By Callum Ludwig
The Upper Yarra community is mourning the loss of the much-loved local Jeff ‘Joffa’ Long.
Jeff sadly and suddenly died at the age of 63 recently, having grown up and lived in the Upper Yarra his whole life.
Jeff’s daughter Stacie Long said his willingness to help anyone stood out about him.
“He would give the shirt off his back to help someone before himself and he was just always there for everyone in the whole community,” she said.
“Dad had to transform his life for us kids, and he was the other half of us. He was just always there and whenever you needed anything or someone to call, he was there and a lot of people know that the Yarra Valley meant so much to him.”
Throughout his life, Jeff was a member of both the Yarra Junction and Powelltown Football Netball and Cricket Clubs and was regularly spotted at Red Relish Cafe, with all the above posting tributes to him following his death.
Ms Long said her family don’t have the words for how grateful they are for the community’s support.
“The whole community, family and friends far and wide, have just all just reached out and tried to help wherever they can and it’s been amazing to see, it can be hard to really sum up how that feels, it is overwhelming, but heartwarming at the same time,” she said.
“It has definitely helped, and I think the man that we all know and love has been expressed through everyone, from the public posts to Aaron Violi mentioning it in parliament, and it’s affected the whole community unfortunately.”
Former Yarra Junction Football Netball Club President Tony Aulich said in his tribute that Jeff was openly friendly to all and made a point of engaging you with those unforgettable blue eyes and his welcoming smile.
“He put his family first and really stepped up. He was totally forgiving and non-judgemental. I got to see the heart of a man I have come to deeply respect. I saw a beautiful and caring soul,” he said.
“He will be talked about whenever Yarra Junction and Powelltown people gather and look back on the good times. We will miss his sincerity, his friendship, his honesty, his trust, his opinions, and his love for his fellow man. Jeff’s friendship was genuine; it was uncomplicated and sincere. In life, we cannot ask for any more from a fellow human being.”
Jeff never stopped playing cricket, even finishing the most recent season with another premiership medal at Powelltown.
A GoFundMe page has been started by a community member to support the Long family, which has raised almost $10,000.
Anyone who is willing to donate can do so here: www.gofund.me/106e2daa.
