Footy great Bob Skilton receives Queen’s Birthday honour
Related Story: Women outnumber men for top gongs on Queen's Birthday honours list for first time Related Story: Antarctic explorer says 'exhilaration of stepping across a frontier' is better than heroin
As one of Victorian football's greats, winning awards is nothing new to Bob Skilton, but his Order of Australia Medal holds a special significance.
The rover and three-time Brownlow medallist (1959, 1963 and 1968) has been recognised for his services to Australian rules football.
"You don't just get it for playing sport, it's on and off the field," he said.
"I think that there are enough people who think I've done my bit as far as the game is concerned and the character of such and how I've gone about it.
"It makes me feel wonderful that somebody or some people have thought enough about what I might have achieved to do something about it.
"I'm very, very proud and surprised."
Skilton's career featured a stunning array of individual honours and immense dedication to his club South Melbourne, despite a lack of team success.
He was South Melbourne's best and fairest nine times and was named in the AFL Team of the Century, despite never playing in a grand final during his 15 years with the Bloods.
Despite the club's poor record, he never seriously considered leaving and said his career taught him some great lessons.
"Do the best you can possibly do and understand that sometimes you can't always be the winner," he said.
"When you're not the winner, you take it on the chin and when you are you don't brag about it."
Skilton also played 25 games for Victoria and was named in the South Melbourne Team of the Century.
A diverse group of Australians have been named on this year's Queen's Birthday honour list, and the number of women recognised has outnumbered men for the first time.
[contf]
[contfnew]
ABC .net
[contfnewc]
[contfnewc]
