Life Member inductee, Ivan Smith, was recruited to Fitzroy from Robinvale a small town country town on the border of Victoria and New South Wales in 1956 and went on to play four games for the ‘Roys’.

He resigned from Fitzroy after just one season where he went back to the bush and continued playing football locally and joined the police force.

But returned to Melbourne in 1964 and approached Fitzroy to see how he could get involved, purely because he wanted to give something back to the Club that gave him a chance of playing VFL football.

He was soon appointed to the committee of the Past Players’ Association, a position he has maintained for the best part of 50 years and has served as Secretary since 1988. Throughout the period of the merger in 1996, he was a key driver in turning the Fitzroy Past Players’ Association into the Fitzroy - Brisbane Lions Past Player Association and even ensured a lot of players were recognised within the group.

To this day he sits as Secretary of the association and along with his wife Barbara he dedicates his time maintaining a strong level of support for both the club and its long list of past players.

Mr. Smith accepted the award at the Lions’ Club Champion night in September and recounted his memories of his time at the Club.

“Dad wanted one of his sons to play league football, so I made him a very happy man.

“He came down each Saturday from Robinvale to see me play,” Smith said.

“Some people ask, ‘what was your recollection of your first game?’ – I don’t think I had a kick in my first game”, he laughed.

“But I know my opponent didn’t have a kick either. I think the reason for that was Kevin Murray was playing along the flank next to me.

“I was a ruckman, back pocket and they put me in the centre. I had no idea what to do there, I think I was a ball watcher.

“Kevin had the ball all the time, he looked after his man, my man, and any other fella who was floating about,” he quipped.

“I’ve derived a great amount of enjoyment from this particular job, this is an honour, I really treasure it and I know my family will be very pleased.”