PROUD Pointies are paying tribute to Wayne Hankin, the man who wrote their history into the Melbourne Cricket Club's sporting museum.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
They say it is all the little things, the quirky stories and attention to detail Mr Hankin spent so long preserving that is his great legacy for future generations.
The former Ballarat Football League president and historian died age 76. He was farewelled in a private, family funeral this week.
Mr Hankin had a sit-down interview with The Courier as the state's lockdowns were tightening.
He was intrigued and concerned how the coronavirus pandemic might impact the league he loves and its communities.
BFL action had only halted twice before in history each time for war.
"BFL is a great football league and has a great history of the football league. This is what helps (writing it down) to keep all that," Mr Hankin told The Courier in March. "...The first thing I do when I go into a club is photograph as much as I can."
This is what helps (writing it down) to keep all that.
- Wayne Hankin, March 2020
East Point Football Netball Club memorial committee's Michael Walsh said Mr Hankin was a well-respected and quiet fellow with an enormous passion with a great pride in history and his beloved Golden Point.
Mr Walsh said such dedicated insight in what shaped the league was invaluable to those understanding the fabric of what they were now a part of as players and supporters.
"It's the little things that can get forgotten but don't because of Wayne," Mr Walsh said. "It's all part of the history and culture of people who played footy in Ballarat."
It's all part of the history and culture of people who played footy in Ballarat.
- Michael Walsh, East Point FNC memorabilia committee
Mr Hankin joined the BFL board in the late 1970s, taking on the role of junior vice-president and helping to write what was then called the football guide. He was also a passionate Golden Point (now East Point) supporter and administrator.
Mr Hankin lived his whole life on James Street in Golden Point.
YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE
Have you signed up to The Courier's variety of news emails? You can register below and make sure you are up to date with everything that's happening in Ballarat.