Obituary – Roderick ('Roger') Maher Kilmore Free Press, 24 May 1951

We regret to announce the death of a well-known identity of Lancefield and Kilmore in the person of Roger Maher who passed away at Kilmore on Friday last, at the age of 83 years. The deceased was the eldest son of the late Thomas and Catherine Maher, of Lancefield, well known farmers in the early days, where the deceased was born; he was educated at the Tikiwarra State School in the Lancefield district and as a young man assisted his parents in farming pursuits prior to taking up farming on his own account for a few years. The late mr Maher was a keen sportsman and was a prominent member of the Lancefield football team for some years, as well as excelling in footrunning. He married Miss Annie Buckley, of Deep Creek, and there were four children of the union, she predeceased him some 44 years ago. The deceased later married Miss Catherine Maher, of Kilmore. For 33 years the late Mr Maher was employed by the PMG Department as the mail contractor from Kilmore to Lancefield. Residing at Kilmore for the past 40 years he was a well known and highly respected resident. The deceased is survived by his widow and four sons, Thomas (Kilmore), Patrick (Kilmore), John (Seymour) and William (Kilmore), also eight grandchildren and a brother (Patrick, Melbourne).

After requiem Mass at St Patrick’s Church the interment was made in the Kilmore Catholic Cemetery on Saturday last and the esteem in which the deceased was held was evidenced by the large number at the funeral. Many beautiful floral tributes were received and included wreaths from Kilmore Urban Fire Brigade and Junior Football Club, Spicers’ staff (Moreland) and employees of Spicers’ (Kilmore). The Rev Father Clifford officiated at the services at the Church and graveside.

The casket-bearers were the deceased’s four sons, T., P., J. and W. Maher, and the pall was supported by Messrs T. Boran, J. Ahern, W. Freyne, J. Evans, O. Graham, C.J. Dillon, F.J. Walder and L. Cushen. Flower bearers: F. Glavas, L. Haynes, P. Nichol, A. Zoch and M. Buckley. Funeral arrangements were carried out by Mr G. Diggle.

Jack's Unlucky Break by Mark Nunan, Seymour Telegraph, 22 May 1996

At ninety-two years of age, Jack Maher can still vividly remember the day when his VFL career ended before it began.

A Carlton recruit of considerable talent, Maher broke his right leg in two places during the final practice match before the regular season of 1925.

"I can remember kicking four goals before I broke my leg," said Maher. "But I was being pretty well looked after by (then captain) Pat Kennedy. He was giving me a lot of the ball."

Reflecting of taking six months to recover from his severe leg break, Maher said pensively: "I never went down there again after that."

The other matter which contributed to Jack never playing VFL football, was his job on the railways, which he held for 46 years.

"Working on the railways my employment came before my football," said Jack.

"At times I would be all over the state, up at Benalla or Yarrawonga, all over the place."

At the time, less than a decade after the cessation of the First World War, Maher had already forged a reputation as a champion left foot goal kicker with the Seymour Football Club.

In 1926, after sitting on the sidelines for the entire 1925 season, Maher resumed with Seymour and kicked 12 goals in his first match back against Yea. In his next two games he kicked bags of eight and seven goals, taking the three game total to 27.

Jack is quite confident that he is the oldest living member of the Seymour Football Club, having taken over the mantle when Percy Ballantine passed away three or four years ago.

He spent 15 years of his life playing for Seymour, between 1920-1935.

Despite never having played a game with Carlton, his loyalty for the club has stretched over three quarters of a century.

"It would be an understatement to say I was wrapped to see them win the flag last year," said Jack.