General News
26 August, 2025
Obituary John Byrne
The passing of John Byrne, aged 88, has left an immeasurable hole within the Boort Trotting Club. In a tribute penned by former president John Campbell and Daryl Poxon, the service that spanned the better part of his lifetime was praised.
Mr Campbell says that Mr Byrne became a larger than life figure, not only at club level, but throughout the wider harness racing community as a greatly respected and admired administrator.
“It was then president Keith Holmes that encouraged John to join the club during 1964 and for the next 14 years John gained a solid grounding within the club serving as saddlecloth, patrol and raceday steward.
“With the retirement of secretary Keith McClelland during 1978, John was elevated to fill the position which he held until the end of 1991.
“He then assumed the presidency for the next 10 years before stepping down but still retained his position on the committee and kept involved with all facets of the club.
“His involvement spanned 60 years and encompassed so many changes, challenges, awards, social engagements, meeting at club and state wide level that were all part and parcel of being associated with the trotting club.”
Mr Campbell and Mr Poxon recalled memorable bus trips to Moonee Valley amid social functions in the clubrooms, and on one such occasion during 1984 a power failure plunged the rooms into total darkness. “Treasurer Pat Dwyer came to the rescue with a gas lamp, but in the interim John as only John could do took centre stage and entertained all present with his story telling and reciting as he breezed through Hanrahan - the farmer’s lament, not to mention singing numbers that would have done the Black and White Minstrels proud.
“He had a wonderful association with president Bernie McGrath and on Bernie’s retirement John had this to say; ‘Badger and I are going into our 10th year as secretaries and have found Bernie to be an excellent link man with other clubs and also the board.
“We have certainly seen the club progress Bernie, and have had a hell of a lot of fun together and I see your retirement as an end of an era’.”
During 1989 John was awarded a life membership of the club and joined a select group to have achieved this honour.
The Boort Trotting Club was to celebrate its centenary during March of 1991 and John was very much front and square in the organisation of such a major event.
“It must be mentioned that at very short notice he was able to encourage the then Sports Minister Neil Tresize to attend and launch the club’s history book.
“Never lost for words in thanking the Minister for attending John mad two memorable comments in his speech that only John could ... ’We hear the minister is going to retire, but hope that before he does, he leaves a nice little report saying - they’re good operators at Boort and if they ask for something just give it to them’.
“He then followed on ’We don’t change our personnel every year in the Boort Trotting Club, in fact once you get in it takes a while to get out’.”
According to Mr Campbell, John was heavily involved in two major upheavals at club level.
The Arthur Anderson report (1988) and more recently V3 (2005) threatened the Club to race at alternate tracks or close down. For six years V3 forced the Club to race at other venues which the club adhered to in the hope of one day returning to their home track.
V3 necessitated countless trips to meetings, rallying support to the cause of retaining the club’s race meetings and no one would have been more proud than John to see the persistence come to fruition and racing returned to Boort Park during 2012.
And at Gordon Rothacker Medal night 2008, the most prestigious social event of the Victorian harness racing calendar John was honoured with the volunteer of the year award in recognition of his involvement with the club.
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