St George Life Member and AFL Sydney Hall of Fame member Bob Sterling has sadly passed away at the age of 70.
The below tribute has been provided by the St George Football Club.
ST GEORGE DRAGONS LOSES ONE OF ITS FINEST
It is with great sadness in our hearts that we advise that at 7:42 am on Saturday 14 March 2015, the St George Dragons lost one of its finest members with the passing of Robert “Bob” Sterling. Bob was diagnosed with mesothelioma, the cancer from the asbestos just prior to Christmas and as is his nature fought it hard and never disclosed the intense pain he was in. It is of some little comfort that we know he no longer suffers.
Bob joined the Dragons in 1961 from the Penshurst Panthers junior club and played the season in the Third Grade (Under 19’s) winning the B&F. The following season Bob was promoted to First Grade and played 175 senior games until he retired in 1972. In between Bob made the No 9 jersey his own winning 5 First Grade B&F’s and playing in the 1964 premiership team which celebrated its 50 year reunion just last season. He played 8 times for NSW and was granted Life Membership of the Dragons in 1970 and elected to the Saints Hall of Fame in 2005. He was further honoured being elected into the Sydney AFL HOF in 2010.
Bob shared the vision of the Dragons, to develop young footballers into young men, allowing them to be the best that they can be, with premierships the icing on the cake. To this end he worked tirelessly at the Dragons. He was the manager of the club premises fixing everything that needed fixing, organising and doing the cleaning of the rooms with his very small band of helpers, being the club’s timekeeper on game day, picking up the rubbish afterwards, organising the Presentation Night and a thousand other things. The only thing he refused to do was painting but with our recent extensions he was even seen with a paint brush in his hands. More importantly he was there for the players, an ear, never critical always supportive. If you wore red and white, you had to reach set standards but you were special.
It is not an exaggeration to state that 7 or 8 years ago when the club was on its knees except for Bob and his great mate Danny Dwyer the St George Dragons would no longer exist.
Bob had great values and most importantly he lived them. He was modest, hard working, honest and trustworthy. His family were central to his life. His wife Marcia, Karen, Tanya and Neale and their partners, Cal, David and Megan and grandchildren Elise, Neve, Hannah and Molly remain with great memories to cherish. We share in your loss and thank you for sharing Bob with our club.
It just won’t be the same at Olds Park. Vale Bob.
There will be a celebration of Bob’s life and contribution to the Dragons at the first home match at Olds Park on Saturday 18 April. Details will follow.
Last Modified on 20/03/2015 21:50
