Scotch College

Douglas Heywood

Douglas Samuel Heywood ('42) was born and bred in Seymour, Victoria where his father, uncle and cousins were sheep and cattle farmers. In 1939, as a freckle faced redhead he arrived at Scotch College to board in Arthur Robinson House. Word quickly went around the boarders' hill and the day school that this was no ordinary schoolboy. In his first year, he starred in the Under 15 football team and was the junior tennis champion. He beat all comers at table tennis and his competitiveness was such that he performed beyond his natural ability, both at cricket and athletics.

He was popular with his peers and was efficient in his schoolwork. In his second year, he was selected as a forward on the school First 18. He played for three years in the Scotch First team and captained the championship side of 1942. He was described by the late 'bully' Taylor (coach of Melbourne Grammar School) one of the greatest schoolboy footballers of all time.

His talents on the tennis court saw him win the Scotch Open Championship, both in single and doubles. With his great friend, Mick Clark, he won the Victorian Schoolboys Doubles in 1942. Sadly Mick was killed in the air force in World War II.

Doug's determination made him a stubborn opening batsman in the First XI in 1942.

He also performed great feats as a middle distance runner. On the football field he led by example. His application and sticky fingers, combined with a deadly accurate left foot, made him a defenders nightmare. He often kicked six or eight goals from the half-forward line. He was an inspirational leader and a fine team player.

On leaving School. Doug joined the RAAF hoping to become a pilot. Unfortunately he was deemed to be colour blind and was assigned to ground crew. He served in various parts of Australia and was discharged from Darwin in early 1946.

He entered the University of Melbourne in March 1946 and completed a Commerce Degree in November 1948. During these years, he was awarded University Blues for football and tennis. He was an absolute star in the University Black's in 1946 and 1948 premiership teams. Again six to eight goals from the half-forward flank was not unusual for the red-haired champion. He and Denis Cordner were stars in the University Football carnival of 1948. On returning from that Premiership, these two great players were involved in the Blacks A Grade Premiership win over the Old Melbournians.

The following week, Doug and Dennis were selected in the Melbourne (VFL) team to play in the league Grand Final against Essendon. The game was a drawn and Melbourne won the replay the following week. It has been suggested that never in the history of football have so many Grand Finals been played by two footballers in one season. The Great Donald Cordner was Captain and the star ruckman in the successful Melbourne team.

Doug continued to play with Melbourne for the next few years. On one occasion when playing with the reserves, he conspired with Noel McMahon to defy his captain coach (the late Jack Muller) by chasing kicks (rather as players do today). He ended up with forty three possessions and was much relieved when big Jack embraced him at the siren time.

After a training period at Beaurepaire's, he joined Henry Berry's subsidiary spaghetti company. In the early 50's he was introduced by Al Keam to a beautiful air hostess from Sydney. Daphne and Douglas married and in due course Virginia and John were born. Sadly Daphne died before getting to know her beautiful grandchildren. It was a sad loss for Doug and his children.

In the mid 60's Doug was invited to join Jim Lewis in his family business 'Renown and Pearlite'. He became Managing Director on Jim's retirement and helped to take the company on to the plastics and packaging industry.

At the end of his active football playing days he became a sports commentator, describing Saturday Football with Norman Banks and Michael Williamson on radio station 3AW and tennis for the ABC. For almost thirty years he combined his active business career with sports casting, both on ABC radio and TV. He worked closely with Tim Lane, Tracey Parish and his close friend, Clark Hansen, at this time. He was a regular panelist and a most respected commentator. A regular highlight was his annual coverage of Wimbledon and the Australian Tennis Open with Clark Hansen.

Apart from his instinctive knowledge of tennis and Australian Rules Football, Doug excelled in exquisite phrasing, descriptive passages and astonishing knowledge of the players. He was a wordsmith with a passion for his two favourite sports. His love of a true champion shows through at all times. People like Connors, McEnroe, Ashe, Billie Jean King, Yvonne Goolagong, Rosewall, Hoad, Sampras, Bobby Davis, Leigh Matthews, Tim Watson, Ted Whitten, Bobby Skilton, Roy Wright, Ron Barassi, Swan McKay, Stan Alves and Neal Balme were his idols.

In the 1970's, he continued to combine his passions by introducing some of the finest footballers of our time to the sales and management team at Renown and Pearlite. Thanks to the talents of Bluey Adams, Bobby Skilton, Len Thompson, Roy Wright, Neal Balme and others this was a winning move.

Doug enjoyed being part of the Australian sports media where he made many wonderful friendships both at home and abroad. He was greatly admired for his integrity, knowledge and eloquence, both by his listeners and viewing audience and by his fellow journalists and broadcasters. Last weekend listeners to football broadcasts would have been moved by the wonderful tributes paid to Doug by the ABC team (Tim Lane, Drew Morphett, Dwayne Russell), Eddie McGuire, Rex Hunt, 'Swan' McKay, Stan Alves and others.

After Amcor acquired his company, Doug continued to run the business and enjoyed the friendship and support of his Amcor colleagues Stan Wallis, Alan Skurrie, Hugh Rodgers, and Ken Wraith.

In retirement in the 90's, he continued to play tennis at Kooyong with his friends, Pat Hogan, Keith Symington and many other veterans. He was honoured to become a Life Member of the Club. In recent years, one of his regrets has been that ill health forced him to retire from the tennis court.

Doug served for many years on the Melbourne Cricket Club Committee. He was actively involved in the Australian Gallery of Sport and served as its chairman for many years. He was justifiably proud of the gallery and the quality of its contents. Doug enjoyed his years on the MCC Committee and he admired many of his great colleagues such as Donald Cordner, Denis Cordner, Ian Johnson, John Lill, Geoff Collie, Paul Sheahan, and David Jones. Peter French, John Mitchell, Bruce Church, John Cain, and Lindsay Thompson.

We will miss this wonderful man. A quiet achiever, a great family man and friend.

He was one of the outstanding sportsmen of his era and showed us how to take sportsmanship and athletic talent into business. He did this with typical determination and style. He provided opportunities for many sportsmen to show their prowess in the business arena. He will be remembered for his sense of teamwork and his dedication to his workmates and friends.

Taken from Laurie Muir's eulogy.