THE Ballarat football fraternity is mourning the death of former East Point Football Club president Gerard O'Keefe.
The dedicated East Point man, who started with the club as a junior footballer, died last weekend after an eight-week battle with cancer. He was 56.
Mr O'Keefe was East Point president for three years after serving as a long-standing committee member.
His dedication to the club remained strong after his presidency, as a board member and a devoted supporter who filmed all the club's games.
Current president Mick Kitchin said this week that Mr O'Keefe would be sorely missed.
"He was always there for the club, offering his assistance," Mr Kitchin said.
V/Line work colleague Mick McAteer described Mr O'Keefe as a great friend.
"He played a large role in the amalgamation of East Ballarat and Golden Point football clubs ," Mr McAteer said.
He said he would often sit down with a couple of glasses of wine with Mr O'Keefe and talk about union issues.
"However, I would go to bed having the problems sorted, only to realise the next day not much was accomplished," Mr McAteer said.
Another colleague praised his generosity.
"He was the kind of guy that went out of his way for you," he said.
