It is with great sadness that the Werribee Football Club advises of the passing overnight of President John Nicol.
The Werribee Football Club and the City of Wyndham lost one their finest today with the passing of John Nicol. John had been undergoing treatment in the last month for a very aggressive cancer. John had just completed two weeks of radiation therapy as a day patient, and was at home when he passed.
John Nicol was a man of the people, and possessed those old fashioned values of decency, honesty and respect. John was a tireless and meticulous worker, no matter what he turned his hand to.
He helped shape Werribee as the City Engineer for decades. It was in that role he became a friend of the Werribee Football Club, a friendship that grew into a love affair. John joined the board of the football club in 1996 and served as Vice President from 1998 to 2005. In 2006 he became President and was in his 10th year of a role he reluctantly took on at the start, but robustly hung onto in the end.
Just last week, John signed the document to ratify the new alignment agreement between Werribee and the North Melbourne Football Clubs for the next two years. He knew the importance of that document for the future of the club he was so passionate about.
John is the longest continuous serving president of the Werribee Football Club, a milestone he never spoke about, but cherished. John was a major influence in developing the financial structure that saw the club debt free, and has been a driving force behind the proposed redevelopment of Avalon Airport Oval @ Chirnside Park.
John was a vocal supporter on game days, always cheering on his ‘Tiges’ and berating the umpires (in a reverent Nicol Catholic fashion). The football club loved John as much as he loved it. He was a Life Member and last year was inducted into the Werribee FC Hall of Fame. He was also made a VFL Life Member in 2014, an honour he wore proudly.
John was a dedicated Rotarian, a member of the Advisory Council of the Mercy Hospital, and gave his time and expertise to organisations and people whenever he could.
As much as he loved the football club, his greatest passion was his family. The thoughts and prayers of everyone extend to Pauline and the entire Nicol family.
The family has been overwhelmed by the messages of support that have flooded in. They have asked that instead of flowers, please make a donation to the Mercy Hospital in Werribee direct or via the Werribee Football Club. Funeral details will be announced soon.
RIP- John Nicol.
