The Melbourne Football Club, its staff, players and supporters, the AFL and the wider community were all saddened to hear the devastating news that Jim Stynes had lost his long and very public battle with cancer.
A trailblazer for young Gaelic footballers, Jim was plucked from his county in Ireland at 18 years of age to move to the other side of the world.
After trialling with the Melbourne Football Club, he learned on the job remarkably quickly and ultimately thrived in this new game, going on to dominate Australian Rules football. in 1991, Jim won the ultimate individual achievement, the Brownlow Medal.
His skill, durability and consistency won him fans all over this football-mad country.
His work off the field with the Reach Foundation, which Jim himself founded in 1994, is something that will stay with me and many others forever. The foundation gives assistance to over 60,000 underprivileged youths every year in over 580 metropolitan and regional schools and communities across Australia.
I have been to many of the Annual Reach Foundation Charity Ball Fundraisers over the years, but nothing touched me more than the 2011 event. Too unwell to host the event for the first time, the role was given to former Demon forward and talented musician, Russell Robertson.
Jim, who had been released from hospital days earlier, wasn’t going to miss the event though. Midway through the event he took control, just like he did in his playing days and in his reign as president of the football club he loved so much, taking to the podium for a keynote address to a sold-out Crown Palladium Room.
As inspiring as ever, Jim delivered a moving speech on hope, realising your dreams and the importance of strong support networks. Not once did he talk about himself or his own grave plight.
He was talking about the countless thousands of young Australians that he has helped, counsel and mentor. He then launched into an auction of items and memorabilia that would help raise funds for the young Australians out there still doing it tough and in need of further resources.
At the conclusion of the auction, Jim handed the microphone back to Robbo and quietly exited the stage. It was to be Jim’s final Reach Ball. For all those who were in attendance, it will never be forgotten.
Jim Stynes, the man, will never be forgotten.
Rest In Peace, Jim.
The Stynes family have said that instead of flowers, it was Jim’s wish that a donation be given to the Jim Stynes Future Fund via reach.org.au.
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