The club mourns the loss of Life and Hall of Fame Member John Eddelbuttel and wishes to express its deepest condolances to the family. John was 84 years of age.
The funeral service will be conducted at Russell Brothers 89 Balcome Road Mentone on Thursday 23 July, commencing at 1.00pm followed by a wake at the Mentone Bowling Club to honour his valued life to both our club and the Mentone Bowling Club.
Most people currently at the club would not know John as he first played with the club as a junior in 1946. Despite suffering a serious knee injury at nineteen years of age, he went onto play more than 200 games for the club. His best years in our senior team were under the coaching of Jim Baird (ex Carlton VFL 1945 & 1947 Premiership winner), during an era when Crofton Mudge (ex St Kilda VFL) was also prominent.
John continued to provide great off field support to the club over a number of years being awarded Best Social Worker in 1952 with later roles on the committee, and as the resident barman and cleaner in the sixties and seventies. He was one of the key movers in establishing the ‘Tiger Tails’, which provided crucial financial support to the club in the seventies.
His countless hours volunteering and mentoring the young players of that era was greatly appreciated back then and is acknowledged again today.
John was made a Life Member of the club in 1960 and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2006 where he expressed his great affection for the club. He was so proud on our continued growth from 3 and 4 teams back in 1940’s. RIP John and thank you.