Yarrawonga identity Joe Dixon will be remembered as a great man who was a multi club president, a highly talented sports player, community volunteer and a devoted family man who had a successful working career in the SEC (Powercor).
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Joseph Matthew Dixon, 82, passed away on May 31 and the funeral service was held at Sacred Heart Catholic Church Yarrawonga on Tuesday, May 9.
The eulogy was delivered by oldest son Sam which included the following.
“Dad was born on 31/5/1940 in Deniliquin to Joseph Edward (Mr Jed) and Mary (Molly) Irene Dixon – Pop and Nana to us - into a loving family which included younger brother Robert (Bobby) and younger sister Carol (Carly). Molly would call Dad ‘Joey’ and both Pop and Nan would dote on their three kids.
“The family moved to Yarra, when Dad was two-years-old and Bobby 10 months. They stayed in a tent down at the Grove until Pop bought their home on the corner of Dunlop and Thorn Streets for 100 pounds.
“Dad went to primary school at the Catholic school followed by a couple of years at the Covenant where the Nuns taught him and then in 1956 and 1957 he went to Assumption College in Kilmore for years 10-11 which included playing footy in the firsts.
“He came back to Yarra in 1958 where he played seniors and then he was the youngest player in Yarra’s first premiership side in 1959 under Billy Stephen.
“In 1963 Billy Stephen enticed Dad down to Fitzroy where he played five senior games against the likes of Ken Fraser and Des Tuddenham. Unfortunately, employment opportunities didn’t work out and being a country boy at heart, he came back to Yarra.
“Dad went back playing at Yarra until he went out to Tungamah in 1966 to play and coach.
In 1963, Joe Dixon returned back to the Yarrawonga Pigeons after playing with Fitzroy.
“Ken Fraser then asked Dad to come back to Yarra in 1968 where he played until 1971. His last game was a reserves preliminary final at Rovers against Wodonga. In that game, Dad cracked his sternum when a Wodonga player put both his knees into his chest – Micky McNamara and Glen Brear flew the flag for Dad that day. Dad told me many years later that the doctor had said if the sternum had cracked a little more, he would have died.
“In total Dad played 189 games for the Pigeons and was a Life Member of the club.
“During the 70s he had other interests that he took up, collecting antique bottles and photography (namely weddings) as well as umpiring our junior football games early Sunday morning.
“In the 80s he was part of Yarra’s Football Club committee including being the Vice President for a number of years under Jim Donaghey and Charles Thomas Runnalls.
Joe Dixon was described as one of the greatest all-round sportsman Yarrawonga has ever produced.
“He was a big part of Yarrawonga’s second premiership in 1989 working behind the scenes including getting players like Chris Long and David Tonks to the club where they were great players in the premiership year. There was a photo in the Chronicle after that win of Dad with the best smile I have ever seen him have. (Yarrawonga 17.10.112 beat Wang Rovers 16.8.104). Dad was then President of the footy club from 1991 to 1995.
“Tennis; Dad won five tennis club championships at Yarra between 1968 and 1977. His hitting partner in the early days was John McCurdy.
“He also played for the Numurkah Tennis Club in the Goulburn Valley League where he won the club championship in one year.
“Dad was continually playing Country Week tennis and his famous moment was winning a match 28-26 in the fifth set in the back courts of Kooyong.
“Squash; Dad was the squash club champion three times in 1977, 1978 and 1981, he actually held the club championship in both tennis and squash in Yarra in 1977 and he was President of the Squash Club from 1982-1984.
“Thursday nights were the best nights during those squash days where Dad would socialise with the likes of Brian Patrick Dykes, Wayne Dunne, Dobs Martin, Brian Lyons and Col Skinner.
“Basketball; during the 70s Dad played a bit of basketball at the shire hall and said he never missed a basket from the corner.
“Lawn Bowls; Dad dabbled in lawn bowls and in one year reached the semi finals of the RSL club championship which upset a few of the old blokes when Dad came in without a lot of experience.
“Work; Dad worked at the SEC and then Powercor for about 35 years from the late 1950s to the early 1990s. Initially Pop went into the SEC office in Yarra and said Dad was joining the Police Force but can he work for the SEC until he joins the force.
“Dad worked up from being a linesman to a management role but some of my best memories are travelling around Yarra in the SEC truck with Dad.
“He loved working for the SEC with blokes such as Tex Baudinette, Brian Milne, Jack Douglas and Paul Jordon.
“Mulwala Water Ski Club; Dad worked at the ski club for 10 years as a Bingo Caller/Bar Steward. Dad loved working at the ski club with Mum (in the office), getting home and discussing the days’ events.
“Dad had a wicked sense of humour especially if he called certain numbers while he would start each session with a joke and was always so popular with the ladies. He would also drive the courtesy bus.
