On a day in which Chris’s selfless nature was celebrated in a series of moving tributes, perhaps the most animated came on the hallowed turf itself, when Vasil Varlamos held court on the city side wing to reflect on Chris’s brief but cherished playing career.
With Chris’s wife Mary, son Anthony and daughters Patricia and Louise amongst those forming the huddle, Vasil, the 44-game former Carlton footballer also of Greek descent, buoyantly recalled the great bond he and Chris shared from their playing days in the early 1960s.
“The thing I remember about Chris was his enthusiasm,” Vasil told the gathering. “I remember we were playing Geelong and he’d be out here saying to me ‘You beauty Vasil, you’re killing them’, and I’d be saying to myself, ‘Crikey, am I that good?” He’d always encourage you to the max.
“And he had tremendous skills. The ball would hit his hands and it would stay there . . . and he didn’t have big hands either. He’d twist and turn, but when he stopped to pass the ball he was perfectly balanced . . . he was probably the best at Carlton in doing things like that.”
Vasil also related a wonderful tale which truly typified Chris’s love for Carlton.
“I can recall my brother George once saying: ‘You know, I was sitting next to this guy at Greek school when I was about 12 or 13 and he was paying no attention to what the Greek teacher was telling us. All he was doing was drawing monograms of the CFC . . . and that was Chris Pavlou’,” he said.
Having waged a long and brave battle with cancer until his death on Sunday, Chris was laid to rest at Springvale on Friday after more than 400 mourners attended the traditional Greek orthodox funeral service at St Athanasios Church nearby.
There to pay their respects were those effectively representing the past seven decades of Carlton Football Club history, from one of the last survivors of the 1945 “Bloodbath” Grand Final Ken Hands, through to today’s Carlton senior players Marc Murphy, Jarrad Waite and Andrew Walker.
Also in attendance were former players Graham Anderson, Rod Ashman, Mario Bortolotto, Vin Catoggio, Neil Chandler, Ian Collins, Mike Fitzpatrick, Wayne Harmes, Spiro Kourkoumelis, Anthony Koutoufides, Wes Lofts, Andy Lukas, Mark Maclure, Alex Marcou, Denis Munari, John Nicholls, Ron O’Dwyer, Sergio Silvagni and Geoff Southby.
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Vasil Varlamos remembers Chris Pavlou with a passion, Visy Park.
The Three-time Carlton premiership coach David Parkin was also present, as were the club’s current directors Marcus Clarke, Greg Lee, Mark Lo Giudice and Richard Newton.
Badges carrying Chris’s old 35 guernsey number and the initials “C.P.” were also offered to those who filed through the doors of the church.
Later, Chris’s long-time friend Brian Smith, George Frigo and son Anthony Pavlou each delivered stirring eulogies at the George Harris Function Room.
Frigo, Carlton’s former physical education instructor whose friendship with Chris was forged when the latter took up coaching duties with the Under 19s back in ‘73, remembered Chris for his unfaltering character.
“Chris was committed to his family, his friends and the Carlton Football Club. He was able to remain committed because of his solid life values. He always gave his very best and he never regretted it,” Frigo said.
“Chris was also enthusiastic. Someone once said ‘Nothing great was ever achieved without any enthusiasm’ and all of us who knew Chris marveled at his enthusiastic approach. Whether it was his football, the past players, his family or his friendships - all were tackled with the same unbridled level of enthusiasm, for Chris had a very positive outlook on life regardless of the circumstances.”
