A well-lived life of family, friends, faith, sport and service, Ian 'Squizzy' Taylor's legacy both in the region's emergency services and in the sports teams he loved so much will be felt for generations to come.
Born on August 18, 1932, to Stanley Gordon and Eileen Taylor at the Kerang Hospital - then called Glenarm - Ian spent his last days at the same address where Northaven is now located.
His life benefited people all across the state, but his contributions and his loss are most evident in his home town.
In the 2000 Australia Day Honours, the father of three was appointed a Member in the General Division of the Order of Australia (AM) for his monumental services to Ambulance Victoria and Australian Rules football.
In 2007, he was also awarded the Kerang Lions Club's achiever of the year for his long history of community contributions.
And while his work and volunteering was exceptional, it is as a "great friend to all" that he will be best remembered, according to friend Peter Hall.
Ian met Joan Simpson at square dancing in 1952 after being asked to fill in and the rest is history.
They had three children together: Robert 'The Fonz' born in 1957, Michael John (Squizz) born 1960 and Lisa in 1970.
He loved to spend time with his children and grandchildren. Sunday evenings for a beer and catch up on local gossip at Fonz and Kerrie's, annual trips to Darwin to catch up with Mick and Lou and taking the train to Melbourne to go to the footy with Lisa and Steve. He was extremely proud of all his grandchildren and showed a keen interest in everything that Ebony, Natasha, Zak, Jonty and Nathan did.
In 1998, the Health Minister appointed Ian to steer a committee overseeing the amalgamation of the five regional services, creating Rural Ambulance Victoria.
The final amalgamation from metro and rural services to the current Ambulance Victoria is part of his legacy, another friend, Dennis Greenwood, said.
In his more than 30 years working in the sector he was appointed life governorship of Mid Murray Ambulance and was also a life member of Ambulance Victoria.
Faith was another important pillar of Ian's life.
St Patrick's parish was a lifelong commitment for Ian. He served on the planned giving committee from the 1950s, and held the position of inaugural chairperson until early 2021.
When his children attended St Joseph's School, he became involved in the school board of management, an association that lasted more than 20 years.
In the early 1980s , Ian was an inaugural member of the board of management of MacKillop Secondary College in Swan Hill.
Because of illness at a young age, Ian didn't play contact sports, but enjoyed cricket and table tennis.
Across his life, Ian had a huge impact on sport in the area, and across regional Victoria.
From the 1970s, he was a member of the Kerang Football Club Committee, representing players at the tribunal hearings and as club director on the NDFL board.
He was president of Kerang football Club in 1977, 1978 and 1979 and remained on the committee until 1989.
During this time he was the guiding force behind the redevelopment of Riverside Park and the club's move from Atkinson Park.
He was secretary of Riverside Park committee of management for 12 years and was made a life member of Kerang Football Club in 1983.
Ian also served as vice president of the NDFL for a number of years before serving as president from 1989 to 1991, and was made a life member of the Northern and Echuca Football League in 1991.
He became deputy regional director of the Victorian Country Football League in 1991 and remained in the role until 1999. He represented the Central Murray Region for 15 years and was awarded the VCFL recognition of service medal.
And when he entered the next phase of his sporting life, in lawn bowls, Ian remained a timekeeper for both Kerang and the CMFL.
As ever, his dedication to bowls mirrored his dedication to everything else in life and he was awarded a well-deserved life membership of Kerang Bowls Club, serving five years as president.
