Author: Merewether.6523

MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT
Last week Merewether Carlton lost one of our legends, Steve ‘Chisel’ Gill. Player number 1205 who sadly passed away on Sunday the 30th of March.

Chisel was inducted as a Life Member in 1986 & as mentioned this week in one of our shared club chats, if there was ever a person that should be nominated twice, Chisel would be at the top of the list. The amount of additional work he’s done since being elected as a Life Member is astonishing.

Since the 1970’s, Chisel has been supporting our players being there for you in some way. Some played Rugby with him, some were coached by him, some just knew him as a friendly face to have a beer with.

He was always the first guy to put his hand up to take on a task, first guy at gameday & last to leave, always hanging around the ground keeping an eye on everything. He was in his element running the clubs Rugby Operations, managing the coaches & joking around with the playing group.

In recent years, Chisel did so much silent work in the background. Recruiting talent, finding jobs for new players to the club, ensuring our PPS was covered, helping with our international transfers & working with Slicer on our Anzac Day stories & player history. 
He didn’t want accolades, a medal, a thank you beer or anything. He just wanted to help & this leaves a massive hole in our club!

He genuinely loved being around the club. It was a second family to him. His dry humour & ability to take the piss out of others, along with himself will definitely be missed at our club. The videos, photos and stories being told in the background since the news broke are hilarious. He was loved by many!

Family History as told by Steve’s brother, Michael.
“Chisel was born at Merewether ‘Hillcrest’ Hospital to parents Nola and Wally. 
Wally Gill, player #483 played for Carlton in 1945 to 1947 as did most of his mates. Nola’s brother Jack Jones, #542 also played for the greens between 1946 & 1950.
Merewether life, everyone knew each other and it was like one big village. You were either between the surf club or the rugby club and life was good.
Steve attended Boys High which was a selective boys school along with other rugby mates from the Greens.”

Chisel’s career in Green. Thanks to the efforts of Steve ‘Slicer’ Frost, Chisel’s statistics and history partner: 


Playing career

• Started in 1968 as a junior playing grade, with his last game in 1986.
• 56 – 1st grade games
• 81 – 2nd grade,
• 45 – 3rd grade,
• 34 – 4th grade &
• 2 – Presidents Cup – totalling 218 games

Coaching career

• U16 in 1980
• U18 in 1981 & 1992
• 1st Grade in 1984 & 85

Official Positions held

• Secretary 1972, 1973, 2018, 2019
• Committee member 1987, 2014, 2015, 2016
• Football Manager 2014 to 2020
• Honorary Solicitor 1990 to 1998
• Insurance Committee Secretary 1971, 1972, 1973
• Offsider to Registrar for player points calculations – since inception

Unofficial Positions

• Historical researcher – armed services connections
• Compiler & checker of historical records for player games etc
• Mentor
• Friend
• Supporter

Chisel, you will be sorely missed.

RIP.

Luke Tresidder, President

FROM SONYA X
Since hearing the news of the loss of my mate Steve ‘Chisel’ Gill I have been in shock and deeply saddened. The club has lost a great man who worked tirelessly in the front office of the club and in more recent years behind the scenes to ensure all players were looked after on and off the field.

What most don’t know is that he still made sure that our out-of-town players had homes, had furniture, a means to get around and he also helped look after their fees where he could. You have no idea the amount of work that man did to make sure our players were on the park game 1 last year and even this year. He was trying to teach me everything PPS but I needed more lessons, contrary to belief he was very patient with teaching me the club admin part.

Personally, I have lost a best friend, a mentor, and my special consultant on all things MCRC. He taught me that the most important thing we need to remember about the club is the objects of our club which is in some of the first words of our Constitution, is that we are a football club for football players and without them we don’t have a purpose or objective (obviously not word for word). He said we are here to remember our traditions and the spirit of our club and look after each other, I couldn’t agree more. He taught me what it meant to be part of the ‘old boys’ club and it is now our job to look after the next generation coming through.

He is one of the people who I owe my Life Membership nomination to, which I will be forever grateful. I am going to miss Saturday morning pre-game coffee and cake dates with my favourite old boys Chisie and Cannons, our grand final breakfasts, me crashing old boys Friday night beers down at the bowlo and our general chit chat. I won’t see you pull up outside my house with forms or something that needs to be done for the greater good of the club and I won’t be able to call you for advice or even just a lift somewhere and that’s what I’ll miss the most. My apprenticeship under you was cut short but rest assured you have instilled the Greens spirit within me to carry on the legacy. Rest easy my friend.

