Vale Leonard George Anderson – passed away peacefully on March 8, 2015

“Len”, as he was known to all, was one of two sons of Cheltenham HC Life Member, Charlie Anderson. Cheltenham, where Len first played hockey as a junior, was the club which joined with Bentleigh HC to form Moorabbin HC in 1960.

Len continued playing in the Moorabbin junior teams and graduated to the seniors some time later. His contemporaries knew him to be an enthusiastic team member who always saw a bigger future for the club. He was on the Committee at an early stage and was instrumental in the formation of the women’s section in 1969, where Judy Stewart (LM), as a foundation player, worked with Len to establish the team. Gwen Learey (LM) was also of that era and was happy to welcome Len into the fold of the Old Binners, where she is chief organiser.

I recall Len placing an advertisement in the local Standard Newspaper: “Players Wanted for Moorabbin Hockey Club” (which only had men’s teams) only to report that unexpectedly, he had several enquiries from women! He said it was time to have a women’s team and so the women’s section was born. His infectious sense of humour was always a welcome distraction at some meetings when discussion became too serious.

In the early days, the club had to move from its original ground in Chesterville Road (where the Aquatic Centre is now located), to the more suitable Shipston Reserve. This was closer to where Len’s parent’s home was – in Booker Street, Cheltenham. He had a few mates who also played hockey, living very nearby: Neil Blackburn, Graham Taylor, Phil Howe, Steve and Andy Peck, Mike and Peter Sundstrom and others, all of whom also were Cheltenham juniors. Len reminded me that in his Primary School days he was able to go ‘yabbying’ in the wetlands at the end of his street.

When Len retired from playing hockey to concentrate on family and work (as an accountant), we lost touch for a while. However, he always maintained an interest in the club and in recent times attended the match day lunches for Life Members and friends at the Farm Road clubrooms.

Subsequently, he made time to come along to the Old Binners lunches, an informal group which meets about four or five times a year. He had a wealth of information of the ‘good old days’ and was happiest when regaling us with stories of that time.

Len was one of the true ‘original’ members with a long history at the club extending back to his father Charlie’s time with Cheltenham. He was convivial and entertaining at lunch and we know he will be missed by those who regularly attend the Old Binners lunches. We extend our sincere condolences to Joy, his wife and the family. Also, our condolences to Marilyn, Len’s first wife who we knew well during his playing days with the Club.

Richard Blaze