DOUGLAS Keith Ezard, what a wonderful life he had, what a wonderful contribution he has given to his family, friends and to the community.
Doug was born on August 4th, 1949 at Ouyen but he always said his big achievement was going to Lake Bolac University!
Married to Gloria Dec 7th 1968, they were married for 56 yrs with four children, Vicky, Mary, Brett and Scott, with grand children, Christopher, Tyler, Sophie, Zachariah, Isaiah, Zavier, Seth, Dakota and Chantz and great grand children Rhylee, Jordan, & Damon.
Doug and I shared travel out to work, and you could bet your bottom dollar that on Dec 7th every year Doug would say, “its Gloria’s wedding anniversary today!!” He always had such a great sense of humour, which everybody loved, and it never ever left him. Even under dire circumstances, he would use his wit. He sent me a pic of himself lying in the emergency bed after surgery with his boots still on, saying, “I must have been a bit crook, they did not have time to take my boots off”. and when coming out of an anaesthetic after a failed attempt to drain his lungs, a medical physician asked him, “Mr Ezard do you know where you are”, and he said, “yes, I’m in the Hawthorn change rooms”, the physician nearly fell over, then he quickly said, “only kidding, I’m in Hostpital with 10 people staring at me!.” What courage and soul he had. We all loved his sense of humour.
He started his apprenticeship at Ansett Motors in 1965, becoming everyone’s favourite A grade mechanic. He bought his first car, a Mark II Zephyr before he could legally drive at 17, but I’ll bet he did!!, and five years ago, to his delight, he discovered through Barry Raymond & Graham Trounce that it still existed, all be it just a shell, finding it stuck up off a bush track near Dunkeld!
He left Ansett Motors in 1973 to commence a long 38 year career with the then named Department of Agriculture, commencing work as head mechanic at the then named PRS, or I should say the place of many name changes. Doug was a brilliant innovator, he could turn his hand to anything, fixing anything that was broken, or doing modifications. He and his sidekick Brian Clarke fixed and made all sorts of things, I think their crowning glory was converting a 6 cylinder work truck into a V8!. He loved a practical joke, and gave quite a few a fright, playing with dead snakes! Just ask Bluey!!
His mechanical skills and inventiveness were at such a high level, the Australian Development Assistance Bureau (ADAB) sent him on 2 overseas deployments on projects to India and China. He and family lived in India from 1978 for three years at Hisar where he imparted his mechanical skills to staff on a Cattle Breeding Project, in the process, he said he taught the Indians how to swear in Australian!!! I think it was here that he developed his love of curries, often bringing a mouthwatering curry to work. On his return from India he completed a Diploma of Electronics through Warrnambool Institute of Advanced Education. His Chinese experience spanned over 9 years when he did numerous trips to Jiangsu (Gangso) and Xinjiang (SinJan) provinces on various ADAB projects.
When the Department decided to cease its own mechanical servicing in 1995, Doug, with his unbelievable innovative skills, took up the computing challenge. He became an expert at computing systems maintenance, becoming chief computing systems problem solver and eventual Manager of IT services for the Department, covering Western Victoria until his retirement in 2011, during this time he completed a Diploma of Business Management from University of Melbourne.
That’s his remarkable working life, just as remarkable was his involvement in community organisations.
His commitment to serving many organisations for so many years is truely amazing. The time and effort applied to organisations to enhance member and organisational benefits, inspired us all.
Doug has provided outstanding leadership, as well as getting the basics done. Preparing grounds, doing repairs, coaching, promoting and encouraging others to participate, he has done it all. He was a great ‘Networker’ and team player, he not only led by example, but encouraged others to getting the job done. If Doug could not do it, he would source one of his numerous contacts to help get the job done.
The following is a short summary of Doug’s outstanding contribution to Community Sport & Community Welfare. You will see that his peers (members) have recognised his contribution through various well deserved awards.
