Richmond has awarded life membership to a further six esteemed servants of the Club.
Rhett Bartlett, Leonie Bawden, Don Davenport, Mark Opie, Tony Singarella and Dianne Weeks were announced as the newest Tiger life members at the Club’s 2021 Annual General Meeting which was held this evening.
Rhett Bartlett’s service to the Club started in 1999 when he became a member of the Richmond History and Tradition Committee.
His vast knowledge of the Club’s history and meticulous research made him an important contributor to this committee.
He also served for many years as a volunteer at the Richmond museum, conducting valuable research on the Club’s history whenever it was required.
Rhett has written several books on the Club and he maintains the Tigerland Archive website, which comprises comprehensive records of Richmond players, officials and events from the past.
In 2020, Rhett was appointed Richmond’s historian and he has enthusiastically embraced this role, which includes representing the Club as a member of the AFL Heritage Group.
Leonie Bawden has had a 24-year involvement with Richmond.
Leonie joined the Club initially as secretary and subsequently was promoted to the position of Administration Manager.
During this time, the Club was struggling financially and, as a consequence, Leonie was required to juggle many demanding managerial and administrative roles.
Along with her main working responsibilities, Leonie hosted match-day lunches and assisted with numerous Club functions, including banquet auctions, family days, membership drives and Best and Fairest awards.
In 2007, Leonie started volunteering with the Richmond Former Players and Officials’ Association and in 2014 she was elected to the Association’s Committee, with her current role being treasurer.
Leonie is the first female committee member and office bearer of any AFL Former Players’ Association.
Don Davenport had a relatively modest playing career at Richmond, however he is highly regarded as a fine coach and teacher of many young players, who went on to have successful careers with the Club.
A skilful wingman/half-forward, Don played 56 senior games for the Club, as well as 61 in the reserves and 30 at under-19s level. He was a member of the Tigers’ 1971 reserve-grade premiership side.
After his playing career finished, Don took on the role as coach of Richmond’s under-19s team.
In his three seasons as coach, the Tiger under-19s won two premierships and finished runner-up on the other occasion.
Don’s involvement at the Club continued after that as a specialist coach of the senior team for two years, which included the 1980 premiership season.
Mark Opie’s tenure at Tigerland encompasses 22 years.
He started his service at the Club setting up training drills for the players. That led to him taking over as the senior team’s match-day ‘board man’, responsible for recording players’ positions in game time for the coaching staff.
Mark was subsequently appointed to the senior team manager role, which required him to undertake many tasks and functions, often in trying circumstances on match day.
Beyond the board man and team manager roles, Mark has made significant contributions to the growth of team morale and a strong culture.
Throughout the years, Mark has organised social outings for coaches/players/staff and their partners, as well as social fund-raisers to assist Club personnel in their times of need.
Mark is admired and respected by players and coaching staff. He performs his tasks with special competency and is considered by the current senior football staff as part of the group of people that represent the soul of the Club.
Tony Singeralla joined the Richmond cheer squad as a youngster and later on, as an adult, he became a member of the Titus Ton-up club. For many years, he actively participated in its various fund-raising activities.
Tony became more and more involved in various roles at the Club, including supporting the then reserves coach at training and on match days as the board man.
Subsequently, Tony became the match-day supplier of statistics to the senior coach at the end of each quarter.
In 2001, he was asked to join the senior football support group as the ground-level board man, which is a role he continues to perform.
Tony is a popular figure at the Club. He has made himself available to assist it in any way possible and has always performed in a diligent, committed manner.
Dianne Weeks’ voluntary service for the Club extends to 37 years.
Di’s involvement with Richmond started when she assisted in the establishment of the ‘Team 84’ supporter group.
From that time on, she sold Club memberships and merchandise, performed administrative functions at banquet auctions and ‘Fighting Tiger’ functions, attended the Club’s stand at the Royal Melbourne Show and worked tirelessly during the ‘Save Our Skins’ campaign.
In more recent times, Di has been a tour guide and administrator of the Club’s museum, a member of the History and Tradition Committee for five years and, throughout the past 15 years, she has assisted the Former Players and Officials’ Association in a variety of roles.
