The death of Reg Wilmot
Mr. R. W. E. WILMOT, widely known sporting writer and public man, died at the Royal Melbourne Hospital early last night after an illness of several months. He would have been 80 in October.
Known as "Bung" to his friends and as "Old Boy" to his wide circle of readers—the name he used for half a century as sporting writer and athletics editor of The Argus and The Australasian—he had an amazing knowledge of personalities in almost every branch of sport.
His life was full in every sense. Educated at Melbourne Grammar School and the University, he was student, writer, cricketer, footballer of note.
Interest in sport led him away from an early business career. He played football for Brighton, then for Essendon from 1890 to 1894. He became an official of the Amateur Athletic Association and was a councillor and vice-president for 30 years. He was first secretary and organiser of the Victorian boxing championships.
Exactly 60 years ago he first wrote a schools sports column in The Australasian, adopting the pen name "Old Boy," and became known to and liked by thousands of schoolboys. He became a contributor to The Argus, and finally Athletics Editor, a position he held for many years.
He found time to be secretary, or president, of the Old Melburnians for many years, and to edit the first history of Melbourne Grammar and the Victorian Sporting Record, and to write, Defending the Ashes.
He was chairman of the Melbourne Hospital Birthday League from its inception; was secretary of the Royal Humane Society for more than 40 years; and resigned, this year, as secretary of the Athenaeum, after 40 years' service.
Through his writings he helped many young sportsmen; privately, he helped many young journalists. He was well liked.
Mr Wilmot leaves a widow, one son—Mr Chester Wilmot, author and radio commentator—and two daughters.
After a service at Melbourne Grammar School Chapel at 10 o'clock on Monday morning, the funeral will leave for the Box Hill Cemetery.
VFL tribute to the late Mr Wilmot
Sympathetic references to the worth of the late Mr R. W. E. Wilmot (formerly "Old Boy" of The Argus) were made at a meeting of the Victorian Football League last night.
Mr L. H. McBrien, MLC., secretary, said that Mr Wilmot, who had written about football for a number of years, possessed all the qualities expected in a man of his training.
Footnotes
Title: Death of Mr. R. W. E. Wilmot
Author: The Argus
Publisher: The Argus (Melbourne, Victoria: 1848-1957)
Date: Wednesday, 27 May 1949, p.3
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