The Rick Trewavas Medal. "Butter up Bloods".

It’s official. We do have a real Rick Trewavas Medal – see photo to the side with Rick Trewavas in front of a picture of Bobby Skilton outside the entrance to the Bobby Skilton Room.

Originally, this medal was to be awarded to the best Swans player, as judged by the Swans, against the Cambodian Eagles.

However, it has been decided that having Cambodia pick our best player and then having the Swans pick our best player, starts to become a bit awkward. They become two competing awards.

So, the decision was made to change the Rick Trewavas Medal to one that reflects courage and an ability to keep giving during the game. And while not everyone can win Best on Ground, anyone can put in all day if they have the commitment.

It also better reflects Rick’s stoic battle against cancer.

We spoke to Rick about the idea and he liked it. So, instead of the “Bloods Breed BOGs” on the Rick Trewavas Medal, we will now have “Butter up Bloods”. Rick says he has always loved that expression which means, “Get up and have another crack!”

The Bobby Skilton Room

So where did the Bobby Skilton Room come from? Rick explains:

“The Bobby Skilton Room was christened just after 9/11 in 2001. To that point there was a smallish group at Mick’s (Swannie, Micky Francis who was managing Pepperonis in Hanoi), including Bubbles (Wayne Tinlin), who gathered informally for a telecast (of the AFL) …if we could get reception and depending on Mick’s satellite driving skills!

“From memory, my beloved bedside photo of Bobby Skilton was then affixed to the wall of Pepperonis in 2002.”

Rick adds that “History is important. And you blokes (at the Vietnam Swans) do a hell of a job in keeping bods like me involved.”

Speaking of history, Rick concludes by saying, “I have a 1.5 x 1 metre photo of Skilts which was removed from the Lakeside Oval’s rooms in 1984 (the Lakeside Oval being the home ground of the then South Melbourne Bloods). Bob signed it for me up here in Queensland a couple of years ago and it dominates my office.”

Go you Bloods!