Neil Trezise


Neil Benjamin "Nipper" Trezise was an Australian rules footballer who represented in the Victorian Football League and later a politician who represented the Labor Party in the Victorian Legislative Assembly. He was of Cornish descent.

Football career

Originally from Redan, Victoria, Trezise played 185 games for 272 goals between 1949 and 1959 at the Geelong Football Club in the VFL, playing in the 1951 and 1952 premiership sides. Following his retirement in 1959, Trezise continued his service to the club, coaching the reserves side and then becoming club president in 1974.
Commonly called "Nipper", Trezise acquired the nickname as a young recruit at Geelong.

Political career

After leaving football, Trezise pursued a political career with the Labor Party. He stood unsuccessfully for the Victorian Legislative Assembly seat of Geelong in 1961, but won the seat of Geelong West in 1964, and held the seat and its subsequent successor Geelong North until 1992. In 1982 he became Minister for Youth, Sport and Recreation, a portfolio he held until 1992—throughout the entire terms of Premiers John Cain and Joan Kirner.
His son, Ian Trezise, also entered politics, representing Geelong in the Victorian Legislative Assembly.

Death

Trezise died of a heart attack on 20 August 2006, with his funeral held on 24 August.