UPDATED - VALE JIMMY GILLON - 5/5/1932 - 1/5/2010

1st May 2010 | Back to Full List of Articles | PDF Media Release

The North Sydney Football Club community has been saddened by the passing of Jim Gillon, on Saturday 1 May 2010.

Jim Gillon debuted in 1952 for the North Sydney Bears as halfback, helping the team lift from cellar dwellars in 1951 to finalists the next year.

The speedy Jim Gillon made a spectacular debut in first grade. Hard bitten commentators like Ray Stehr employed adjectives like ‘amazing’, while none other than Dally Messenger described him as a ‘football genius’. Gillon won the Sunday Herald’s best and fairest award in 1952. To this day Jim’s debut season is considered one of the best of all time.

Hailing from Bowraville via Naremburn, Jim Gillon possessed great speed and footwork. He was a passionate Rugby League man and loved nothing more than talking about his beloved North Sydney Bears. Most of the Jim Gillon wardrobe consisted of red and black items, including a pair of suspenders that he wore with great pride.

An insurance agent by profession, Jimmy Gillon became a benefactor of the North Sydney Club and later an administrator.

A life member, Jimmy clearly believed in the football family that was North Sydney. He wrote to North Sydney President Ray Beattie in April 1994: ‘You have not only come to drink from the well of our club but you will not forget those who have gone before and have helped to dig the well, but more important you are digging the well deeper for those who come later and our loyal supporters’.

Indeed Jimmy was not shy in starting up a conversation and will be well remembered as a great communicator.

Cousin to Norths lock-forward Peter Diversi, Jimmy played first grade for North Sydney from 1952 to 1957 in 56 games, scoring 11 tries and 2 goals, for a total of 37 points. With his involvement Norths were 1952 Finalists, 1953 Semi-Finalists and 1954 Semi-Finalists.

Rest in peace Jimmy Gillon.

Funeral Details

10:00 a.m. Monday 10 May 2010

St Marys Church Corner of Miller and Ridge Streets, North Sydney.