Some four decades after establishing himself as one of the Goulburn Valley’s greatest sportsmen — some say the best — Campbell was feted by hundreds of well wishers at his 75th birthday celebrations on Saturday.
Anyone who questioned whether 75th birthdays hold much significance was quickly rebuffed by Campbell who pointed out that at his age it was too much of a risk to put the celebrations on hold for another five years when, all going well, he will be 80.
But all those who turned out at the magnificent Parkland Golf Club’s spacious entertainment area at Kyabram for his birthday bash will agree if he makes it to 80 it would be extremely doubtful whether the celebrations could top Saturday night’s festivities.
Campbell loves loyalty and he was gobsmacked by the people who have stood by him in his life who took the time to share this birthday milestone.
The celebrations arranged by his two sons Brad and Blake – more than handy sportsmen themselves in their day — was spiced with some side-splitting comedy from The Suburban Footballer, proved an occasion to remember.
Former star footballer Mick Lovison, who was in Campbell’s two Tongala Goulburn Valley League premiership sides in the 1980s, told partygoers Campbell had the knack of bringing people together and never asked anyone to do what he wouldn’t do himself.
‘‘He always took it on himself to lead from the front,’’ Lovison said.
In his thank you speech Campbell made a revelation he hasn’t shared previously in countless interviews since his days playing with Melbourne Football Club and facing and mastering the likes of the fearsome Australian Test speed bowler Jeff Thomson in an exhibition cricket game between a Country XI and the Queensland side at Deakin Reserve in the 1970s.
Campbell said he had always been reluctant to single out any player in his GVL playing and coaching days who he thought was superior to all others ‘‘because there were so many good ones’’.
But he let the cat of the bag on Saturday night when he told a spellbound audience none were as good as one of his Shepparton United teammates — Trevor Eddy.
‘‘Trevor had won four best-and-fairest awards at tiny Wunghnu when I approached him to play at United and I have told everyone who has been a recruiter never to worry about where they come from,’’ he said.
“Trevor wasn’t big, but he was the complete player who could do anything.”
A judgment confirmed by Eddy’s 125 goals in 1973 and 114 in 1974 when playing with Shepparton United.
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