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Jeff Fehring Vale

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Tim the Toolman

Tim the Toolman

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I can't find a post on this anywhere and with sadness I read this morning that Jeff had passed away.

Always remembered for "that Kick/Goal" I had the pleasure of meeting Jeff last year as he was looking after the Coach House back at my old town Deniliquin whilst he was coaching the Deni Rovers, and with some success too I might add.

He was very much a humble gentleman and when I realised who he was he said "don't hold that against me!" A very down to earth man indeed.

My condolences to the St Kilda brethren and to Jeff's family and I apologise if there is already a thread on this as I couldn't really find one.
 
Well done Toolman (good old Ron J certainly had that covered).

Free kick this time going the way of St Kilda, as the ironical cheers come up ... there's a BOOOOOOOOMING torpedo kick from Fehring to full forward .... GOAL !!!!!!!!!

http://www.veoh.com/videos/v641026hBsqHxwW
 
Terrible news. He was way too young to die. Obviously I chose my nom de plume after him. His was scarcely a memorable career, but it was punctuated by one moment of absolute brilliance.

Not unlike St Kilda of the 1980s. Mostly forgettable, but with the odd fantastic highlight.

Unlike Blighty's kick, which didn't occur near any markings, it is easy enough to go to the ground and step it out even now. No one will every be able to say that the length has been exaggerated. A truly awesome kick.

Rest in peace, Jeff. May that magnificent south wester be at your back ever more.
 
From Geoff Maclure in the Age today...

Few like Fehring

FEW footballers are best remembered for one kick, but it's fair to say St Kilda's Jeff Fehring is, courtesy of the famous roost of his in 1981 when he booted a massive goal at Moorabbin, officials later measuring it as having travelled an amazing 86 metres (94 yards in the old measure) in a match against Collingwood. The record books tell us that Fehring, who died suddenly last week aged 53, was actually taking his anger out on the ball after being reported a few minutes earlier. But what is less known, though, is that the lumbering ruckman later insisted (admittedly after the odd beer at a club function) that he was actually trying to kick the goal (despite him putting boot to ball from behind the centre circle).
 

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Drought a factor in ex-VFL player's suicide, says family


July 30, 2008 01:34pm

THE impact of the drought contributed to the suicide of former Geelong and St Kilda player Jeff Fehring, his family says.
Fehring, who played 36 games for Geelong and St Kilda in the 1970s and 80s, died last week. He was 53.

He had been living on a farm near the NSW Riverina town of Hay, a Geelong spokesman said.

"On behalf of Jeff Fehring's family, we sadly announce that Jeff tragically took his own life on 25th July 2008 as a culmination of drought and depression,'' Geelong said in a statement today.

"His family would like to sincerely thank their extended family, friends and the football community who have been so much a part of Jeff's life, for their heartfelt sympathy and messages of support.''

A giant ruckman, Fehring played 19 games for Geelong from 1977 to 1979 before transferring to St Kilda, for whom he played 17 games over two seasons.

He is remembered for kicking a goal for St Kilda in 1981 that flew around 86 metres from the centre circle, and which is regarded as one of the longest in the game's history.
Click to expand...
That's terrible news. Condolences to his family. :( R.I.P
 
Terrible news, I can;t beleive there hasn't been a bit more publicity arund it. Despite the fact that he was a player, it highlights the terrible situation that some of our farmers are facing.

I draw your attention to Rain from Nowhere by Murray Hartin which you may have read before. We read it at a chairty golf day where we raised funds for suicide prevention seminars in the country. Link follows, the most emotional poem I have ever read:
http://www.smh.com.au/news/scorchedearth/rain-from-nowhere/2007/03/11/1173548009543.html

Sincere condolences to the Fehring family and let's hope that the plight of our rural sector is recognised and addressed.
 
I'm sitting out at a display home and I've just read that poem and have started crying.

Thank you for posting that. It has meant so much.
 
Tim the Toolman said:
I'm sitting out at a display home and I've just read that poem and have started crying.

Thank you for posting that. It has meant so much.
Click to expand...

I ran a golf day last year and we raised money for suicide prevention seminars and that poem was the inspiration. We raised a lot of money, but rural comunities don't even have the resources for helplines and need more. My mate since age 9 killed himself last year. It is a real life issue and they need serious govt intervention.

Anyway I am glad you appreciated the poem, it is brilliant.
 