Sonya Chapman, Secretary

FROM THE PLAYERS
Many stories can be shared about chisel. But we will just share a few times he was the butt our jokes and still always had the time of day for us.

Like the many times we stole and hid his car after games, the many times we’d tell him we’d accidentally broken the Hawthorne cup and that we needed his help to sort it out, all for him to just meet us at the Burwood with nothing broken and too just end up calling us a**holes and having beers with us. We’d tell him we had a new player to meet all for him to show at the Burwood with no new player, but he’d just call us names again, then still stay and have beers with us. We’d ring him as we saw him drive past and tell him he had a flat tyre and to turn around and we’d help fix it, all for him to have no flat tyre call us **sholes and end up having beers with us.

There’s 1000 more stories but in the end he’d always be there for us with anything we needed whether it was helping us with football, finding jobs, places to live or just to come and share stories with us. Always had time for all the players.

I don’t who’s going to damage club cars now but they have big shoes to fill. 
He’ll be badly missed by all that knew him and will leave a massive hole in Merewether Carlton.
We love you mate Billy Dunn, Sam Rouse, Lachlan Miller and Jason Milligan

CHISEL – FROM MICHAEL DAN
Chisel held a grudge, was combative, disrespectful, short and argumentative.

That was if you disagreed with his mantra. His mantra was that the club is there for the players, and without the players, there is no club.

Everything should be done for the players, to give the players a better experience. If you were in a position of power at the club, and you acted in a way against this mantra, Chisel let you know about it and would hold you accountable. The Burwood and the green room don’t mean much without the players there to fill it.

He simply wanted others to have the same experience that he had at the greens. The greens had a profound impact on his life, and he wanted to ensure the club functioned in a way to give a similar experience to anyone else who came to the club.

I met Chisel when I started coaching at the greens in 2013. I never heard about his own accomplishments as a player or coach, he was more than qualified to give an opinion, but never did. He simply showed up, shit got done, and he never asked for a thank you.

‘Seek first to understand, not to be understood’. Many would think this doesn’t apply to Chisel, but he never forced an opinion on me. Chisel would come to me with grumblings of others, ask for more information, ‘don’t worry, I’ll sort them/it out’. He fought many fights for me, and would take and throw a punch without me asking.

‘Mick, things would be easier for you to just apologise, but if you don’t feel you can, f&%$ the c*&%$ and I’ll back you’,

When I moved to Sydney for orthopaedic training, Chisel was the one checking in on me. Somehow he knew when life was throwing me a curve ball, and he was there for a coffee, a beer or a phone call, and he kept checking in on me till I was back on track.

During one low point, I expressed a need to get back into exercise, but I struggled to get into normal gym opening hours with work and how I needed to send time with William when I got home. All of a sudden I was given a key to the gym. I would finish work, wherever I was, grab William, and spend my hour of free time from 8-9pm or so with my son working out. This gave me the confidence to try playing again. When a committee member took the key off me for the club(themselves), all of a sudden another key miraculously (there was only 8 or so apparently) turned up and allowed me the ability to rehab from my shoulder surgery.

I love the dressing room- physically exhausted, it is a place and a time in life where you experience true raw emotion- both good and bad, my favourite destination. 10 years after trying, I was finally involved in a winning 1st grade side. Sharing a beer with Chisel, who had been side by side with me on that journey, in the winning dressing room is one of my great life memories.

Despite the age difference, Chisel was one of my best mates, a true friend, who I could always count on, even when I didn’t know I needed him.

My life is better because of him.

I’ll miss him as I face new challenges in life, and wish he was there to experience the joy of the good times with me as well.

Michael Dan

FROM THE “OLD BOYS”
(Peter “Jinx” Davis, Col Dixon, Peter Alcock, Geoff Padgett, Hugh Williams, Brian Fisher, Peter Prince, Steve Davis, Steve “Lightening” Rich and many more).

The relationship between Chisel and the ‘old boys’ began in high school. He began high school later in the school year than most, turning up to Newcastle Boys High in his boater hat which got him noticed and into a brouhaha with Peter Prince. Since this day, they became best of friends. Peter blames Chisel for his ability to spew, Chisel started, and he followed suit following their many nights out.

Many more friendships were made through the involvement with Merewether Surf Club. Peter ‘Jinx’ Davis had put many of the boys through their bronze medallion, safe to say the beaches of Merewether were safe in the 60s and 70s with this lot on patrol.

