The death of Ned Officer
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Dr Edward Albert Officer was taken ill suddenly with heart trouble at his residence in King's Park-road yesterday, and died late last night. During the afternoon he had performed an operation with Dr G.W. Barker, and at that time seemed to be in his normal health. Dr Officer, who was 58 years of age, had practised his profession in Western Australia for over 30 years. He was an honorary physician of the Perth Hospital and the Children's Hospital, and a member of the board of management of the latter institution. He was also honorary medical officer to the Western Australian Turf Club, of which he was a prominent member. He was well known as a racehorse owner, and was held in high esteem by a large circle of friends. When in Victoria, he was a prominent footballer, playing with the Essendon team.
(By 'Old Fitzroy', of the Referee)
THE news of the sudden death of Dr E. A. Officer in West Australia was received with regret by old footballers in Victoria. In the nineties Ned Officer was a member of the famous Essendon team playing full-back. Strong, dashing, and full of determination, he was the terror of opposing forwards. His methods were always fair, however, but he had little time for the weakling. He was a good kick and a fair mark, with straight-ahead methods—no dodging or turning. If you were in his way you went down.
Coming from the Western District of Victoria, it was only natural he should be fond of horses, and in recent years owned many good racehorses. It is rather a coincidence that his death should follow so closely another great Essendon footballer in Albert Thurgood, who, by the way, also spent some time in West Australia [and also owned race horses]. Bob Byers, Florrie Palmer, Barney Grecian, and others of the nineties Essendon side all migrated westwards.
(An appreciation by an Old friend, The Daily News)
The news of the death of 'Ned' Officer filled me with a sense of deep personal loss and grief, and I doubt not that many hundreds felt likewise. It is difficult to realise that a personality so strong, kindly and vigorous has passed away. My thoughts carry me back almost 40 years, to the days when he came from Warrnambool to enter on his medical course at Melbourne University, and begin his association with the Essendon Club and the East Melbourne Cricket Ground. That ground was the home of two teams—cricket and football—the members of each drawn together by no ties excepting those of a love for their respective game. There was no qualification of residence, and the old ground attracted young men from suburb and country alike.
Until the time when Officer joined the Essendon team the club had been somewhat of a disappointment in the matter of premiership success. Acknowledged to be a brilliant side, it had often failed against more rugged opponents, but with the advent of Ned and others came a period of wonderful success, during which four premierships in succession were won. Much of the credit for this may justly he given to its captain, Alec Dick, a man of strong personality, a fine player himself, and one who made his team obey him. He had a fine side to lead, knew it, and welded the team into an almost perfect machine. Their success was so. great that from June, 1892, till September 1894 they held an unbeaten record— a period of two and a-half seasons, and in their four years of premiership they lost but three games, being unbeaten in 1893—an honor which has never been attained by any other before or since. Alec Dick realised that the short little marking of those days was merely a handicap to a dashing side such as he led, and quick passing became the order of the day, A judicious blend of big and little men gave an ideal selection for all sorts of weather, and thus the side held sway as no other team has done since.
Ned Officer filled the post of full back—in those days a position of much greater importance than it is to-day, for then a goal was what the word is meant to convey, and not as now, a mere incident is a game, and probably Ned has never had a peer. Many came very close to him, but he had very special qualities. He was big, strong, fast and fearless, a fine high mark, had a long and raking kick, and above all, unerring judgment. I can see him now in my mind's eye flashing out from the goal and clearing with a short run and long kick. But it was at the finish of some desperate game against such a team as Fitzroy or South Melbourne, when no quarter was given or expected, that Officer was such an outstanding player. With the backs packed together, and the both teams looked in a fierce struggle, a flying form would come down the ground, shouting to the team and inspiring the whole side. Many a match did he help to win for us, when he would realise that away back in goal be could do no good, and that it was a case of do or die.
And he was, above all, scrupulously clean and fair. He was rough in the good sense of the word, in that he used his great weight and strength fairly when it had to be used. I remember on one occasion at South Melbourne when in the midst of a fierce struggle in front of goal, Ned tried to punch the ball away, and connected instead with the nose of one, Tom Duggan. Now Tom was the holder of the middle or heavy weight championship at the time: no man to trifle with, and a fine, fair player to boot. When Ned apologised with a “Sorry, Tom, it was an accident!” Tom’s reply came short and curt: “That's all right Ned, I know you're not a d — — — fool. That was the spirit of the game as played then: matches were hard as hard could be, but there was no deliberate hitting. Men would at times come to blows in the heat of a grim finish, but there was an absence of foul and unsportsmanlike play, and a mutual respect which is delightful to remember.
And Ned Officer was such a kindly colleague: always helpful and encouraging to the junior members of the team, and so modest in every way. He was indeed a fine man in all respects, and the hundreds who attended at his graveside a few Sundays ago showed fitting tribute to the memory of one who was really deserving of such tribute. A hard worker all his life, his career may well be an inspiration to anyone acquainted with it, and his immature death will be regretted by all who knew him.
The writer knew his home and private life well, and the recollection of a long Sunday morning chat some two months ago will ever be a precious memory. We talked as two old comrades could and would: of our families and of our home life, and he spoke with such pride of his wife and children, and to them the sympathy of thousands has gone out in their trial. His early death caused wide mourning and many a home and many an individual will have cause to regret the loss of a kind and generous friend. He was a great footballer and a great and good man.
Footnotes
Title: DR. OFFICER DEAD. A popular sportsman
Author: West Australian Staff Writer
Publisher: The West Australian (Perth, WA: 1879-1954)
Date: Saturday, 11 June 1927, p.11 Article
Link: http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article32033176
Title: DR. "NED" OFFICER
Author: Daily News Staff Writer
Publisher: The Daily News (Perth, WA: 1882-1950)
Date: Saturday, 1 July 1927, p.9 Article
Link: http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article78906330
Title: NED OFFICER'S DEATH. Famous Essendon Full Back
Author: OLD FITZROY
Publisher: Referee (Sydney, NSW: 1886-1939)
Date: Wednesday, 15 June 1927, p.15 Article
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