Gay Fischer was at Taylors Lake from the very beginning

Gay Fischer has attended football matches at first ‘the paddock’ and now Dock Lake Reserve since 1946 – and she says not much has changed. She says she barracked for the Lakers as hard at the weekend as she did in her younger years.

Mrs Fischer, nee Brooksby, married Ian Fischer in 1958. 

Ian played football for Taylors Lake and was the treasurer for 35 years. He was the club’s best and fairest in 1955 and won a senior premiership in 1952. 

Mrs Fischer can’t remember a time before the Lakers and says she remembers gallivanting around the club at a very young age. 

“When it started there was a shed behind the Taylors Lake Town Hall that Mr Punchard allowed us to use,” she said. “I remember the change rooms had hessian bags and tin around them and we had a little spot for afternoon tea.” 

Mrs Fischer was awarded life membership in 1990. 

“I never expected it,” she said. “Ian got his when he retired in 1969 and he played his 200^th game then as well.” 

Mrs Fischer said she supported the Lakers every weekend. 

“Even when Mum and Dad didn’t go (to the game), I would make sure I got a ride with the neighbours or the old bachelor in the district,” she said. “When I was 10 or 12, I would always bring my own afternoon tea, which was cream cakes, which was very nice.” 

The Fischers are known around the club to be the gatekeepers of the chewing gum and snake lolly supply. 

She is passionate about the red and white. 

“I am very passionate about something you can contribute to and it contributes to your district,” Mrs Fischer said. “If there wasn’t a football club, the district would be very flat. Footy clubs, cricket clubs and tennis clubs keep an area together.” 

A large majority of the club’s original families have moved on, but it has gained many new families that call the club their own.

“I love to be parked (at the sidelines) and watch the footy,” Mrs Fischer said. 

“I don’t necessarily love the umpires, but I have matured. We have to like the umpires, whether they are good or not.” 

Mrs Fischer had the opportunity to watch her grandson, Daniel, win the 2016 reserves premiership with Taylors Lake wearing Ian’s beloved no.8 jumper. 

“That was just more than you could even imagine,” she said. 

Daniel said it was a privilege to follow in his grandfather’s footsteps. 

“It meant a lot to me,” he said. “I don’t play anymore but I do run the Auskick at the club and train every now and again.” 

Daniel brought Auskick to Taylors Lake more than 10 years ago. His younger brother Axel is playing for the under-17’s side. 

Ian’s father Gus was the first Fischer to move to Taylors Lake as a soldier settler after the First World War.

He was on the first committee for the club. 

Gus had three boys with their descendants, including Tammy McDonald, Adrian Fischer, Collin Fischer and Jamie Fischer, still involved with Taylors Lake.