The name Neil Davis is synonymous with the Yarrawonga Football Netball Club deeming it fitting for the access road to the ‘Grove’ to be formally named ‘Neil Place’.
At JC Lowe Oval, an access road upgrade project was completed in 2019/20 which is now the main access point to JC Lowe Oval, Yarrawonga Swimming Pool and Yarrawonga Lawn Tennis Club.
So far the road has not been formally named which is necessary to manage risk associated with emergency services response.
The proposed name of ‘Neil Place’ was put forward to commemorate Neil Davis who had a strong connection to the Yarrawonga area and known for his contributions particularly to YFNC and the Yarrawonga Lawn Tennis Club.
Yarrawonga Football Netball Club President Ross Mulquiney said the YFNC and JC Lowe Reserve Committee is pleased after significant and lengthy lobbying to see the six-year-old entry road to the Grove Oval complex named in honour of Neil.
“Not only was Neil an accomplished player and premiership coach in 1989, he was a role model and leader of the community,” Mr Mulquiney said.
“Fittingly Neil’s four daughters, each themselves premiership stars for the Pigeons netball A Grade (along with Rae, Neil’s wife), will be able to enter the ground to watch their children (Neil’s grandchildren) with what is hopefully a fitting acknowledgement to the contribution Neil made to community and to the area.”
In 1971 and from 1974 to 1981, Neil played 162 senior games with Yarrawonga, captaining the side in 1979.
In 1987 and 1988, he coached Yarrawonga thirds and in 1989 was handed the senior coaching role when the club faced an extremely challenging time, performing the unimaginable feat of taking the side to their first premiership in 60 years.
All of these accomplishments on the footy field led to Neil being announced as an O&M Hall of Fame inductee in 2008.
O&M royalty
‘O&M royalty’ was used to describe ‘Davo’ by the Ovens & Murray Football & Netball League in its statement to the media which included: “A great and enduring servant of the Yarrawonga FNC and a 2008 HOF inductee. A kind, caring and humble man. A true gentleman. On behalf of the entire Ovens and Murray Football and Netball League, we extend our sympathies to his family and the Yarrawonga Football Netball Club. He will be missed.”
Neil’s widow Raelene said the family was “very touched” with the proposed naming after their husband and father of four daughters, Rebecca, Sarah, Kristy and Laura.
“We’re very humbled,” Rae said. “It’s going to be a very special day when it happens. “The area meant so much to Neil, regarding football, netball, tennis and swimming.”
Neil spent many Saturday mornings at the Yarrawonga Lawn Tenns Club co-ordinating junior tennis matches; he helped lay the big expanses of lawn at the Yarra Mul Swimming Pool. So much voluntary work for the four sports in that area.
Daughter Sarah Wollington said that when Ross (Mulquiney) first spoke to the family about his plans the family was so humbled the club was working on something special for Neil who “absolutely breathed and loved football and netball at the Grove oval complex”.
“It’s just absolutely gratifying that Dad means that much to the football netball club. It’s a beautiful reward – not just for our family but for the whole community,” Sarah said.
“It will just mean that much more to us when we take our kids down that entrance road with his name on it.”
A most respected and most popular man known as ‘Davo’, aged 69, lost his battle in 2020 with health issues which began in 2008.
While there is already immense support behind the naming of the road honouring Neil, a community consultation is to ensue for 30 days in accordance with the Naming Rules for Places in Victoria and Council’s Community Engagement Policy.
Moira Shire Chair Administrator Graeme Emonson urged the community at the ordinary council meeting on June 26 to have their say on the proposal.
“I am happy to be supporting this motion as the access road is important to the precinct for several reasons and Neil was a strong supporter of the YFNC and the Yarrawonga Lawn Tennis Club which deems it only fitting to be named after him,” Mr Emonson said.