Steve ‘Bear’ Hall, a legendary country footballer, an all-round champion bloke.
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It was with great sadness the rugby league community heard of the passing of Steve on March 3, 2019 aged 64 years after a long battle with cancer.
Bear Hall with a football in his hands was magic, time seemed to stand still.
He was the best attacking footballer that I had ever seen in the bush, he controlled play.
Bear took over as captain-coach of the Mendooran Tigers in 1984 and won the premiership, and also went on in 1985 to coach Dubbo CYMS to a premiership victory in the group 11 competition.
Bear had such a wonderful reputation as a footballer that when he signed with Mendooran, another 20 footballers followed him.
I have no doubt that Bear was responsible for the great success that Mendooran achieved over the five years the side were in the premiership.
Bear as a man was such a wonderful bloke. In my years alongside him, we never exchanged a single cross word.
He was a fighter, a very humble man and a great advocate for the underprivileged.
Steve was employed as a NSW development officer for 28 years, spending the last 20 in the Campbelltown district in Sydney.
Steve had the ability to raise funds for his junior footballers, having taken them on several trips across Australia and all over the world including a trip to France with his up and coming footballers.
Bear was survived by his beautiful wife Margaret who was also his best friend, daughter Michelle, son Steven, their partners and children.
It was fitting that Bear’s funeral was held at the Campbelltown football stadium on Tuesday March 12, 2019.
He was taken on the field for one last time and was afforded a police escort to his final resting place.
Well played Bear, you were such an inspiration to all who knew you.
Rest in peace, mate.
Wacka Bull.
