Date of birth 8 February 1931 Name Neil Trezise 1949–1959 Geelong Party Australian Labor Party | Years Club Died August 20, 2006 Role Politician | |
Date of death 20 August 2006(2006-08-20) (aged 75) Debut 16 July 1949, Geelong
v. Footscray, at Kardinia Park | ||
Original team Redan Football Club Place of birth Ballarat, Victoria | ||
Neil Benjamin "Nipper" Trezise (8 February 1931 – 20 August 2006) was an Australian rules footballer who represented Geelong in the Victorian Football League and later a politician who represented the Australian Labor Party in the Victorian Legislative Assembly. He was of Cornish descent.
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Football career
Originally from Redan, Victoria, Trezise played 185 games for 272 goals between 1949 and 1959 at the Geelong Football Club in the VFL, playing in the 1951 and 1952 premiership sides. Following his retirement in 1959 (a year in which he was Geelong captain), Trezise continued his service to the club, coaching the reserves side and then becoming club president in 1974.
Commonly called "Nipper", Trezise acquired the nickname as a young recruit at Geelong.
Political career
After leaving football, Trezise pursued a political career with the Australian Labor Party. He stood unsuccessfully for the Victorian Legislative Assembly seat of Geelong in 1961, but won the seat of Geelong West (later Geelong North) in 1964. In 1982 he became Minister for Youth, Sport and Recreation (from 1985 just Minister for Sport and Recreation), a portfolio he held until 1992—throughout the entire terms of Premiers John Cain and Joan Kirner.
His son, Ian Trezise, also entered politics, representing Geelong in the Victorian Legislative Assembly.
Death
Trezise died of a heart attack on 20 August 2006, with his funeral held on 24 August.