A tough and skilful utility, Featherby was in the drought-breaking Rochester premiership side of 1958 under former Melbourne player Noel McMahon in its halcyon Bendigo Football League days when it won four flags between 1958 and 1964 and appeared in eight successive grand finals.
Noel was also in the Con O’Toole-coached premiership side of 1962 when Rochester became the first side to go through a season undefeated in the Bendigo league.
A premiership teammate and Rochester football legend Ken Ingram said Noel loved Rochester and Rochester loved Noel.
‘‘He was fearless and fair and never gave up. That’s why he was so popular,’’ reflected Ingram who was a teammate in two of the three premiership Rochester sides Noel played in.
Born in Elmore 81 years ago, Noel was well known for his footballing and cricketing skills across Northern Victoria.
His work as a water bailiff took him to Pyramid Hill and Wyuna in the 1960s and then to Boort.
Although his playing days were over at the time he lived at Wyuna, he coached Kyabram District Football League clubs Lancaster and Undera.
In his early days, he played with both the Pyramid Hill and Mitiamo Football Clubs in the Loddon Valley Football League.
He also played a lot of cricket in his day and applied the same determination in that sport as he did playing football.
Noel and his wife Jenny ran the Allies Hotel on the western outskirts of Bendigo at the end of their working days before retiring initially to Nyah and then Boort.
Noel had been battling ill-health for the last six months.
Jenny said her husband always wanted to go ‘‘back home’’ when he passed on and his graveside service at Elmore is being held tomorrow at 11am.
He is survived by his wife Jenny and four sons - Darren, twins Paul and Damien and Shane - and 11 grandchildren who have all acquired his great love of sport.
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