‘You have to be prepared to give people a go’ Tigers in his tank

John Van Klaveren
Living in the lee of the Geelong cement works has never been a concern for Bill Caldow.
The 30-year “cementies” veteran enjoyed being able to stroll to work from his Herne Hill home.
It was the rest of the broad swathe of community involvements that required him to travel.
Most of the miles on his cars were out to Bannockburn Football Club.
“And the netball, don’t forget the netballers,” chimes in Bill.
To someone who has trouble recalling birthdays, Bill’s ability to reel off other dates is nothing short of awesome. He can still recall all the premierships in which he has been involved.
Bill’s love affair with football began in 1944 when, as a 15-year-old, he ran out for his first game with Cressy Football Club – sadly no longer in existence.
Bannockburn itself was in recess when Bill arrived, then playing for Stonehaven.
But his beloved Tigers are never in danger of biting the dust while Bill has breath.
He still runs the Bannockburn past players association with another club stalwart and old mate, Laurie Davies. The pair organise fundraisers for items the club needs but can’t afford, like a $1500 line-marking machine.
Bill says quietly that his father was a great footballer.
However, Bill himself is a 300-gamer.
The Bannockburn Football Club entry in John Stoward’s exhaustive history of football in the Geelong region, Cat Country, contains an acknowledgement to Bill.
After all, he spent nine years as the under-18 coach, two coaching the under-17s, a decade as club secretary and 17 fruitful years as president.
His long leadership at club level was transferred to Geelong and District Football league ranks, with Bill becoming a founding vice president when the three-tiered league system was introduced to the region in 1979.
When it comes to longevity, Bill also outstrips most others in community service.
He spent 21 years as a founding member of Bannockburn Lions Club.
Clearly considering he wasn’t busy enough, Bill signed on as a Justice of the Peace in 1992 – and that was after several years as a commissioner for taking affidavits.
Despite his 81 years, Bill says candidly: “You can’t think like a grandpa. You can’t live in the past. You’ve got to move with the times.”
Once of his favourite sayings is: “Remember, you were that age once.”
It’s why his fondest memories of his long football involvement lay with coaching the under-18s.
“I really enjoyed seeing the young blokes come through and make something of themselves. You’ve got to be prepared to give people a go.”
Bill declares he has always tried to learn from life’s experiences himself: “You never finish learning,” he says.
It is a philosophy he and his sadly missed wife of 39 years, Lorraine, tried to impart to his two daughters and son.
“There’s little more rewarding than seeing your kids go forward and live good lives,” he observes.
And that’s another of his life lessons.
Bill has received any number of awards and citations over the years but there is one he unwaveringly points to as his pride and joy – even more than the Australian Centenary Medal, Lions Club awards and football acknowledgements.
It is his Golden Plains Shire Citizen of the Year award, which he received on Australia Day 2001.
Perhaps it just made Bill feel like a true blue Aussie.