George Hamid Passes Away
23 Jul 09 - Australia


George W Hamid, one of the AFLUA’s great servants and certainly one of its greatest identities, passed away in John Fawkner Hospital on Tuesday night, aged 92.

George served as Secretary from 1949 to 1956. He was a member of the Social Committee in 1947 and served on Executive for 10 years. He was a Life Member (elected 1953), a recipient of a Lifetime Achievement Award and was inducted as an inaugural member of the AFLUA Hall of Fame.

He joined the VFL senior list in 1946 and retired after the 1959 season.

He was appointed to 8 VFL matches during 1947 and 48 and was awarded Heritage Number 201.

Funeral details will be announced in due course.

From Austraian Football League Umpires Association Website


Note: George W. Hamid was the son of Casim Abdul (Charlie) Hamid, born in Colombo, Ceylon in 1880, he migrated to Australia in 1887. He married Annie Elizabeth ?, in 1991, they had 8 children, George being one of them. Charlie Hamid was a Footscray resident for more than 60 years, sadly he was knocked down by a car and succumbed to his injuries.on June 20, 1960. His wife, Annie Elizabeth of 66 years, died of a broken heart 13 days later.

Charlie Hamid was a well-loved personality in Footscray, he was the founder of Footscray's first Buffalo Lodge, with the Lodge named 'Lodge Hamid' in his honour. He was also prominent in Masonic circles. Although a merchant by trade, he ran a retail jeweller's store in Barkly Street, Footscary for a number of years.

On one of his visits to Ceylon he returned with the plants of several rare native trees. These now add colour to rthe beautiful slopes of Footscray Park, to which he donated them.

When once asked if he had been naturalised. His reply was typical, "Why should I, I was here before the Federal Government".

George W. Hamid, his son, went on to carry the family jewelry trade and was one of the founding partners of "Hamid Brothers", Gem Merchants who operated from their premises in Little Collins Street, Melbourne.

George was a successful businessman and made several trips to Ceylon, particularly Galle in search of precious stones..

He devoted much of his spare time to the Australian Football League Umpires Association. Like his father he too was a well-known idenity in Footscray