HAMILTON has lost one of its greatest sons with the passing of John Robert (Bob) Templeton OAM on Tuesday.

A lifetime of service to football saw Templeton honoured with the Order of Australia medal back in 2001, and Australian Sport Centenary Medal, a Victorian Country Football League (VCFL) Recognition of Service Medallion, a National Football League of Australia Award of Merit, Life Memberships of the VCFL, Western Border Football League, Hamilton Football club, St Andrew’s Junior football club, Hamilton and District Cricket Association, and the St Andrew’s Cricket Club.

A former Victorian Football League player with the Footscray Football Club, where he played 22 games from 1947-49 and 1953, his appearances were cut short by a broken leg that eventually saw him return to Hamilton in 1954.

Templeton returned to the Hamilton Football Club, where he took on the role as senior coach in 1955 and 1956, but it was off field where he made the most significant contribution to the sport.

He held various committee positions for Hamilton for many years and he took over the presidency from Bruce Sherren in 1966, holding the position until 1971, before his stint as president of the Western Border Football League from 1973 – 1977.

He was also a director of the VCFL from 1975-2006, president from 1981-82, and was a member od VCFL committees from 1975 until 2006.

He also excelled at cricket, playing 273 games for St Andrew’s (270 in A grade), where he scored 8493 runs and took 251 wickets over a 27-year career from 1953 until his last game in March 1980.

Such esteem is Templeton held at St Andrew’s that the club named its clubrooms the Bob Templeton Pavilion to recognise the incredible contribution he made to the club and the sport.

Templeton also was named in the HDCA Team of the 20th Century, where he was also bestowed with the captain’s role in the star-studded line up.

Templeton passed away peacefully at The Grange in Hamilton aged 96 years.

Reunited with his loving wife Linda (dec), adored father of David (dec), Robert and Susanne and father-in-law of John.
Loving grandfather and great grandfather adored by all.