The Mayne Football Club would like to acknowledge the passing of Norm Melit, former Mayne Juniors President and long term volunteer of the Tigers. Norm passed away peacefully at home last Friday aged 92 after recently being diagnosed with cancer.
Norm’s eldest son Greg advised that Norm has been caring for his much loved wife Pat who has not been well. Norm and Pat had recently celebrated their 70th Wedding anniversary.
The Melit Family will be fondly remembered by anyone remotely associated with the Mayne Football Club, especially through the 1960’s and 70’s with all of Norm and Pat’s boys (seven in fact) playing for the Tigers. Three of the boys, Greg, Eric and David went on to play senior football while Norman, Chris, Patrick and Michael also enjoyed many years in the black and gold. Greg was particularly successful playing 109 A Grade games. The Melits still hold the record for the most number of sons playing in the junior ranks of the club. Norm and Pat were particularly proud of an article which was published in the Courier Mail in 1974 with an accompanying photo of their boys all in Mayne strip acknowledging the impressive record.
In addition to numerous roles for the Tigers, Norm was President of the Mayne Juniors for three years from 1971 to 1973 during a period of ongoing success for the thriving club.
In a conversation with current Mayne President Russell Ditchburn, Greg recalled the happiest of memories for his family through their considerable involvement with the Tigers. As a contemporary of the Melit boys during this period Russell could attest to the wonderful influence that Norm, Pat and all the Melit family had on him and so many of their team mates and friends.
The Melit family were well known in the Hendra area with their house always open to their children’s friends and with six girls and seven boys of their own it was always guaranteed to be a busy place. The Melit family continues to thrive with numbers swelling to 34 Grandchildren and 68 Great Grandchildren and another addition expected this week.
A Funeral will be held at Our Lady Help of Christian Hendra on Friday 10 June at 9.30am to celebrate Norm’s life.
The Mayne Football Club extends
