Today, Anzac Day, Bill Collier will proudly wear his more important medals as he’s driven around.
The smiling grandfather of 11 (and great-grandfather to 14) says his memory ‘‘isn’t as good any more’’.
So what will he think about today?
He pauses, bows his head and says: ‘‘My wife Nora,’’ then adds, ‘‘And all my lost mates.’’
HE’S lost most of his mates, including Nora, his wife of 68 grand years but today the oldest Dragon, Bill Collier, won’t forget.
Aged 92, and still living in their old Kingsgrove home after a recent stay in hospital, Bill remains the last living link to St George’s first premiership-winning team - the 1941 side.
The World War II veteran will be driven around Allianz Stadium this afternoon in an army truck before the annual Anzac Day clash between the Dragons and Roosters. He used to have the Roosters’ great Ferris Ashton with him, before he died.
So today the rival clubs will play for the inaugural Ashton-Collier Medal.
Like so many others in that era, the war disrupted Bill’s league career.
‘‘I played 28 games for Saints from 1941 to 1943, we married in ’44 and, when I returned from the war in Borneo, I was thin and suffering from dengue fever,’’ said Bill, remembering those years like it was yesterday.
‘‘I didn’t play grade again.’’
Inside what he calls ‘‘my clutter room’’ he proudly shows off some old and new Dragons jerseys he’s been given. Then we talk about his service with three units, in New Guinea and Borneo ... and friends long lost.
‘‘I used to go to the [Anzac Day] march, but they’ve [1st Armed Regiment colleagues] all fallen off the perch,’’ he said, looking at more photos.
Bill doesn’t hold any grudges over 1941. Just regrets.
He started in third grade but the young centre emerged as a first grader.
‘‘When I looked like playing in the grand final, star centre Gordon Hart returned from commando training in Victoria,’’ he recalls.
‘‘I was a reserve, but reserves never played on game day ... so I missed out on the big win, and a medal.’’
DRAGONS
St George Illawarra could add Warrington forward Mike Cooper to their 2014 playing roster before today’s Anzac Day clash. Prop Michael Weyman has been included in an 18-man squad.
1 Jason Nightingale, 2 Brett Morris, 3 Chase Stanley, 4 Matt Cooper, 5 Daniel Vidot, 6 Jamie Soward, 7 Nathan Fien, 8 Dan Hunt, 9 Mitch Rein, 10 Jack Stockwell, 11 Tyson Frizell, 12 Ben Creagh (c), 13 Trent Merrin. Interchange: 14 Bronson Harrison, 15 Matt Prior, 16 Jack de Belin, 17 Damien Cook, 18 Michael Weyman.
