Colin Buchanan honoured with life membership

Buchanan said he knew it was coming, but was totally overwhelmed with his feelings when he received the honour.

“When I got up to accept the award, it left me speechless,” he said. 

“You get choked up when they give you that sort of honour.”

He has played 212 games with the club and has played in three premiership winning sides. 

Buchanan said he chose the Federals because his partner May Stack’s family had a long history with the club. 

“My Mrs has been part of the Federals for many years,” he said. 

“The Stack family are a big part of the team.”

He joined the club in his mid-twenties after leaving the Bunbury Eaton Boomers from the South West League. 

Buchanan said when he started, the Federals were in back to back premierships winning in 2000 and 2001. 

He was also a premiership duel captain winner with Freddy Hunter in 2005 against Beverley and in 2006 against the Northam Railways. 

Buchanan remembers Railways dominating the competition in 2006, up until the final game. 

“They were undefeated and smashing everybody and in the grand final we got the better of them,” he said.

The life member said the club is more than just a sports team.

“It is sort of like an adopted family,” he said. 

“It’s not just football, you see them in other parts of the community too.”

Buchanan said he enjoyed helping out in the canteen this year.

“I like to catch up with the old girls and hear the gossip,” he joked.