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House of Assembly - Fifty-Fourth Parliament, Second Session (54-2)
2020-06-02 Daily Xml
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Grievance Debate

Hammond, Mr R.A.

The Hon. C.L. WINGARD (Gibson—Minister for Police, Emergency Services and Correctional Services, Minister for Recreation, Sport and Racing) (15:20): It was with great sadness that we learned of the passing of Bob Hammond on Saturday 30 May. Bob was 78 years of age but was widely considered one of the absolute legends of South Australian football across a 60-year career of playing, coaching and in administration. I met Bob on a number of occasions and found him to be a true gentleman. He was universally liked and admired. He was a big man, a strong man but a gentle man who cared and was very considerate of all those who came under his care.

Bob Hammond was born in Perth in 1942 before the family returned to Adelaide at the end of the war. He played his junior football with Kilburn before making his league debut as an 18 year old with North Adelaide in 1960. Bob played 234 games for North Adelaide from his debut in 1960 through to 1973, broken up by a two-year player/coach premiership stint in Port Pirie in 1966-67, before returning to North Adelaide for two more flags in 1971 and 1972. Bob played as a hard-nosed defender but managed to sneak forward and kick 69 goals for the mighty Roosters.

During his time at North Adelaide Bob also represented South Australia in a famous victory against Victoria at the MCG in 1963, which is arguably one of South Australia's greatest sporting moments. After a quick break from football, Norwood enticed Bob back to the SANFL to be a player and a coach at their club in 1974. Bob retired as a player after just 14 games in his first season, but he led the Redlegs to a premiership as coach in 1975 and again a stirring victory in 1978. His leadership as a player was unquestioned and it is not a surprise that he captained both clubs as a player. It is even more telling that someone can be part of two such bitter rivals as North Adelaide and Norwood yet be loved equally by both.

Following his stellar playing and coaching career, Bob became one of the game's most respected administrators, serving on Norwood's board from 1981 to 1990 and then being named the Adelaide Football Club's inaugural chairman in 1991. Hammond was influential and visionary as a chairman, diligently guiding the first South Australian-based AFL team through its first decade in the national competition. Many in this place are potentially too young to remember, but when the Crows first formed down at West Lakes they were stationed in some ATCO huts. There was a coach and an assistant coach, a fitness coordinator and not much more than that. I think a weights coach was there part time, but the board came together. I was lucky enough to know one of the board members at the time, Adrian Sutter.

The way that this group came together to lead this club, to form this club and then to take on the Victorians at their own game was truly commended. The Crows will never forget Bob. He was chairman when they won back-to-back premierships in 1997 and 1998—who can forget! After such a glorious career, it is no surprise that the accolades followed: named as back pocket in North Adelaide's team of the century; life memberships of North Adelaide, Norwood, the SANFL and the AFL; hall of fame inductions for both the SANFL and the AFL; the Adelaide Crows players' race at the Adelaide Oval is named in his honour, and you will see the players as they enter the arena come through the Bob Hammond race; and he was named a member of the Order of Australia in June 2003.

Even with all of Bob's extensive list of football achievements, I would say it only tells half the story. Just as important is the impact Bob made on people's lives. Bob's contribution at the community level was as great as his involvement at the elite level. Bob always knew exactly what to say at exactly the right time and that was why he was a mentor to so many and created so many opportunities for those who came after him. SANFL Chief Executive, Jake Parkinson, paid tribute to Hammond by saying:

Bob was admired by many as a player and coach, but also for his tremendous service to football in South Australia with his passion for growing the national game in our State.

I would like to pass on my respects to the entire Hammond family, in particular his wife, Jill; his children, Craig and his wife, Sarah, and Jo and her husband, Tom; his stepchildren Grant (deceased), Belinda and her husband, Craig, and Amanda and her partner, Ian; and his grandchildren, Jasmin, Bonnie, Oscar, William, Lucy, Finn and Noah.

Bob came from simple beginnings and rose to the absolute apex of the game. Bob Hammond was a great footballer, coach and administrator and also a truly wonderful man. His contribution over 60 years across SA footy and the AFL will ensure he will be remembered forever as a true great of the game. His passing is a massive loss to the Australian rules football community in South Australia. Vale, Bob Hammond.

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