Cricket
Doug was a stalwart of the North Hamilton Cricket Club, being one of the foundation members (along with Peter Moeller & Phil Sevior) as a player, long term administrator, and coach, when it was changed from Strathkellar to North Hamilton in 1972. He was president on a number of occasions. He coached junior cricket for 29 years, the under 14s and 16s, and he was delighted when his junior team was the first in the club to make a grand final. During this time he was appointed the foundation Coach for the HDCA Under 17 Country Week Squad. He loved coaching juniors, and I’m sure he was instrumental in forging many a successful cricketing career
Doug also worked tirelessly in the back ground, as curator of the wicket at Melville Oval and helped organise the change rooms and facilities, and maintaining the oval at the Friendly’s Recreation Reserve.
Doug played cricket for 35 years, He was an all rounder, highest score 115 against Hamilton, (it must be so, it’s written on his bat!!) and best bowling 3 for 19.
A funny story about Doug. When playing a C grade final on a wet and drizzly day. At the main break the umpires forgot to collect the extremely heavy and soggy ball, so Doug wondered if they would have more success with a dry ball, so he whipped it home and put it in the oven to dry!! Unfortunately it had no effect and they still lost!!
When being bestowed Life Membership of the club for his outstanding contribution in 1993 he was described as one of the most popular and hard working members of the club
When the club amalgamated with City XI to form the Southern Grampians Cricket Club, Doug became their inaugural Secretary with Gavin Kearney President. What an outstanding contribution to Distract cricket!
CFA
Doug joined the Buckley Swamp Rural Fire Brigade on the 26 November 1973, his long service of (51 years) entitled him to receive Life Membership at 30 years, and the 50 year Service Medallion for his loyal service, just another amazing community contribution.
Umpiring
Doug Joined the WDUA in 1974, his active years of service has spanned 4 decades. Serving in several key Executive, Social, Coaching and Selector roles and of course umpiring. Having began as a boundary, progressing to central and then goal umpire. He umpired over 500 games. He is the only member of the association who has done a western Border Senior Grand final both as a Boundary and as a Goal umpire . He was the driving force as President in the completion of stage 3 of the Umpires Clubrooms. For many years Doug and Gloria managed the Clubrooms bookings and cleaning role. He was also a tribunal advocate for the Western District Umpires
One funny story he told was, when as a central umpire, one day at Wickliffe, on a very wet and rainy day, he looked for the goal umpire to give the all clear, only to see him waving his flags through his car window behind the goals.
Doug always had some great sayings, one comes to mind when as a selector he went to West Gambier to observe the umpires. Stu Bigham was the central, (sorry Stu!) and he blew the whistle too early for a mark that was dropped, the player then went on to kick a goal. Doug said that Stu ran back to the centre square “ ike an elephant with a bee in his ear”!!
For Doug’s service to umpiring he was awarded Life Membership of the WDUA in 1992, VCFLUA Service Award in 1998 and Vic Football League Service Award in 2018 for outstanding service to AFL Football. Another outstanding selfless community achievement. To round out his sporting achievements he was a Football match reporter for the Hamilton Spectator, for 5 years.
Friendly’s Recreation Reserve Committee
Doug joined this Committee as the Cricket Club Delegate. He served this organisation for over 50 Years (19 as President). He ensured that all users were treated fairly and worked with City of Hamilton and later Southern Grampians Shire Council to ensure all Users had a voice and get their fair share of funding.
Doug’s long service to this committee was recently recognised with an Appreciation Award by the Department of Energy, Environment & Climate Action (DEECA)
Doug recently offered to step aside but the Committee elected not to accept the offer.
Community Welfare
Doug has been a very active Legacy member for 24 years, serving terms as both President and Vice President, as well as participating in all the Legacy activities, in particular convening the Hamilton & District Legacy Golf Day, which is a major event on Hamiltons golfing calendar. He was Hamilton Legacy’s IT expert.
Doug I’m sure, would want me to remind you that none of his community involvement would have been remotely possible without the tremendous, unselfish support of Gloria and family. Thank you Gloria and family on the community’s behalf.
