farmdoc's blog post number 440

Ronald Dale Barassi. When I was a kid and then a teenager, I had an ambivalent attitude to him. Then, he was the star footballer with Melbourne which in that era was the nemesis of my team Collingwood. Despite this, I couldn’t help but admire his skill, his inspirational leadership, his ability to win games off his own boot, and above all his determination and his courage. When in 1964 he became the first top-level football star to change clubs, so starting football’s change from sport to business, I thought him traitorous. But even taking into account his football playing and then coaching and then media commentating, he gained my eternal respect and admiration when last New Year’s Eve the then 72-year-old raced to the aid of a woman being assaulted in the street, pursued and apprehended the perpetrator, and was viciously kicked and punched in so doing [1]. That’s true courage. His father, Ron Barassi Senior, was killed in action at Tobruk. But whether Ronald Junior’s courage came from his genes or elsewhere is immaterial. His courage, attitude, humility and decency are a credit to him, and an example to all those who know of him. So I’m delighted he’s been named 2009 Victorian of the Year. Last year I wrote critically of Bert Newton. This year I think the choice is perfect. Take a bow, Ron. You deserve this one. I congratulate you.