William (Billy) Francis Bischoff Jr

Eulogy for William (Billy) Francis Bischoff delivered by his admiring son, Christian Bischoff on the 12th June 2023.

The circle of life began on the 12th of March, 1938, when William Francis Bischoff was launched into a world on the precipice of war. He was the second child to William James Bischoff and Dolly Cavil Bischoff, and younger brother to Shirley Constance.  

This young man grew up in underwhelming most difficult times. His beginnings were humble, from his genesis,  which began in Annandale at 26 Wells St. However penurious the times were, it certainly didn't impact in any way of the open door and generosity of the Bischoff's. The fun that ensued from a little wooden cottage in a very working class area of Sydney, I believe, this is where my father's extraordinary generosity of spirit was built, upon the very planks of wood of which he stood, as a young man, in that little cottage in Annandale. Humility of which my father bathed, until just a few days ago, I believe, will be my father's legacy.  

My grandfather William James (otherwise known as Bok), past to his son Billy the baton of that most generous vessel that nestled within their bosom - big hearts lots of ticker. This served them well in life, and it served them well on the playing field.  

So a tiny little house, however, was the only small element to a most boisterous, full-loving family household. My great grandmother, Nanna Yellen lived with them also, with her own little bedroom in the backyard. My father told me of wonderful stories as a little boy when he would climb up and nestle in on the lap of his grandmother and enjoy wobbling her belly, just a simple little wonderful human story of warmth.  

The Bischoffs' hail from Maitland, and my grandfather was one of many children. Indeed the Bischoff's still have a large footprint on the canvas in that area today. In fact can you believe, there is another Christian Bischof. The other Kristian Bischoff is a much more palatable version than myself and the son of my grandfather's nephew Graham Bischoff.  

Billy from a very early age yearned to be a jockey, and indeed everything looked set. As you would imagine, he had all the physiological attributes, and knowing his father was "5 ft nothing" gave him delusions of grandeur. Those delusions diluted as he grew past his father's shoulders in his teenage years. As my mother told me yesterday, running is where he excelled and it was within the local junior athletics where he won his division in Balmain, that would determine his triumphant future.  

Even though Dad's pedigree from his father Bok was indeed most noble, being a part of the 1939 grand final winning team against Souths and being honoured with the "best and fairest player" in that grand final, Dad's future looked bright.  

It wasn't long before Balmain Rugby League spotted this talent, and signed him up with their junior rugby league, the Leichhardt Wanderers. Oh my goodness me, my marrow twitches with excitement, thinking of the wonderful energies and camaraderie of that era.  

There was another wonderful excitement brewing in his late teens, and it came to fruition when on the balcony of the Prince Edward theatre in Sydney. My mother was on a blind date to meet up with a young star of the football field, Johnny Rapper. However, in my mother's inimitable style she gazed upon another young up and coming star of the rugby league arena, and his name was Billy. She turned to her friend Eileen whom arranged this blind date and said 'Who's that boy? I want him', and that is how it all began. The fickle finger of fate!  

Things progressed very quickly, mum and dad were married on the 15th of March 1958 when Dad had only just turned 20 and Mum was still a few months shy of her 19th birthday.  

Patricia Lorraine Teasdell, doesn't muck around when she makes her mind up, and I'm sure Dad was equally beguiled by the blonde bombshell that thundered down that staircase to take hold of Billy. That hold stayed for over 65 years of marriage, until the very end, Mum and Dad were holding hands.  

The Teasdell's were to become a most significant light within the Bischoff camp. Mum hailed from Strathfield when she met Billy, so there was quite a divide on a few levels. Within those levels my father took great delight in finding new surrounds, and felt exceedingly comfortable with the new family that he had married into.  

Ray Teasdell, my grandfather, gifted Mum and Dad a block of land and this block of land they sold, and used the money to build a new house out at Roselands. It was a new estate and a new marriage and indeed a remarkable story to unfold.  

The first son Grant, my big brother, was born in 1960 and soon after my other big brother Darren in 1962. Followed by my little big brother Adam in 1965 and then I came along to annoy everyone in 1967. Four boys, however Mum was not happy until she had her little girl, and she came along in 1970.  

Through this decade, there were extraordinarily great feats of sporting prowess achieved by my father. The pinnacle being playing for NSW in 1961 against QLD - I think that was the last time they beat them.  

My father played 151 first grade games for the Balmain Tigers, where he currently rates 4th for the most games played within the great history of the Balmain Tigers since 1908.  

Toward the end of 1965, Billy was offered the contract to come up and Captain/Coach West Tamworth Robbins. This was a bravo moment in the history of this wonderful union between Mum and Dad and their 3 little boys, heading to what now is the country music capital of Australia. The King and Queen of Tamworth (Mr and Mrs Bischoff) - Dad with his unbridled generosity of spirit garnered an extraordinary benevolence from all and sundry within that little town, and raised it up to something better, being involved and developing Rugby League in all its forms. Delivering West Tamworth Robbins with the best win-loss record in Northern division and indeed all the premierships that ensued.

I remember as a little boy, the synergies and vibrational power, everyone knew everyone. I don't even think there was one traffic light, something that I dream of one day, to live in a town without one of those things.  

They were carefree, insouciant, wonderful years to grow up as a young boy, I can only think I was one of the luckiest to have had this opportunity Dad gave all our family.  

Dad had an incredible platform not only on the football field, he went into politics for the Labor Party and ran against the all powerful Country Party and did mightily well. He was never going to topple the incumbent federal member Ian Sinclair but they certainly won in the party stakes - drinks all round until very early in the morning. In fact, one of the funniest things I remember with my father was a Friday night at West Tamworth Leagues on the back balcony. I could hear wrestling on our rather steeply inclined 83 Hillvue Rd residence, it was Dad and Ivan Pasco wrestling, with my mother's hair in curlers and dressing gown, stooped over them telling them to 'Stop, you naughty boys!'.

The shortest coaching period, but by no means his least affecting, was at Werris Creek. Taking them from having not won a premiership in 35 years, to a grand final and win in 1979 against Gunnedah. Against all odds, they won with the best team and a group of men who believed in my father. They partied in town for a week and Dad returned looking like someone from the "Battle of the Somme". My Godmother, Rhonda, reminded me that this was Billy's triumph, his Zenith, his Shangri-La of coaching appointments - of which I nodded in total agreeance. 

In 1980, Dad once again took the family on an adventure, to the Gold Coast this time as the coach of Seagulls Rugby League Club from 1980-82, at the coercing of a great mate Tommy Searle, who played for the Seagulls A-grade. 

My father had done it again, a masterstroke in providing his family and his young sons with an unbridled, bright and playful future, what more could I ask from my father?

In 2003, my father retired from Seagulls Rugby League as Sub-Assistant Manager, giving him 20 years to travel,  tinker, mow, clip, and immaculately manicure his garden of which he loved so much at 84 Parnki Pde. This is where Mum and Dad lived for most of their lives. It was a happy one in the most endearing, peaceful, attractive part of the world.

My father left peacefully with the warmth of the hospital room, and the care of Robina Hospital and Pimpama TriCare, and the love of his family around him.   

 A full life, well lived, I always believed there was a special connection between father and son, as there is between mother and daughter. I believe there is an intangible baton, that is passed on from one generation to the other. Generosity of spirit of which my father bequeathed to all, will be my father's legacy.