David Meade: Tributes for Bendigo Pioneers talent lead, Bendigo Triathlon Club stalwart

The wife and children of late Bendigo footy scout David Meade have opened up, saying he didn’t reveal his cancer battle because he didn’t want any pity from others.

David Meade, centre, paved the way for former Bendigo Pioneers player and Collingwood young gun Jack Ginnivan. Picture: Facebook.

Respected Bendigo sports identity David Meade kept the cancer battle that took his life private because he didn’t want to be treated any differently and live life as normally as possible.

Tributes have flowed throughout the region, and from other rival country football clubs, after the Bendigo Pioneers talent director died on October 7, aged 52.

His grieving family, wife Paula and sons Billy, 17, and Jack, 20, told The Bendigo News they fully supported David’s wishes to keep his health battle in-house, and it was a testament to his character and values.

“It was something he took on like everything in his life, he fought it with all his energy, and he wanted to do that privately because he didn’t want life outside of that to change,” Paula said.

“He didn’t wanted to be looked at differently, we didn’t want any pity from anyone, he wanted to be as normal as he had to be to fight this.”

Bendigo's David Meade, 52, with wife Paula, and sons Billy, 17, and Jack, 20, on Christmas Day 2021. Mr Meade died after a private cancer battle on October 7, 2022. Picture: Supplied.

Mrs Meade said the family had been overwhelmed by the outpouring of support after her husband’s passing, with his funeral set to be confirmed shortly for next week.

She was set to mark her 25th wedding anniversary with David in February, and said it would be “hard to imagine my life without him”.

“We got to share so much together, we grew up together and ran a business (What’s New Bendigo) together, live together and still maintained a strong relationship,” Mrs Meade said.

“We had mutual respect and I admired him, and we learnt from each other.”

Mrs Meade said her late husband, a key figure at the Pioneers and life member of the Bendigo Triathlon club, excelled at “making other people feel he’s really important to him”.

“He couldn’t give enough really, but that fulfilled him, he loved to see other people develop, and he enjoyed knowing in some way he might have contributed to their development,” she said.

“It’s not until something like this happens you realise how many lives David touched and the impression he made on people.”

Billy, a Pioneers player, said he was in awe of his father’s influence on players and staff, while Jack said he had fond memories of gruelling training sessions with him for triathlons.

“The training sessions I had with him were really special, all the runs and rides with him,” Jack said.

“He always told me hard work pays dividends, it’s something that he always believed in, and it’s something he told me all the time.”

CLUBS, FOOTY STARS MOURN ‘SUCH A GREAT HUMAN’:

Bendigo's David Meade, talent lead for the Bendigo Pioneers, died suddenly on October 7 after a 20-month private cancer battle. Picture: Bendigo Pioneers Football Club Facebook page.

Pioneers head coach Danny O’Bree told Leader on Saturday the club was reeling following Mr Meade’s death, and were planning an in-house celebration on Tuesday night, before his funeral arrangements are confirmed.

“I think everyone is shocked to lose such a great person at such a young age, someone so fit, someone so healthy,” he said.

“He was one of the most hardworking and humble people, and only thought about others right to the end.

“I couldn’t be more proud to work with such a great human.”

One of Mr Meade’s last pictures posted on social media was with Collingwood young gun Jack Ginnivan, who played with the Pioneers before being drafted to the Pies.

O’Bree said Mr Meade also played a pivotal role in steering the development of Port Adelaide’s Kane Farrell and Fremantle’s Josh Treacy.

Fellow NAB league clubs Oakleigh Chargers, Gippsland Power, Wangaratta’s Murray Bushrangers and Ballarat’s Greater Western Victoria Rebels also paid tribute to Mr Meade online.

“Meadey was a fantastic passionate footy person who was the epitome of what our talent pathway stands for,” the Power wrote.

“We lost a wonderful person today. Caring, brave and always putting others first,” the Bushrangers wrote.

Along with his role with the Pioneers, Mr Meade was an elite triathlete and founding member of Bendigo Triathlon club.

The club described him as a “phenomenal triathlete, at all distances” and “the driving force behind its success and promotion to the club it is today.”

“He led the charge on our morning swims at East Bendigo and rode on the front all Saturday on the long rides,” they wrote.

“A true gentleman and our club will be forever indebted to him.”

Former Brisbane Lions player Troy Selwood, brother of recently retired Geelong champion Joel, said Mr Meade’s death was “an incredibly sad day” for the Bendigo sporting community.

“Meadey was a champion athlete & individual. My brothers and I used to idolise him as kids. “I loved reconnecting with him in recent years via the Bendigo Pioneers. Vale mate,” he wrote on Twitter.