Romolo Turco from Emerald Football Club has been nominated as a country footy legend. Picture: Luke Plummer.
By Tania Martin
A LEGEND in his own right, Romolo Turco is living proof that with a bit of grit and determination people can accomplish anything.
Romolo, 41, is one of 19 people who have been selected as contenders for the 2007 Telstra Country Footy Legend.
He has been the timekeeper at Emerald Football Club for the past 22 years and has overcome many challenges to get where he is today.
Romolo had polio when he was just five years old and was severely handicapped.
But despite having problems with mobility he has maintained a steely passion for football.
Romolo first got involved with the Emerald Football Club by watching his brothers play and although he was unable to play, a passion for the game soon grew.
He loves being a timekeeper at Emerald and says he will continue doing the job until he can no longer get around.
Romolo said being a timekeeper is hard work but he loves it.
He said meeting other timekeepers and making new friends has been one of the many highlights over the years.
Romolo said although it is sometimes difficult to make it up the stairs to the timekeeper’s box it was all part of the challenge.
“You just soldier on week in, week out,” he said.
One memory that Romolo said will stick with him forever was the time he had difficulty getting down from the box after a game at Yarra Glen.
“I was coming down the stairs and fell onto my backside, but I was too tired to get up again so I went the rest of the way down on my behind,” he said.
Club secretary Robyn Kuys said over the years she has seen Romolo struggle with high stairs to get into the time boxes but his determination to do his job was an inspiration to everyone who knows him.
Mrs Kuys said Romolo has even been chosen several times to do the time keeping for the Yarra Valley Mountain District Football League finals.
Romolo said winning the footy legend award would be fantastic, not only for himself but also for the club.
Hills people have just six days left to vote for Romolo as the voting lines close at 5pm on Monday 10 September.
The eight legends with the most votes will be the finalists but the competition doesn’t end there.
The finalists will then be interviewed and a formal recommendation outlining each of their legendary contributions to their clubs and footy will be passed on to a panel of judges.
The footy legend will then be announced at the Victorian Country Football League premiers’ dinner on Saturday 13 October.
Hills people can vote to make Romolo this year’s footy legend by voting at www.supportthelegend.com.au.
