With deep involvement in the region’s sport and education, John Brookshaw’s time in the Murray Mallee region has been eventful to say the least.
Mr Brookshaw is the current Chair of the AFLCM board following a long playing career predominately with Lalbert and a two-year coaching stint highlighed by a premiership in his first season as well as holding positions at a raft of the regions schools.
It was teaching is what brought Mr Brookshaw to Swan Hill in the 1970s.
“I came from Melbourne as a teacher in 1974. I was appointed to Swan Hill Tech School as a Maths teacher,” he said.
“I had just finished University, only done a few months at a school in Melbourne and I had to look on a map where Swan Hill was.”
His new job in Swan Hill launched his football career at Lalbert which spanned over 10 years during the 1970s and 80s.
“I started playing for Lalbert because one of the teachers said their cousin played there and I played with them until 1982.”
At this point in his career, Mr Brookshaw turned to marathon running in a successful attempt to prolong his football career.
“When I was about 27 or 28, I decided I had better start running if I wanted to keep playing football,” he said.
“About 10 of us took up marathon running for the next five or so years and I went from about six stone (approximately 101kg) to four (approximately 88kg), so that helped my playing career.”
In an esteemed playing career, he also played inter-league football for the Mid Murray on five occasions.
In 1983, he transitioned into a coaching role and much to his surprise led Ultima to two consecutive Grand Finals in his first two seasons.
“I coached Ultima for two years and we won a grand final in 1983 which was a bit of a shock. We were runners-up in 1984,” he said.
“I went back to Lalbert as an assistant coach, before going back to play at Ultima for a year.”
Upon his return to Lalbert, Mr Brookshaw was confronted with a fork in the road.
He believed it was time to commit to teaching or focus on another career path and subsequently returned to university where he graduated from La Trobe University with a degree in IT in 1987.
“I then went to Sea Lake as I was assistant principal there and I played football for four years until I retired in 1990.”
The move to Sea Lake was also the catalyst for Mr Brookshaw to take up tennis, a hobby that he continues to enjoy.
“It was either tennis or babysit the kids,” Mr Brookshaw said.
“My wife was taking the kids along to tennis and she said ‘it’s either you play with me or you stay home with the kids. I took up tennis that year in Sea Lake and haven’t stopped since.”
Mr Brookshaw transitioned between numerous schools holding senior teacher, assistant principal and principal positions at numerous colleges.
At one point Mr Brookshaw and his family decided to return south and despite applying for jobs closer to Melbourne, the circle completed a full loop and he was appointed to the principal’s position at Swan Hill College in 1997 before retiring.
Despite his retirement, Mr Brookshaw continued to work up until three years ago.
“I decided I’d had enough in 2014 and retired for the last time.”
Mr Brookshaw currently holds the position of chair on the CMFNL board and continues his involvement in the sport on game day as an umpire.
He believes that recent changes to the umpiring structure is a step in the right direction and the intent to promote equalisation across football Victoria is making headway, but still has some way to go.
“The biggest challenge is trying to get people to think strategically,” he said.
For more on this story, grab a copy of today’s Guardian (5 April 2017)
