A Seymour legend who has devoted more than 65 years to his beloved Lions is set to have the club's best-and-fairest award named after him.

Gary Brown's first involvement with the Seymour Lions began in the mid-1950s. As a teenager, for pocket money, he sold the Football Spectator record out the front of King's Park before seeing the Lions in action in the now-defunct Waranga North Eastern Football Association.

His family's involvement began even before that, with uncle Len serving as secretary for Seymour.

Over six decades later, much has changed for the Lions, Kings Park, and Seymour as a community, but besides six years away serving in the military, Brown has remained a constant presence within the club and the town.

From start to finish, Brown had an impressive playing footballing career.

It began with him debuting in the senior squad at age 18 in 1960 against Broadford after dominating the junior ranks. That season, he would go on to win a premiership and best-and-fairest double in the under-18s.

His 15-year career lasted until 1998, when, at 52, he had a glorious five-goal best-on-ground performance against the Mooroopna Cats reserves.

However, his actions on the pitch were overshadowed by his accomplishments off it.

He would remain an active member of the Lions committee until March 2023.

A complete recap of Brown’s volunteer work with the Lions shows him as a two-time under-16 premiership coach, 35-season secretary, 34-season seniors team manager and GVFL delegate, charmain of the team of the decade and century in 2010 and 2000, respectively, and producer of the Lions annual report from 1988 to 2023.

The undoubted highlight of his service was the period that included four senior premierships, including a three-peat between 2005 and 2007.

His list of accolades is almost as extensive as his time volunteering with Seymour.

In 1993 and 2002, he was named a life member of the Seymour Lions and Goulburn Valley Football League, and in 2008, he was awarded the VCFL Recognition of Service Medal.

Despite all this, Brown remains incredibly humble.

“I feel very humble receiving this award and am honestly shocked. I thank all the people involved in the process of naming it after myself,” he says.

His love for the Lions and Seymour as a community is as strong as his humility.

“When you spend most of your life in Seymour and at the Lions, it means you have a hell of a lot for them.”

Seymour Football Netball Club’s Gerard O’Sullivan praised Brown for his years of service.

“Gary truly embodies what it means to be a Lion and a Seymour community member. His years of service have been crucial in allowing the club to be the success story it is.”

Brown was honoured at the Lions’ presentation night on Thursday, September 26, where the wider community was able to celebrate an individual at the very heart of the Lions.

At the start of next season, you can be guaranteed to find him on the boundary line, both home and away, cheering harder than ever for Seymour.

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Sunday, 31st March 2024

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