the O & M for 27 years and he says I'm not even close to that. There is no bloody way that I'll be trying to beat that record.
BK: Thanks Greg and happy 30th wedding anniversary for this week.