TIRELESS community worker John “Macca” McLeod may be remembered for years to come with Brimbank City Council investigating the possibility of naming a local reserve after the sporting hero.
John McLeod, who lived in Braybrook, spent 43 years involved in the Deer Park Football Club, undertaking many roles from first aid officer to secretary to treasurer to president.
Mr McLeod died on 12 July, survived by his brother Alan and two nephews Dean and Aaron.
Alan McLeod said the news of the council’s attempt to recognise his brother’s life-long commitment to sport in the Western suburbs was fantastic.
He said his brother, John, would have been happy to hear something was going to be named after him.
John will be well remembered by people in the Brimbank and Maribyrnong municipalities, from football to cricket to scouts to the children at Dinjerra Primary School in Braybrook.
Alan McLeod said his brother drove a school bus for Dinjerra Primary School right up until his death, with children from the school making flowers for John’s funeral on 19 July.
He said his brother spent many years nursing their parents, Jean and Ron. Their mother suffered from osteoporosis for years and died in 1999, the year after their father died.
Councillor Ken Capar said John was a tireless community worker who never asked for anything for himself.
He said AFL Victoria sent the Deer Park Football Club a letter with the organisation’s condolences for the club’s loss of such a volunteer who “lived and breathed Deer Park Football Club” and made a life time contribution to the game.
Cr Natalie Suleyman said John was so passionate about AFL that he never missed a match and had a vision, together with the club’s committee, that the club’s new pavilion would be an icon — which he’d never see.
Crs Troy Atanasovski and Sam David both spoke of their support for the renaming of Deer Park Reserve, with Cr David saying he knew John personally.
Cr Capar said he had heard of John transporting Brimbank youth to sporting events in and around the area.
“The community, at the end of the day, should not forget these sort of community activists,” he said.
Alan McLeod said even back in the days when John was involved with the 2nd Sunshine Scouts Group, John would take the young children away for camping trips, particularly those children whose parents struggled financially, because John could afford to give the children the opportunities.
John’s family friend, 14-year-old Brad Harper, a Caroline Springs College student, will fondly remember the sportsman after going on a trip with him around Australia in March.
Brad Harper said John had won lotto and wanted someone to go on the trip with him, which he thought was a great opportunity.
“I will miss him,” he said.
