Humble: Les Borrack with his Reg Hickey Memorial Award.
Erin Pearson
CATS legend Reg Hickey had a “huge impact” on the life of devoted clubman Les Borrack.
Now 78, the former midfielder remembered playing under Hickey as coach and even dining with him and his wife at Hickey’s home.
Their decades-long association continued last week when Les won a Ron Hickey Memorial Award for 59 years of involvement with Geelong Football Club.
Les, who played for Geelong from 1953 to 1960, was “deeply honoured” to win the medal named after his friend and mentor.
“He was a man with strength of character written all over his face,” Les remembered.
A Cats life member who also served on the club’s board, he considered himself a “giver” to football.
“A lot of people in this game always think about what they can get out if it but I’ve come from humble beginnings. I’m not a self-promoter, so I’ve made giving my life.
“It’s the love of football and I’ve been terribly lucky.”
Les arrived in Geelong from Ballarat in 1953, meeting his wife just hours later in “a sign of good luck”.
He played 95 day and nine night games for the Cats, kicking 15 goals and earning 18 Brownlow votes.
He later played for Rokewood until a broken leg and a dislocated ankle in the mid-1960s ended his playing days.
“It took me six months to get back on my feet but when you’re a fair dinkum sportsman you can’t give up. It would be like cutting your hands off, so I began umpiring.”
Les conceded his body had taken a beating over the years. He labelled himself the “president of total hip replacement recipients in Australia”.
“I can’t get anyone to take my position,” he laughed.
“I’ve had four hip replacements on the right and two on the left.”
