ERIC Salter, a former President of The Carlton Coterie who was awarded Life Membership of the football club in 2001, has passed away after a long illness.
Eric’s connection with Carlton was almost certainly forged in his formative years in neighbouring Coburg – although tennis was very much his focus at that time. From the age of 11 he swung a racquet under the watch of Arthur Sedgman, father of world number one Frank Sedgman, whose courts were located over Salters’ back fence.
An accomplished junior player, Eric took out the Victorian schoolboys championship at Kooyong at Under 15 level, and in later years served as President of the Kilmore Tennis Club for which he was similarly honoured with Life Membership.
A land surveyor by profession, Eric was a committed member of Carlton’s now-defunct coterie group the Blue Diamonds (formerly Blue Sapphires). Through the Blue Diamonds, Eric was actively involved in matchday functions with the likes of Colin De Lutis and the late Sam Smorgon. The Blue Diamonds also assisted players with job placements or vocational advice.
In the aftermath of the Premiership season of 1987, the Blue Diamonds made way for The Carlton Coterie - which included in its ranks the billionaire businessman John Gandel - and Eric joined the coterie as one of 38 foundation members.
“The Carlton Coterie ran for about 15 years and we made a lot of money for the club. The coterie raised $190,000 for the club its first year,” former President of The Carlton Coterie Robert Moore said.
“When I took the chair in 1991, Eric became one of the four committeemen - and he remained on the committee until the coterie ended about 15 years ago. In that time, Eric and his wife Jeanette held some lovely functions at their house. I particularly remember a Carlton Gold function at their place at Wallan in 1996. Greg Williams and his family were that day, and the highlight was seeing ‘Diesel’ entertaining the kids in games of handball on the court.”
Through his long-standing Carlton involvement, Eric forged enduring friendships with the likes of the 1979 Premiership Captain-Coach Alex Jesaulenko. The three-time Carlton Premiership player Ken Sheldon recalled ‘Jezza’ as the key to introducing Eric to him and fellow newcomers such as Jim Buckley, David Glascott, Wayne Harmes and Wayne Johnston.
“To me Eric was the ‘Mayor of Kilmore’ and generous beyond with his curiosity and interest towards your well-being as a Carlton player,” Sheldon said.
“Eric and his family had this great compassion for people – not in an intrusive way - and a preparedness to share. Countless times we were invited to join in the hospitality at their homes, firstly in Wallan, later in Kilmore . . . and there’d be a many a player who’d say similar things.
“Eric was always prepared to offer advice and knowledge. He had a real empathy for Carlton and the welfare of its people.”
Another of Eric’s close acquaintances was the three-time Carlton Premiership coach David Parkin – the subject of the former’s recollection in an interview with a local reporter last August.
Eric recalled that in late 1985 Parkin graciously accepted his request to address Kilmore’s Assumption College footballers, despite the tumultuous events that played out in the week leading up to the engagement.
“The presentation night was on the Friday and David got the sack from Carlton on the Monday from John Elliott,” Eric recalled in the interview with Jackson Russell for The North Central Review.
“We got in the car to come in with David and I and he said, ‘Well, what do I talk about?’. I said, ‘Buggered if I know, you’re the coach’. Within five minutes, his veins were sticking out and the kids were speechless.”
Eric Salter was in his 80th year when he died on Thursday. He is survived by his wife Jeanette and their children Kristine, Caroline, Duncan and Cameron.
