By XAVIER SMERDON
AFTER 36 years as president of one of Wyndham’s biggest sporting clubs, Kelvin Murphy is finally hanging up his coat.
In 1977 Mr Murphy started the Hoppers Crossing Club Eagles netball club, in what he thought would be a one year stint.
Almost four decades later he has finally decided to call it quits.
“One of the reasons I thought I should retire was because two of the girls that started in my original eight are retiring at the end of the year,” Mr Murphy said.
“They said maybe they should retire after reaching 50-plus years.”
Mr Murphy said he could not believe he had been at the club for so long.
“The years have just flown past. You don’t realise it’s been so long until other people start saying it,” he said.
“Not in my wildest dreams did I think I’d be here for so long.
“On Monday nights now we have 140 kids training with us, it’s just incredible.”
But Mr Murphy has no intentions of slowing down.
At 73-years-old he will continue to work tirelessly at the Heathdale and Neighbourhood Community Shed.
He said he would still come along to watch his beloved club play in games.
“I think my favourite thing has been getting to know all the people as families,” he said.
“I’ve got mums, daughters and granddaughters playing for the same club, which is just fantastic. You don’t find that anywhere else.”
