At the recent funeral of Bruce Heymanson, Essendon chairman David Evans said:
“Heymo was always thinking about how to make the club a better place. His influence and support has stretched across so many generations and he touched so many.
“He was in many ways our magnetic north, and we will all strive to do justice to his legacy”.
To recount Bruce Heymanson’s legacy to the Essendon Football Club would fill volumes and take all evening to recall.
He was a friend and mentor to many in the Essendon family, past and present, and to some of you sitting here tonight.
‘Heymo’ was a committee member from 1988 to 1998 and was both a leader and driving force in a number of coterie groups. He was a member of the Essendonians, Chairman of the Dick Reynolds Club, founder of the First 18 and founder of the Red ‘n’ Blacks.
He was an Essendon life member and our number 1 ticket holder.
In recent times, Bruce Heymanson played a major role in fundraising for the club’s new High Performance Centre at Melbourne Airport.
In an industry not short on egos, ‘Heymo’ gave of himself time and again, without thought for recognition or reward.
Despite ill-health, Heymo’s dedication to the Essendon cause never wavered.
James Hird described him as the ‘godfather’ of our club, saying:
“Heymo was one of us. He was a supporter, he was a committee member, he was a coterie leader but in the end, he was one of the players’ mates.
“Bruce was a man that has helped so many of us. He helped us be better footballers, he helped us be better husbands, helped us be better fathers and most importantly, he helped us be better people.”
“Our club will not be the same without ‘Heymo’.”
We induct Bruce Heymanson a Member of the Essendon Football Club Hall of Fame.