“He also did a lot of volunteer work in his life: he was a Past President and Life member of Yarra-Mul Apex Club – volunteer community service organisation that he worked for in the 70s and 80s; he was on the Yarrawonga Community Health Centre committee from 1978 to 1988, was president from 1979 to 1981, during this time he helped establish such buildings as Warina; in the 80s he visited veterans in aged care as part of a community group; after the SEC, he did meals on wheels with Jack Douglas in the 90s.
“Dad was a great public speaker and was MC for the debutant balls for both secondary schools (Catholic and Yarra High) in the eighties, a favourite moment one night was when he announced that it was a special night as his baby girl Fiona was making her debut with John Burke.
“In relation to family, Dad dated Mum for six years during the sixties. Joe and Judy settled into Yarrawonga eventually at 66 Piper St with Fiona being born in the late 60s and us boys being born in the 70s.
“Our childhoods were full of love and quite frankly, sport. We had favourite times of the year: Easter where every year they would host parties (mostly dress up ones) for all the tennis players at the local tournament – Mum and Dad made friends for life from this, such as Murray and Lyn French, Lyn Anderson and her family. Summer trips to Merimbula 13 years in a row.
“In the 1990s and 2000s, Mum and Dad had great enjoyment in travelling down to Melbourne in the big red car to watch Ben play football for Hawthorn and wherever they went they would make everlasting friendships. These days were a great time for the family as we got to see them most weekends.
“He loved all four of us and was proud of our achievements and keeping tracking of all his eleven grandchildren. I’ll miss our chats and he was my rock.”
Super hero, idol, best seller
Tributes were also paid to Joe by sons Matthew and Ben.
“Dad was respected, loved and a legend,” Mathew said.
“Brendan Clarke (football) said Dad was ‘a real players’ president’. Dad was my super hero, a huge heart.”
Ben said: “Dad was my idol. He absolutely loved the Pigeons. My goal was to beat Dad’s five (VFL/AFL) games.”
Ben certainly did, playing 203 games with Hawthorn and booting 282 goals. Ben referred to words he appreciated from Ken Fraser who remarked how great a footballer his Dad was, because Dad beat him in the match against Essendon.
Family days in Melbourne after the Saturday games were always cherished by all family members and were recalled by all three sons.
“Dad, you said you read a lot of best sellers. Yours was the best story seller,” Ben concluded.
Joe and Judy’s nine grandchildren delivered one to two magnificent sentences or descriptions of their grandfather.
Joe was known far and wide.
VFL player of 60 games with Fitzroy, Darryl Herrod, 77, of Corowa, said: “I’ve known Joe all my life. He was a terrific bloke.” Long-time past president of Corowa Football Club John Elmore, 76, said: “Joe and I were on the O and M Board together. He was a great man.”
Hawthorn champion of 269 games and 1254 goals, Jason Dunstall said: “Joe was a ripper, an absolute ripper. He couldn’t have been prouder of Ben and the whole team.”
Friend and former Mulwala footballer Bill Bott AM shed some light on Joe’s collection of bottles: “He went out to a farming property north of Corowa with a mate, did some excavation work and down in an old well found some valuable bottles. It was quite a range of whisky and other bottles. Joe was very, very pleased with the find.”
Champion Australian tennis player who made it to the last 16 players in the 1983 Wimbledon Championships, John McCurdy of Melbourne, said: “Joe was a champion fellow, and he was at the tennis club during my childhood. He was a fantastic bloke and I was so fortunate having him there – I had many a tennis hit-up with Joe.”
Glenn Brear, who took over as football club president in 1997 and served a record 18 years in the top job said: “Joe’s work around the club was huge, both as a player and committeeman. He was able to speak to people and make you feel welcome. He was a big, great man and I’m glad his send-off was big.”
The Yarrawonga Football Netball Club stated on their Facebook page: “When son Ben, made his debut in 1997 with Hawthorn, the Dixons became the only father and son to both play at Yarrawonga before going on to play VFL/AFL football.
“Not only did Joe excel at football, he was recognised as one of North East Victoria's top sportsmen, being a very gifted tennis and squash player.
“Joe is one former player that gave back as much as he got out of playing with the Pigeons. After being a committee member during the 80s, Joe became ‘King Pigeon’ when elected President from 1991-1995.”
Friend John (Jinx) Clarke described Joe as the greatest all-round sportsman Yarrawonga has produced.
The funeral service was conducted by Fr Marco who said: “Joe was honest, a volunteer – that has a lot of value caring for other people - married 55 years – that’s very special, that’s commitment - and a family man. He raised the level of society.”
The funeral service began with the song ‘Unforgettable’ by Nat King Cole. Elvis Presley’s ‘You Were Always On My Mind’ was played, with reference to Joe’s family. The service ended with ‘Unforgettable’ this time by Nat King Cole and his daughter Natalie. Joe won’t be forgotten.
