Alan Hickinbotham facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Alan Hickinbotham |
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| Personal information | |||
| Full name | Alan David Hickinbotham, AM | ||
| Date of birth | 9 December 1925 | ||
| Place of birth | Geelong, Victoria | ||
| Date of death | 25 May 2010 (aged 84) | ||
| Place of death | Adelaide, South Australia | ||
| Original team | South Adelaide | ||
Alan David Hickinbotham was an important Australian businessman and a talented Australian rules football player and coach. He was also honored with the Order of Australia (AM) for his contributions to the country. Alan was born on December 9, 1925, and passed away on May 25, 2010.
About Alan Hickinbotham
Alan Hickinbotham was born in Geelong, Victoria. During World War II, from 1944 to 1945, he served in the Royal Australian Air Force as a gunner.
After the war, he studied at the University of Adelaide. In 1948, he earned degrees in science and education. From 1949 to 1951, he worked as a science and math teacher at Geelong Grammar.
Building a Business
In 1954, Alan started his own company, the Hickinbotham Group. This company grew to become one of Australia's largest building businesses. They built over 50 large housing areas, called community estates, in Adelaide.
Alan was a very important person in the Housing Industry Association in South Australia. He helped skilled workers from Britain move to Adelaide to live and work. He also had a strong interest in wineries in South Australia.
In 1998, Alan was recognized for his hard work. He was given the title of Member of the Order of Australia (AM). This award was for his great contributions to building homes and developing cities. A special scholarship at St Columba College in Adelaide is named after him to honor his memory.
His Football Career
Before he became a famous businessman, Alan Hickinbotham was a skilled Australian rules football player. He played six matches for the Geelong Football Club as a key defender.
Later, he became the captain and coach of the South Adelaide Football Club. He stayed connected with the club throughout his life. In 2005, the club renamed their home ground, which used to be called Noarlunga Oval, to Hickinbotham Oval in his honor. He also played four games for the South Australia state team.
In the early 1970s, Alan was part of a group that helped create Football Park. This was a special stadium built just for big Australian rules football matches in Adelaide.
In Politics
Alan Hickinbotham also tried to enter politics. He ran as a candidate for the Liberal Party of Australia in the 1969 national election. However, he was not successful in winning the seat.
His Passing
Alan Hickinbotham passed away in May 2010 after a long illness. He was 84 years old.
