David "Fish" Fisher 1944-2009
Heidelberg West announces with great sadness and with a sense of what will never be replicated again, the passing of its greatest son David ‘Fish’ Fisher. Fish was a life member of HWFC, however, he was more than just a life member, he truly gave his whole adult life in service of the club he loved. Fish began playing at HWFC as a junior in 1958 and continued playing until 1979. He both captained and coached the club and was runner-up in the seniors best and fairest four times in what was a long, distinguished and much respected playing career playing mainly in the ruck. He was noted on the playing arena for his passion, fearlessness and never giving his opponent an inch. He loved his local rivalries, especially with Heidelberg, and his memory for detail of past games, incidents and finals he was involved in as a player and coach were both detailed and entertaining in the retelling. When discussing football Fish didn’t suffer fools and called it as he saw it right till his last days. This includes his vehement disagreement with a decision made by a goal umpire in the last quarter of the 1964 semi-final between HWFC and Heidelberg that he assures us cost HWFC the game. (We lost by 5 points). What disappointed him even more was that our nemesis Heidelberg went on to win the flag that year. It was the one that got away.
As great as his contribution to HWFC on the field was, it was surpassed by his off field contribution to the club. Subsequent to his retirement as a player Fish has given more to the club off the field than any other past player. His tireless work around the club for the next 30 years was both significant and greatly valued by all members of the football club, especially the committee and players. He was almost a daily fixture at the club in all these years doing all the jobs that weren’t glamorous: however football clubs do not survive unless they are done. These included sweeping out clubrooms after training and match days, cleaning the showers and toilets, cleaning the social rooms after functions, making sure the lines were marked on the ground, the pads were on the goalposts, making sure the footballs were pumped up for training and match days, and more. He was continuously fixing anything that broke or was in disrepair in the rooms. To walk into the rooms and see Fish putting up a new shelf, fixing a door, patching a wall, painting something that was looking tired, fixing the blinds or just finding some way to make something function better, on top of everything else he did was a weekly occurrence. As we have always been struggling financially, to have Fish contribute in these ways to the club, his worth to us was invaluable and enormously appreciated by all. It must be mentioned that he also contributed in the same way to the Heidelberg West Cricket Club (also a life member) and the Marathonians Club, both also based at the Heidelberg West football ground. They have also suffered a great loss and are deeply saddened by his passing.
Fish never wanted nor sought thanks for what he did for HWFC; he did it because he loved the club, and everyone who pulled on the football jumper that he was so proud of. To the many hundreds of players and committee people involved in the club whilst Fish was there, they never had a greater friend or supporter. Fish loved everyone involved in the club and from the day you pulled on that jumper for your first game and went out and did battle for his beloved football club you had a friend in Fish.
Our deepest sympathy goes out to his sister Sylvia and family for their great loss. Fish was the heart and soul of HWFC and will be greatly missed and can never be replaced. The key things Fish gave to our club were hard work, a passion for the club, a never say die attitude and a preparedness to do whatever it took to get the job done. Hopefully everyone involved at HWFC from now on and into the future can display these traits in memory of Fish, so that we can once again attain some success, and build a legacy for HWFC and Fish that he would be proud of.
Last Modified on 26/12/2011 19:57