LEGENDARY full forward Jim Gull died at St John of God Hospital on Wednesday. He was 79.
Gull was also the patriarch of one of Ballarat's best known sporting families, with his daughter Robyn Maher being one of Australia's greatest basketballers and son Stewart Gull following in his father's footsteps to play with
South Melbourne in the VFL (AFL).
Already a champion goalkicker and with a distinguished football career behind him, James Gull moved to Ballarat in 1958 and over the next decade stamped himself as one of country football's best with Daylesford in the Ballarat
league.
He kicked 98 goals in each of his first two seasons with the Demons - going on to win the BFL goalkicking seven years in a row to 1964 and then for an eighth time in 1968.
Gull's most memorable year in the BFL was by far 1961.
He coached Daylesford to its first and only Ballarat league premiership and kicked a record 159 goals - a record which still stands today.
Gull also kicked 21.13 against North Ballarat in that season.
This remains the highest individual goalkicking tally in a BFL senior match and is acknowledged with the BFL reserves goalkicking award named in his honour.
BFL chief executive officer Rod Ward paid tribute to Gull.
"This is a sad loss for the Gull family and Ballarat regional sporting community.
"He was an all-time great of country football.
"Our thoughts are with the family," he said.
Gull's achievements in football and an array of other sports, including lawn bowls, tennis, billiards and professional footrunning, earned him a place in the Ballarat Sports Hall of Fame.
He was also named the Ballarat Sportsmen's Club sportsperson of the year in 1961 in recognition of his football deeds with Daylesford that year.
His main achievements in professional athletics were wins in gifts at Halls Gap and Dimboola, while he captured a country week tennis title with Daylesford.
Gull was born at Rainbow and began his football playing days in the small Mallee town of Kenmare, between Rainbow and Beulah.
He won the Southern Mallee league best and fairest as a teenager.
It was while with Kenmare that a young centre half forward attracted the attention of South Melbourne.
He joined South Melbourne in 1949, but his VFL career was to last only two seasons.
With 21 games and 20 goals to his credit, Gull broke three ribs and that was to be the end of his stay in the big time.
Gull was lured to Rupanyup in the Wimmera as coach and won the league's best and fairest, the Toohey Medal.
Then came the move to Ballarat, and a playing and coaching record with Daylesford which has stood the test of time.
From Daylesford, Gull kicked on with Elaine and Natte-Bealiba.
After hanging up the boots for what he expected to be the last time, Gull's next chapter in football was as chairman of selectors at North Ballarat.
It was with the Roosters that there was to be one final hooray in his playing career. He came out of retirement at the age of 43 to play with the 20-year-old Stewart - the one and only time they played together.
Gull had various business interests throughout his life.
On moving to Ballarat he opened a branch of Elders as a stock and station agent. He went on to work with VPC.
The Gull family established The Boomerang Holiday Horse Ranch at Daylesford and ran it for 10 years.
Stewart Gull said his father was fortunate to enjoy success across an array of sport and other ventures.
Gull is survived by his second wife Ann - his first wife Wynne pre-deceased him - and children Stewart, Wayne, Rodney, Sandra and Robyn.
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