A great memory recalled was a sanction letter received from the Board of the Surf Club for an incident involving Chisel, Jinx, Peter Alcock, John Adamson and Steve “Lightening” Rich. The incident involved an old surf boat that the boys decided to take out for a few waves off the rocks of Merewether which resulted in them facing charges of ‘deserting the said vessel on route to land’. Their punishment was a few additional patrols and selling raffle tickets at the Beaches Hotel.

The boys continued their friendships at Merewether Carlton Rugby club all donning the Green and White to play for our mighty club. They recall many bus trips where overalls were essential and a trip to the local hardware shop was needed before trips to get the equipment for the ‘pissaphone’. If you don’t know what this is, just ask one of the old boys.

Stories were told about Chisel living in one of the club’s houses which was renown for mischief and players up to no good, one night even hosting a Hungi. This night may have involved motorbikes jumping kegs and jumping trees which ultimately resulted in Chisel being evicted.

Their friendships further cemented following the birth of their children with many nights spent up at Boomerang Caravan Park making memories and raising their children together. It was here that the annual golf event, the Great Lakes Open was born. The tournament carrying on for 23 years with Chisel being the main organiser of the event. This was filled with seafood, kegs and shenanigans. One year even donning some F-Troop apparel with the 2 bears as their logo “Turn left at bear that look like rock – turn right at rock that look like bear…”. Many saying that Chis was an F-Troop fanatic and found this hilarious.

What many didn’t know was that Chisel was not only a Surf Life Saver and a Rugby Player but a keen golfer and a basketball player. A jack of all sports by the sound of things. Rugby is where he shined, playing in Canberra for a few years with Wests Rugby where he won a premiership and played with some former Wallabies, John Weatherstone being one. His connections remain until this day.

Through his rugby days there are many stories of his procurement of opposition apparel, there’s no guessing how many jerseys or kits he actually had! One story in particular standing out was on a Golden Oldies tour in the UK following all matches, an announcement came over the PA system letting people know that there were many jumpers left in the large shared central change room. Well peaking interest, a few went to have a look what was there, only to find Chisel with 5 jumpers already under his arms. Another memory is the times Steve Davis and Chisel would travel to watch their sons Brad and Michael play in the Country representative squads, each taking turns to drive to the next region. Michael recalling there was rarely a time where he didn’t pull a kit from out of under his seat as a trophy. One time he even had the ceremonial blazer of the opposition, still not knowing how he got it as there was a presentation after that game and the team were all wearing them when they left! Legend.

Although their playing days are long over and their kids are all grown now, the “Old Boys” still gather at the “Table of Knowledge” at Dixon Park Surf Club or at the Merewether Bowlo on a Friday or Saturday night. It is here that they continued the traditions of ripping on each other and talking s**t over a coffee or a beer. Padgo no longer having to be embarrassed by his chief marketing manager for his building of all things wooden in his shed and being hassled about the “shared boat”; and Col and Louise no longer having to look out for their immaculate lawn for the dog digging holes, It is tough news to take losing a life long mate and sharing so many good times and memories.

Reminiscing about the times had, has been hard for everyone but also good to share some of the memories of the good times over the years. The old boys saying that Chisel took on the persona of the much-respected Spider Clarke who Chisel adored. He was cranky, spikey prickly but had a heart of gold. Chisel and Spider are top tier Life Members and compare to no other for what they have done for others in the club. Farewell our friend, you will be dearly missed.

MESSAGES OF MEMORIES & CONDOLENCES
Chisel was our first-grade coach. It was truly a memorable experience. Chise’s half-time talks to the team were a combination of his trademark short and straight forward no bull**it language and half a packet of durrys while doing it. his use of the English language to describe your performance could only be delivered by Chisel. If we did have a win at the end of the game his simple words in the sheds were ‘I f**ken told you blokes didn’t I”. Truly great memories of a great clubman – Martin “Swanny” Swan.

Chisel was certainly a Greens legend who made huge contributions to our Club over so many years. Condolences to all the Gill family – John Davis

Every so often a person comes along and makes a difference and Chisel you did. This club would not be the club it is now if you were not a part of it – Garry Back

Like Swanny, I recall Chisel coaching us in first grade in the mid 80’s. The most memorable things were the unrecognisable training drills he made us do and no one knew what the hell we were doing or why. And neither did Chisel and there in lay the problem.

I do not however that in the last few years it was Chisel that took the time out to contact me and others to assist in getting jobs or contacts for guys that were new to the club. This played a big part in cementing their loyalty and genuine commitment to the Greens and the comradery it offers.

