Former GRV steward and Bendigo GRC Life Member Jim Fullerton passed away this week, just three months shy of his 93rd birthday.

A former Bendigo committee member, grader and long serving and respected steward across both the Eaglehawk and Lord’s Raceway eras of the Club, Jim’s passion for greyhound racing stayed with him throughout his life.

Jim was seen with a lead, collar and dog in hand only a few weeks ago, assisting his son Grant in educating some pups.

“Dad was a fitness fanatic. He’d walk eight kilometres every day – four in the morning and another four at night, and he’s jump on his exercise bike at lunch time,” Grant said.

“This went on for years, right up until about two weeks ago when he had a fall.”

“I educate greyhound pups for a living, and dad was always coming to the track with me. He loved greyhound racing and spent a lifetime in the sport.”

“Before he became a steward he owned a few greyhounds, and had a dog called Pluto Peter, who was a freak.”

Jim is one of Victoria’s longest serving greyhound stewards, having a career spanning more than 30 years, while he also spent 13 years as a grader at the Eaglehawk and Lords Raceway racetracks in Bendigo before the grading system was centralised at GRV headquarters.

Former Bendigo GRA President Barry Hiscock said Jim is a foundation member of the club and has been tied to the club ever since.

“Jim was a great bloke,” Barry said. “He had been a member of the club since it first opened in 1956 and was connected to the club ever since.”

“Over the years he ran the trials at Bendigo, then became the grader, and when the club moved to Lords Raceway in 1978 he led a team of volunteers to set up the watering system at the track because irrigation was his area of expertise.”

Barry said Jim also had an extensive collection of greyhound material.

“A few years ago a fire went through Long Gully and burnt out Jim’s shed. In his shed was a collection of every form guide from every race meeting ever held at Bendigo since the club opened in 1956.”
“There was more than 50 years of form guides there and other bits and pieces including grading cards,” Barry said.

“He was so meticulous. He kept it all in boxes and was absolutely devastated when he lost it all, but soon afterwards he started collecting his form guides again.”

Our thoughts and best wishes are with Jim’s family and friends at this time.