Wilf Sprengel, a respected figure in South East football and education circles, passed away on October 5, at the age of 96 at his home in Ocean Shores, New South Wales.


The son of a long-serving Lutheran pastor in this region, he is perhaps best known for being the headmaster of Robe Primary School throughout the 1970s and 1980s.


Recognising a gap in the written history of Robe, he penned a number of booklets which told of the arrival of thousands of Chinese gold seekers in the 19th century.


His teacher training took place in Adelaide and he then taught at schools across regional South Australia.


Among his appointments was being the last headmaster of Furner Primary School which closed in 1964 ahead of the opening of Kangaroo Inn Area School.


In those times, the headmaster of small schools would invariably have administrative duties in addition to teaching a multi-grade class.


Being a talented footballer, he played at numerous clubs including Penola and Millicent and made life-long friends.


After Mr Sprengel’s playing days were over, his dedication to the sport spanned a further three decades.


He served as Kowree Naracoorte Football League secretary for five years, Mid South Eastern Football League secretary from 1972 to 1987, and MSEFL President in 1988.


In 1985 he was awarded a SANFL Merit Award, and in 1987 he became a Life Member of the MSEFL.


His MSEFL legacy endures through the Wilf Sprengel Shield, awarded to the A Grade Premiers since 1985.


Despite his advancing years and living interstate, Mr Sprengel kept abreast of SE football issues and regularly wrote letters to newspaper editors objecting to certain restructure proposals.