Vale Frank Scott: A Greater Shepparton Sports hall-of-famer remembered

It is no surprise then that the outpouring of grief was immense at news of Scott’s passing at age 81 on Friday, January 5.

As a long-serving trainer, Scott amassed a portfolio few could endeavour to match, headed by his time on the Goulburn Valley Sports Trainers Association committee while treating ailments with aplomb in all reaches of the region.

Family was always at the forefront though, as evidenced by his beginnings in coaching at St Mel’s Primary School, where his sons attended.

As they progressed to Notre Dame College, Scott was along for the ride in adopting numerous roles with the school’s football side, sparking a partnership that would last over five decades in addition to his wealth of other commitments.

Don Kilgour, who was involved in Scott’s 2019 induction as a Greater Shepparton Sports Hall of Fame committee member, emphasised this point.

“I’ve been involved with sport in Shepparton for 55 years and to me, Frank was just a special person,” Kilgour said.

“What he did for his kids and their teams and all that he got involved in, he was just a wonderful man.

“You never hear anyone say anything bad about Frank. He was one of the best.”

One would have to consult the record books if anybody possessed more life memberships in their home region than Scott.

Among the many organisations to bestow such a status upon him were the Goulburn Valley League, Notre Dame Football Club, Shepparton United Football Netball Club and the Kialla Central Tennis Club, where he spent years on the courts before football and cricket became the crux of his work.

Scott is, of course, most vividly remembered from a sporting viewpoint at the Demons and Central Park-St Brendan’s Cricket Club, for his remarkable dedication as a sports trainer.

Tigers president Darryl Butcher summarised his thoughts after years of experience alongside Scott.

“Frank was a go-to man. He was very good with his knowledge and the way he was forthcoming with suggestions,” Butcher said.

“He would help out where he could, so he applied the skills picked up from football to the cricket club well.

“As far as the fella went, he was very personable.

“He was fairly quiet, but he was always up for a joke and he just enjoyed being around the club and players, mixing in and socialising.

“He participated in everything, was always involved in raffles and dinners and always dropped in for a beer after the game.”

Shepparton United trainer Gina Sozzi had a long-standing relationship with Scott as a fellow trainer, and shared his importance to her personal and professional lives.

“I’ve been at the club for almost 25 years, and Frank was head trainer back at that time but I knew the family almost all my life,” Sozzi said.

“He took me under his wing as a trainer, and taught me a fair bit of old-school stuff he liked to do with injuries.

“Age is no barrier when it comes to friendship, and I really did look up to Frank teaching me everything.

“He’d tell me to be there at 8.30 and he’d be there at the crack of dawn sometimes.

“He was just a character. He loved doing it all, and it was really hard when he had to stop around last September.”

It only seemed appropriate though that United would have a burst of glory that same month in completing a brilliant reserves grand final comeback with son Stephen at the helm.

Known to wear many hats, as evidenced by his wealth of life memberships and other accolades, Scott eventually found himself in the same role for the GVL’s interleague side, taking an organisational position with Notre Dame to boot.

He organised the school’s football carnival and went further up the chain to eventually represent Notre Dame as its vice-president.

When the weather warmed up, and the Sherrins were replaced by Kookaburras, Scott would assume dual manager and trainer roles at Junior Country Week events in Melbourne and Bendigo.

Still not content with this workload, he continued to ply his trade as a trainer for Goulburn Murray schoolboy representative sides over the years.

Whether involved with Goulburn Valley sport or otherwise, many in the Greater Shepparton area came to know Scott as the smiling face across the counter at Shepparton Post Office in later years.

Then came the crowning moment in 2019, when Scott finally took his rightful place among the most significant sporting contributors seen in the region (though many knew this to be true regardless) with his induction into the Greater Shepparton Sports Hall of Fame.

Scott would usually arrive for the weekend’s action accompanied by wife Lucy, who faithfully gave her energy and innumerable volunteer hours to many of the same clubs and pursuits as Frank dedicated himself to for some years.

Butcher had nothing but praise for the nature with which the duo approached their duties.

“They complemented each other and worked as a team,” Butcher said.

“So many people get into clubs based on family involvement, and it was always whole-hearted from them.

“It’s very unusual for three members of one family to be life members at one club, but they were contributors, and that’s what it’s all about.”

Sozzi summarised the sombre mood that would fall around Deakin Reserve without him.

“It’s definitely going to be a hard first game to go to without him,” Sozzi said.

“A lot of people in all different areas will feel the pinch, not being able to say hello and catch up with him.

“He was a good person who’ll be very sorely missed, but the legacy will live on through his family.”