By RUSSELL BENNETT
THERE was barely a corner of the community that Pastor Don Cameron didn’t touch.
The Cornerstone Contact Centre co-ordinator died on 13 March following a six-week battle with aggressive cancer, and among the many community groups he served in a remarkable life was the Casey Cobras Football Club.
Just under a fortnight ago, the Cobras played a memorial match in honour of Don, with his wife Jo proudly watching on from the sidelines.
It was as though Don was doing the same from above, as the RecLink side dominated Collingwood 25.6 (156) to 9.8 (62).
Casey’s president – and its only ever coach – Gary Lambert was a great mate of Don’s, and described the win over Collingwood as one of the best in Cobras history.
It’s a remarkable statement, given the team had only lost three games in three years leading up to its 2016 campaign.
After dropping a recent match by around 80 points, they stormed out of the blocks against Collingwood and were never headed after running through a banner dedicated to Don.
“This would have been Don’s 13th season at the club,” Gary said.
“He became our president and for the past decade he’s been the secretary and even got out there, rolled his sleeves up and played quite a few games for us.
“For someone who’d never really played in his life, he wasn’t too bad a footy player!
“The community really respected him and the players definitely did.
“Even though Don was a religious man he never came down to try and preach his church to the players.
“He was just there whenever they needed him – even things like writing references out for when they’d go to court, he’d do it.
“Don meant a lot to me, just with the way he was in life. I’m not a church person or anything like that but I had so much respect for the way he carried himself.”
Many of the Cobras have done it tough, or still are.
The RecLink completion is designed for socially disadvantaged people, such as those with problems with alcohol or substance abuse, mental illness or who’re homeless. Anyone can play – footy is just a great release.
But on the verge of the 2016 season, the Cobras – which was set up a little over 15 years ago in Doveton as the Casey Kangaroos – is desperately on the lookout for more players and community support.
The future of the club is in jeopardy.
Make no mistake – this side is used to winning, having won premiership, after premiership, after premiership – but winning isn’t the be all and end all. The love of the game, and mateship, is. Gary knows that better than anyone.
With the prospect of an AFL umpiring career ahead of him, his life was turned upside down in a 1992 car crash.
“It pretty much took my whole life away from me – I went through serious depression and that type of stuff, but it (the club) has helped me in my own mental self,” he said.
“I’ve been here since day one and I’ve got a good relationship with a lot of these guys. They can ring me up at any time of night and they know that. If they’re struggling they can ring me and we’ll have a talk.”
The Cobras are based at Lawson Poole Reserve in Cranbourne, and play every second Wednesday during football season.
For more information or to pledge support call Gary on 0425 763 072 or email jaygee5@bigpond.com.
