Precious footage of the emotional funeral service of Richmond’s triple-premiership Secretary Alan Schwab, has been donated to the club by his family.
Two tapes, containing all four major networks coverage of the June 25, 1993 funeral, as well as raw footage from SBS News cameras, was loaned by Brendan Schwab to Richmond Historian Rhett Bartlett.
With the permission of the Schwab Family, the tapes were then digitised and placed online, and below in this article.
The footage highlights the emotional outpouring of love for Mr Schwab who not only was Richmond’s Secretary during the 1969, 1973, and 1974 premierships, but later Executive Commissioner of the VFL/AFL.
Mr Schwab, who was 52 years of age when he passed, also held roles as Assistant Secretary of St Kilda in the 1966 premiership year, Administration Manager of the VFL, League Representative of the Junior Football Council, secretary of the Victorian Country Football League and Victorian Metropolitan Football League, and chairman of the Victorian Football Development Foundation.
He was also Executive Director of the Sydney Swans which saw him oversee the relocation of South Melbourne.
Schwab’s funeral was the lead story on all the major news network – read by David Johnston and Jo Pearson on Channel 10, Brian Naylor on Channel 9, Jennifer Keyte on Channel 7, and Ian Henderson on the ABC.
At the funeral overseen by the Reverend Dennis Oakley, speakers included sons Cameron (Richmond General Manager 1988-1994), and Brendan, the then-President of the North Melbourne Football Club Ron Casey, and close family friend Barry Cameron (RFC 1959-1966).
More than 1,500 mourners including players and officials from all 15 clubs, State Premiers past and present, and sporting identities attended the hour-long service at St Paul’s Cathedral.
Mr Schwab was Tiger Secretary from 1968 to 1976, and Treasurer from 1972-1976. He was made a Richmond Life Member in 1977 and later an AFL Life Member.
His record of three Tiger premierships as Secretary/General Manager is still unsurpassed, only equalled recently by current General Manager Brendon Gale (2017/19/20 premierships).