I’m sure when Chisel in the past relieved all of the teams of their kit it was out of a sense of community and sharing. That sense lived on until the end. RIP Chisel – Bob Hawes

I remember when I first started playing senior rugby with the Greens thinking how old Chisel and the other blokes of that vintage were. I was away from the Green family for soe time and when I returned in 2021 to become involved with senior rugby, Chisel was still there and it was like nothing had changed. I also reflected that he wasn’t that old given I am not nearing 60. Lat last year Chisel gave me a call and he asked that Swanny and myself consider taking over the club records given that Slicer and himself were getting older. It was an honour for me to think a bloke like Chisel would consider me worthy to do the job. I didn’t expect him to be gone this quick and wished I had more time to appreciate the work he has done to keep records for this great club. RIP mate your legacy won’t be forgotten. – Marc ‘Reggi’ or as Chisel remembered me ‘Bunsen’ Knight

There are many stories of Chisel’s procurement skills on football trips. Representative jumpers from the SCG, booze from the Tall Timbers Ourimbah are 2 examples that immediately spring to mind. RIP Chis and condolences to the Gill Family – James Garis

My condolences Mick and family. He was my first junior coach, first 1st grade coach and provided durrys to the whole 1st grade backline late at night in the early 80s.

Chisel was given the name by his early employer Bruce O’Sullivan on the basis he only worked when you hit him. Many great memories of your dad growing up and as a mate later. He will be missed – Michael ‘Oso’ O’Sullivan

Melissa and I send our condolences to the Gill family. He was a Greens legend & will be a massive loss to the club – Greg Milton.

RIP Chisel. Always selfless and dedicated. You will be truly missed Chisel. Condolences Gills – Cammo

RIP Chisel and condolences to the Gill family – Rod Hood

First man to visit me in hospital after my rugby ending injury. Absolute legend. RIP Chisel – Reidy

Chisel was also a great mentor in sorting out the occasional issue with the juniors. RIP Chisel and condolences to the family – Gordon Dryburgh.

Condolences to the Gill family, we won’t have to be home now while our footy jumpers are out on the line drying. He was a great man. RIP Chisel – Neil Marchant.

RIP Chisel, a massive loss. Condolences to the Gill family – Chris Walsh

Opposition kit men can sleep a little easier. RIP to one of the greats, Chisel, much love to the Gills – Michael Davis

CHISEL – FROM BLOCKER
I started with the Greens in U18s where Steve Gill was my coach. I’d met him through his son Brad but didn’t know him well. This was large successful team, well established. I was an outsider. Straight away he took me under his wing like he has done for so many and helped make it “my place” for life. He saw me as a kid with potential, someone who could make something of himself. I remember thinking Steve Gill was a serious man who had wisdom and leadership to share. We were both horribly wrong! Here the journey of Blocker and Chisel for me began!

From there on my relationship with “Chisel” was real! Lots of swearing, bickering, beers and laughs. Chisel treated me differently than others. He’d have one hand pointing at me, calling me out with dismay or frustration “BLOCKER” in only a way someone with familiarity or care could do. The other hand always there out of sight, reaching out with unconditional support as he has for so many.

In recent years I spent a lot of time with Chisel when coaching first grade with Mick and Trent. Chisel was the football manager. This should have been a sit com on its own. It was erratic and hilarious, some of my best times. I could only liken it to Huey, Dewey and Lewey with Scrooge McDuck. Chisel with the grumpy yet nonchalant exterior on the outside but on the inside he loved it! He was one of the lads, sharing the hard work, the passion the constant tormenting and belittling of each other. These were good years with “Chis”.

For me, Chisel has been a part of my whole greens journey to date. People come and go over the years from the club and even your memory. He’s not here for anymore laughs, beers or tears. I won’t be on the end of anymore dressing downs. I won’t have another opportunity to take the piss out of him with subtle sarcasm, even a little cynicism, in a way only a way someone with familiarity or care can. “ Oh how I am I’m going to miss that”.

However, one thing is certain. Everything I do from now and forever around the club, in my head will echo the grainy shrill of Chisel’s voice. “BLOCKER!!!” I will stop, I will think! “What would Chisel do?” and I’ll most likely do the opposite. He will never not be there in my mind and heart. No one was above him, nor was anyone below him. He went about life the Chisel way! A way I’ll learn from, laugh about and remember forever. RIP Chisel, you old crank. I’ll miss you. – Jode Roach