Vale William McKenna


Published on Wednesday, February 17, 2021

The Northern Football Netball League is deeply saddened by the passing of life member William ‘Bill’ McKenna.

McKenna was a highly respected and much-loved figure within the Northern Football Netball League community, whose contribution to the league and its member clubs was profound.

A long-standing member of the league’s judiciary, McKenna served as tribunal chairman and panel member from 1985 to 2008. He then served as an investigation officer for a further decade.

McKenna was inducted as a life member of the Diamond Valley Football League in 1993 and then accepted life membership with the Northern Football Netball League in 2011.

Prior to joining the league’s judiciary, McKenna was a stalwart at Montmorency Football Netball Club.

A star player for the Magpies, he served as senior coach in 1974 and was a member of the selection panel during the 1976 premiership campaign.

McKenna also spent more than three decades contributing tirelessly to the Montmorency-Eltham RSL branch, which included a long term as president.

In 2018 he was bestowed the RSL’s highest honour, the Meritorious Service Medal, which acknowledges those who have been a member for 30 continuous years and given 25 years of exceptional service to the RSL.

McKenna played a significant role in connecting the NFNL and its member clubs with their local RSL to arrange commemorative services prior to matches hosted across the league’s Anzac Round.

This work was recognised in 2012, when the NFNL was presented with a Certificate of Commendation by the Victorian RSL.

The NFNL sends its deepest condolences to the McKenna family in this sad time.

Pictured (from left): Brigadier Keith Rossi, RSL Region 1 chairman John Haward, then NFNL chief executive Jeremy Bourke and Montmorency-Eltham RSL president Bill McKenna at the presentation of the Victorian RSL Certificate of Commendation to the NFNL in 2012.

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