Three life members contribute 170 years' combined service

Friday, 12 July 2019

Maira Boyle will always remember Lindsay Bell and Bob Donnelly for breaking tradition and allowing women inside the Star rugby clubrooms in the early 1970s.

Four of the Star Rugby Club's life members, from left, Lindsay Bell, Bert McKechnie, Bob Donnelly and Alan Blackler. Bell, Donnelly and Blackler have died recently.

Up to then rugby clubrooms in the south were off limits to women.

'Lindsay and Bob got the women in … it was great,' Boyle, the club's first woman life member, said.

It has been a sad time for the Star Rugby Club with Bell, Donnelly and their fellow life member Alan Blackler all dying within the past four months. Bell and Donnelly died during the past three weeks.

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Star Rugby Club official Maira Boyle beside photographs of the life members. Three of them - Lindsay Bell, Bob Donnelly and Alan Blackler - have died in recent months.

On the eve of Star playing Blues for the Galbraith Shield in Invercargill on Saturday, Boyle recalled the vast contribution Bell, Donnelly and Blackler made to the club.

Combined, the three good mates poured over 170 years of voluntary service into the Invercargill-based club.

Boyle said the men were pillars of club and at many meetings their depth of rugby knowledge and history was invaluable.

'If it wasn't for them we wouldn't be here now, they'll never be forgotten.'

Bell was involved with the club for 64 years, Donnelly chalked up 58 years and Blackler racked up more than 50 years. They held various office bearing positions over the many decades, including stints as president. Bell oversaw the construction of new clubrooms in 1994 and was bar manager for 25 years.

He organised the club's housie night for 33 years, while Blackler helped in the role for 16 years and served on the committee for more than 50 years.

Donnelly, who was the club's patron, coached the senior team to win the Galbraith Shield and Presidents Cup in 1966-67. He and Mike Hope were radio commentators for the Southland rugby team's games in the 1980s.

There are five living life members among the 28 listed on the honours boards in the Star clubrooms.