The Eastern Swans have lost a loved and respected member of their footy family.
Vice president Paul King died suddenly on July 5 from what is believed to be a heart attack.
Club president Peter Kiegerl was one of King's best mates and was devastated when he heard the news.
"I've been friends with Paul for over 30 years," he said. "I was president of the club 15 years ago and he (King) came on board as treasurer, I got him on board there because we were involved with the juniors together."
"We then moved on the league, I was chairman and he was treasurer for the league, he stayed there and got a life membership with the league."
Kiegerl said he moved away from Mackay for 10 years and came back this year and took over presidency of the Swans again.
"I approached Paul again and he jumped on board as vice president, at the Swans," he said. "We've just been together for a lot of years."
It's been a tough year for the club. Talented player Blake Bailey died in a car crash on November 12 last year, a nine-year-old junior lost his battle to cancer last year, and at the end of last month, former player Lachlan Anderson died.
The Eastern Swans Facebook page is full of tributes to King and he obviously meant a lot to many people, Kiegerl said.
Kiegerl said his mate "just loved the club".
"He did so much work, he did all the administration side of things, which people don't see," he said.
"Also I don't think he missed a game, he was just passionate and love the club."
Kiegerl said King was "a massive, massive loss" for the Swans.
"It's going to take a couple of people to replace him," he said.
"He got along with everyone in the club and was happy to give them a bit of advice; it's just a massive loss."
Kiegerl said losing his mate was a big shock.
"On Saturday (July 4) me and him went on the bus to play Moranbah and we had a ball out there," he said.
"He rang me up on Sunday morning and we had to write letters for the footy club, and I left him at 1 o'clock and he was in good spirits and said 'see you tomorrow' and then I got the phone call. One thing Paul would say is he would want the club to go on, that's the sort of person he was."
Paul King was 67. Family and friends are invited to attend a requiem mass service for Paul at St Patrick's Church tomorrow at 11am followed by a burial at Mt Bassett Cemetery.
Players and friends of the Swans club left tributes to Paul King on the team's Facebook page.
"RIP Paul. One man I had a lot of respect for. My thoughts and deepest sympathy go out to your wife and family," Wendy Quarrell said.
"To us he was a friend, a mate, a member of the club. To his family he will always be a son, a brother, a husband, father, parent, a poppy and much more," Patrick Cunningham said.
Last Modified on 16/07/2015 14:51