Goya Dmytryshchak
A proposal to name Altona North’s new box lacrosse court after the late Alan Lewer has received widespread support.
The court at Paisley Park – the first of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere – realises the vision of Alan, 48, who suffered a cardiac arrest in 2019 while coaching the Victorian Men’s team.
His brother, Altona Lacrosse Club president Mark Lewer, said it would be a fabulous way to commemorate someone who had done so much for the sport.
“If it hadn’t been for Alan, I don’t think the sport would have survived,” he said.
“Until he passed, he was probably the most important person in lacrosse, who was keeping that particular side of lacrosse alive.
“Pretty much for the past 20 years of his life, he was very much involved in the box side of things as well as being a coach – Victorian coach and Australian coach – and being a player at one stage as well.”
When it looked like lacrosse might fold in Victoria, Alan played a key role in establishing the sport at the Puckhandlers in Reservoir and then leading the administration of the competition.
He arranged advertising, recruited players, coaches and umpires, bought uniforms and set up the competition framework.
When the owners of Puckhandlers decided they no longer wanted to use their court space for lacrosse, Alan negotiated with them to buy the court.
Alan next had to find a new home for it.
He convinced the owners at Westgate Indoor Sports in Altona North to have the court in their venue.
Alan then successfully lobbied Hobsons Bay council to build the new box court in Altona North but tragically died before seeing his dream realised.
All of Hobsons Bay’s lacrosse clubs and many across Victoria have expressed their support for the Alan Lewer Box Lacrosse Court.
Last month, the International Olympic Committee announced it would grant full recognition to World Lacrosse, meaning the international lacrosse body can aim for the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.
“Lacrosse is a huge sport in America, with professional leagues, so it’s got a very good chance of becoming an Olympic sport,” Lewer said.