Never saw him play, but that's shocking news. Really highlights how bad the drought is when blokes at 53 are taking their own life :(

Rest in peace Jeff
 
Big dry too much as Jeff Fehring takes his life

A TOP footballer turned farmer has been driven to an early grave by the drought.Giant ruckman Jeff Fehring, who played 36 games for Geelong and St Kilda in the 1970s and '80s, took his life last week.
Footy fans best remember Fehring for kicking an 86m goal for the Saints in 1981. It flew from the centre circle and is regarded as one of the longest in the game's history.
But Fehring couldn't kick a goal in his life after footy, with years of heart-breaking drought ruining his marriage and finally his health.
He was found on a property where he worked near the NSW Riverina town of Hay. He was 52.

Fehring's brother Rod said drought followed the father of four like the plague.
"He was larger than life and full-on," Rod said.
"It tells you a lot about how insidious this drought's influence is. To follow this drought around for 10 years, you really have to wonder sometimes.
"You add it all up. The relentlessness of this drought. He's not alone."

Fehring was born at Leitchville, on the Murray River, near Echuca.
After his VFL career, he won a premiership with Norwood in Adelaide.
He married Ariane in 1984 and returned to the region where he was born and farmed cattle. As water prices rose, he reduced his stock and eventually sold up in 1990.

Fehring moved to Alexandra, in Victoria's northeast, chasing higher rainfall. But the heavens refused to open.
To keep his cattle and emu farm afloat, he doubled as a bartender and forestry worker. But still he lost the farm.
"That put the pressure on," Rod said.
"When he sold up at Alexandra the marriage broke up.
"It was difficult. His family and his kids were central to his life. It really turned Jeff's world upside down."

Fehring took custody of two of his children and for a while tried his hand as a real estate salesman in Darwin before returning to southern NSW.
He bought the Coach House Hotel in Deniliquin, but farmers had little money to spend.
"If the drought had an epicentre, Deniliquin would be it," Rod said.
After he lost the pub, Fehring's health worsened.

He was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes last year and had heart surgery that revealed he had lived with a hole in his heart since he was a child.
"It explains a lot," his brother said. "He would train very hard but he would look terrible afterwards."

Fehring spent the last six months managing a property in Hay.
"He had a strong resolve to deal with adversity, but obviously it was taking its toll," Rod said.

He said his brother's children - Afton, 21, Mia, 20, Verity, 18, and Saxon, 15 - had been joined by their mother and were holding up under the strain.

A funeral will be held at the Uniting Church, near Leitchville, at 2pm tomorrow.




Geez - he has done it tough (poor bugger).
 
Squizzy1970 said:
"If the drought had an epicentre, Deniliquin would be it," Rod said.
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**** it. :mad:

My Dad was mayor of the town in the 70's for 10 years and now my Uncle is mayor and they've both seen the town go through hell. I remember as a kid Malcolm Fraser visiting because of the drought and funny enough, when Hawkey ousted him the drought broke!

Now my Uncle has seen the rice mill close which is the biggest employer in the district and that just adds fuel to the fire as the farmers can't get work in town.
 

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Fehring said:
Terrible news. He was way too young to die. Obviously I chose my nom de plume after him. His was scarcely a memorable career, but it was punctuated by one moment of absolute brilliance.

Not unlike St Kilda of the 1980s. Mostly forgettable, but with the odd fantastic highlight.

Unlike Blighty's kick, which didn't occur near any markings, it is easy enough to go to the ground and step it out even now. No one will every be able to say that the length has been exaggerated. A truly awesome kick.

Rest in peace, Jeff. May that magnificent south wester be at your back ever more.
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Your post was quoted by Martin Flanagan in todays AGE. Page 2, right near the end.


http://www.realfooty.com.au/news/ne...-those-who-fall/2008/08/01/1217097534941.html
 
R.I.P "Feral" Fehring!!! Great fella, great player. One of the best well-known men I've ever met.
 
No black armbands today, what the hell?

Disgraceful, whoevers in charge of that sort of thing should be ashamed especially after all the publicity about his tragic death.
 
TassieSaint said:
No black armbands today, what the hell?

Disgraceful, whoevers in charge of that sort of thing should be ashamed especially after all the publicity about his tragic death.
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I totally agree Tas. I was extremely disappointed - no, shocked - to see that we weren't wearing one. Poor, poor form.
 

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