Matthew Cumming, left, and John Ladds in front of the montage of photographs honouring the life of Neerim Neerim South legend Bill Cumming. Picture: Stewart Chambers
By Peter Sweeney
HANGING in the social rooms at Bill Cumming Memorial Oval in Neerim Neerim South is a montage of photographs as eye-catching and as moving as you could find anywhere.
“Reflection of our club. Enjoy the journey. Our memories will live on. The Bill Cumming family,” are the words in a corner of the framed gift to the Neerim Neerim South Football Netball Club.
Everybody who knew Cumming wanted him to live for much longer than the 56 years he did. However, if he’d had a choice of how, and where, he could die, Cumming would have had it no other way.
He passed away in the middle of Neerim South Oval in a game against Kooweerup on 16 May 2009. A premiership coach of the Cats, Cumming, who was working as a trainer, had a heart attack while tending to an injured player.
Medical officers worked on Cumming for an hour but couldn’t revive him.
Chris Cumming was at the game when her husband died – and their son Matthew was playing. Matthew Cumming is one of only three players from the club’s last premiership year, 1999, still playing. And Bill Cumming’s mum, Bub, who is in her 80th year, still “mans” the gate for matches at Neerim South.
“Bill was so fit, so well, and there were no symptoms anything was wrong,” Chris said.
“I ran out but nothing could be done for him.
“The footy club was his passion. He may as well have had a bed there.”
Bill, Chris and Bub Cumming and her late husband, Len, are life members of the Neerim Neerim South Football Netball Club.
Not only is the home of the Cats named after Bill Cumming, but the bar in the club’s Phoenix room is known as ‘Cummo’s bar’.
“We belong to the best club ever,” is what the Cumming family wrote to the footy club after his passing.
“Our club is our family and always will be. Bill had a passion for this club which was unconditional.
“Whether you are playing football or netball, waving the flags, marking the lines or cleaning the toilets … think of Billy and how much he loved this club and all the people in it.”
