BIO

Eric Suhard and his youngest brother, Noel, were Norwood team-mates in 1915, but fate dealt them very different cards after that. Noel, a small forward known as 'Nipper', was only 20 when he succumbed to spinal paralysis early in 1916.  Eric, a robust defender of 180 cm and 72 kg, was a talented all-round sportsman who lived to the ripe old age of 90.  He recorded a best time in the Swim-through-Adelaide, from the weir to the university footbridge, and also won the relay swim from Henley to Grange. He won golf championships at Grange and Kooyonga, where he was an early member and twice holed-in-one. Born at Kensington Park on 27 March 1894, Eric was the fourth of six sons of Norwood foundation player Louis Suhard and his wife Emily (née Cox).

Eric played some B grade matches but consolidated his place in the league team during the 1915 season.  He was named high in the best players in a preseason match between Norwood A and B teams.  In June he was a member of the Norwood B team which made its annual trip to Riverton, defeating the local team 7.11 to 5.9.  When Norwood beat South Adelaide 8.5 to 5.10 on 7 August, The Mail said "E. Suhard was the pick of the defenders".

Eric did not play league football after World War I, but he was a member of the Norwood team which beat North Adelaide 5.11 to 3.8 at Norwood Oval on 2 August 1919 in a patriotic match to raise funds for the Kensington & Norwood War Memorial.

As well as being a superb athlete, Eric  was a professional wordwood-carver and won many art prizes with his handiwork.

Eric was the survivor of the Suhard family. His eldest brother Louis lived to 74 years, but after him Harold, also a Norwood player, and Keith both died at 27, Noel at 20 and Noel's twin Ivo at 17.

Eric married Ada Miriam Shepley, who predeceased him 1963.  Eric died on 16 September 1984. Their daughter Anne was born in 1944, two years before their son Raoul, usually called Hector

P Robins, D Cox March 2019

* For the picture we thank Annie Power, daughter of Eric Suhard