Ian Fitzsimmons

Sports Hall of Fame Inductee

The City of Greater Shepparton Sports Hall of Fame not only honours people who have been involved in sports as a player, but also as administrators. One such administrator is Ian Fitzsimmons who commenced his sports involvement at 9 years of age when he acted as a scorer for the Shepparton Youth Club Cricket Club. Ian would go on to spend over sixty years as a scorer, trainer, player, statistician, committee man, office holder, tribunal member and administrator in the sports of Cricket, Football, Lawn Bowls and Tenpin Bowls.

He loved Cricket scoring and statistics and had his first notable involvement when the ABC’s Dick Mason broadcast from Deakin Reserve in 1962 when the English team played a Country eleven. Fitzy was the scorer for the ABC that day which also saw the opening of a new grandstand at Deakin Reserve.

Ian has been awarded Life membership of 5 sports Associations and 4 organisations. He was also named Shepparton Citizen of the Year in 2010.

Ian took on every role available with the Shepparton Youth Club Cricket Club. Over 25 years he acted as a player, scorer, president, and selector as well as taking on tasks for the Shepparton Cricket Association where he managed and scored for the Shepparton Country Week teams. He was a selector and scorer for the Goulburn Murray Cricket Association and scored for international games across the Goulburn Valley.

Ian’s other love was football and he was involved with the Shepparton Football Club over a 33 year period.

He became a trainer with Shepparton and served for 588 consecutive games as well as being a trainer for the GVFL team.

Ian also took on the Secretaries role with the Shepparton club and was involved with the committee which saved the club from financial ruin. After retiring as a trainer Ian took on the role of statistician. He was the first selected as statistician when the electronic media needed support for broadcasts and telecasts.

Ian was recruited into the circle of the Goulburn Valley Football League where he became a member of the board and was chair from 2002 – 2007. He also produced the annual fixture for 30 years and wrote match previews in the football record.

Ian has also supported 5 sports bodies as a tribunal member.

In later life Ian took to playing bowls and has been involved with the Shepparton Golf Bowls Club for around 25 years,   including six years as Club President.

It has been a life of loving his sports participation for Ian Fitzsimmons and he has given so much support to the organisations he has been involved with.

The Sports Hall of Fame salutes Ian’s wonderful work and welcomes him as a member of the roll of honour.