‘Really grateful’: Eagles boss Trevor Nisbett’s grandfather Len Nisbett to be honoured at Bunbury hub

The legacy of a legendary community leader and South West junior football pioneer will live on at Bunbury’s newest public sporting precinct. And it’s a move that has been welcomed by the family of the late Len Nisbett — including his grandson and West Coast Eagles chief executive Trevor. Nisbett, a founding father of both junior football in the region and the Bunbury City Band, will have the main social space at the new Hay Park North facility named after him, after a pavilion at the precinct carrying his name was demolished last year. Trevor Nisbett, a Bunbury export and one of WA football’s greatest powerbrokers, told the South Western Times the family was “really grateful” to see the facility bare his name again. “The old pavilion had come to its use-by-date so that was knocked over recently and I didn’t really know what was going to happen with it,” he said. “But we are obviously really grateful to the council for continuing the legacy of Pop and what he was able to achieve in Bunbury in his life. “Dad will be thrilled and it is just great that it is continuing.” The pavilion was first named after Mr Nisbett for his work in establishing the Junior Football Council, as well as umpiring at the level. As well as his community efforts, he served for five years in the Australian Army during World War II. “Pop was very close to Ernie Manea and he really got the Junior Football Council up and running along with another couple of guys,” Trevor Nisbett said. “He was instrumental in getting the juniors playing football in Bunbury and he was instrumental in the formation of the Bunbury City Band and he led that for well over 20-odd years. “He created two parts of his life that he was very fond of and took on as a hobby. “Junior football is still played there and I think my grandfather would be really pleased with that.” The names Kit Keddie and Ned Myles will adorn the two changerooms at the new facility — after the existing pavilions baring their names were also knocked down — Bunbury City Council moved in October. “Len Nisbett, Kit Keddie and Ned Myles each contributed greatly to our community,” Bunbury City Mayor Jaysen Miguel said. Myles was a former Bunbury Junior Football Association president and a Carey Park life member, while Keddie was the inaugural president of the Bunbury Netball Association. Mr Miguel confirmed the precinct was “at partial completion” and was on track to be finished by the end of March.