Tributes have flooded in for Werribee Football Club president John Nicol OAM, who died last week following a short battle with cancer.
Mr Nicol, 76, died in the early hours of Wednesday morning only weeks after being diagnosed with a tumour on his thyroid.
The Werribee resident was a life member of Werribee Football Club and was the club’s longest continuous-serving president, holding down the top job for the past decade.
He previously worked for 20 years as a city engineer for the then City of Werribee and was awarded an Order of Australia Medal in 1989 for services to local government, engineering and the community.
He was a member or chairman of many community organisations, including the Mercy Health community advisory committee, Corio Apex Club, Committee for Wyndham, Municipal Engineering Foundation, Werribee Community District Charitable Foundation, Westbourne school council and Werribee Fire Brigade.
Mr Nicol was also a past president and Paul Harris Fellow during his 38 years at Werribee Rotary.
In a statement released last week, Werribee Football Club said it had lost one of its finest.
“John Nicol was a man of the people and possessed those old-fashioned values of decency, honesty and respect,” the club said.
“John was a tireless and meticulous worker, no matter what he turned his hand to.
“As much as he loved the football club, his greatest passion was his family.”
People took to social media last week to pass on their condolences, with many calling him a great mentor and leader.
Western metropolitan MP Bernie Finn said Mr Nicol was a man of the people.
“He was just a delight to be with,” Mr Finn said.
“He had a great sense of humour and a very relaxed style.
“He was a top bloke.”
Mr Nicol is survived by his wife of 53 years, Pauline, children Brett, David, Jeff and Lisa, and grandchildren Cameron, Emily, Johanna, Laura, Jarron, Ali and Mahlia.
He will be farewelled at a service tomorrow (Thursday) at St Peters Church in Hoppers Crossing.
Family and friends will follow up the service at the Werribee Football Club.
Mr Nicol’s family has requested that a donation be made to Werribee Mercy Hospital in lieu of flowers.
