11/09/2024
VALE ALAN "CHIR" CHIRON
We are saddened to learn of the recent passing of Alan "Chir" Chiron. age 82.
“Chir” started playing lacrosse in Williamstown in 1952 in Mal Taylor’s local Saturday morning competition before progressing to the V.A.L.A. competition, where the Under 14 team won their first premiership in 1955.
He played in goals at Williamstown from 1952 – 1974, including in the inaugural A grade premiership in 1963, and played in his latter years in A grade as a centre/midfield until 1975. He transferred to Glenroy as playing midfielder/coach and proudly led them from 1976-79.
He transferred to Newcomb, a new club near Geelong for 1979 – 1980, playing in goals. Returning to Williamstown in 1980 he played on the midfield but returned to goals for the finals in 1981.
He decided to retire in 1982, but with player shortages at Williamstown at the time and the Australian team tour taking valuable players away and leaving the Club short of goalkeepers, he played Division 1 for the first 6 games and state league for the following six games, after which he retired and started refereeing as a club referee.
Chir was goalkeeper for the Victorian senior team in 1962, 1964, 1966, 1967, and as second goalkeeper / midfield in 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971 & as goalkeeper again in 1972, including playing against the visiting Lancers in 1970 at the Australian championships.
“I won my Australian blazer in 1962 in Adelaide along with Graeme Reid of Coburg and Bob Taylor from Western Australia, the only three players not from South Australia in the championship team”.
Former S.A. champion attack player Michael Raggatt summed him up as the most fearless goalkeeper he had ever seen, who played most of his career in goals without a helmet, only wearing a helmet when it became mandatory in the early 1970’s.
Chir was also a very enthusiastic and successful manager of the 1976 and 1978 Australian teams, and was president of the V.A.L.A. for several years and served on various sub-committees of the V.A.L.A. for many years.
Chir became an ALRA referee in the 1985, was an active referee until 2007, after which he became an assessor in Victoria along with assessing at national carnivals and continued as an assessor until recently.
Throughout his involvement with ALRA he undertook the roles of president, allocations officer, deputy referee in chief and was a member of the national technical committee, and served on the assessment panel for the 2010, 2014 & 2018 world championships.
He was a life member of Williamstown and the V.A.L.A. and was awarded a certificate of merit from ALC.
There wasn’t much Chir didn’t do or achieve in his 72 years of involvement with lacrosse, whether it be playing, coaching, administering, refereeing, or just supporting our great game, and was an active member of Lambton Mount from its inception.
It didn’t matter which role he undertook, he always gave his very best. If there was ever any doubt about historical facts, whether they be about premierships, overseas tours or who went on that end of season trip, Chir could recant the facts and the dates with ease, an amazing man and a wonderful servant of our great game, through and through.
Vale "Chir"
Skennen! (Go in peace)
