Originally Published May 17 2022
KERANG club legend Ron Peck has had his 70-year connection to his beloved Blues recognised when he was presented with a Victorian Country Football League (VCFL) Service Medal last month.
Peck was presented the award by current Kerang Football Netball Club president Scott Clingan where they also unveiled the newly named Ron Peck Bar at the clubrooms.
Peck began playing with Kerang in the late 1940s and was selected as an emergency for the Cohuna District Football League Second Eighteen when they clashed with the Mid Murray Football League in 1950.
Despite being quite the footballer, it was off the field where Peck left his mark as he joined the Kerang Football Club committee in the early 1970s.
Never afraid of taking on a challenge, in 1973 when the clubs secretary and treasurer moved from the area mid season, Peck took on both roles for the remainder of the season.
Nearly 50 years later, and Peck is still managing the club's finances as the treasurer, however his role at the club extends far beyond that.
Peck has been the bar manager and licensee since 1975, running the bar three times a week and also played a major part in fundraising for the club, running the booth at the Kerang race meetings for 10 years.
Whilst playing a major role behind the scenes, Peck also contributed to the on-field success of the Blues as chairman of selectors from 1978 to 1995.
Rarely missing a training session, Peck kept a meticulous record of players, attendances and full running sheets for every training night and Sunday game as well as pre-season stats.
Peck worked with 10 senior and nine reserve coaches during his time that resulted in five senior premierships and one reserves premierships and countless other finals appearances.
His wife, Bette, has been supportive of Ron during his time at the Blues and they have had seven sons pull on the navy blue over the years.
Awarded life membership at the Kerang Football Club in 1982, he was also awarded the Central Murray John Gray & Son Personality of the Year in 2010.