There comes a time for all of us. It was time for Bill.

My thoughts went back 20 years when I was younger and less wise but in the prime of my life. It was the VI FINA World Championships in Perth, Australia.

I was the men's water polo manager for New Zealand and Bill Matson was the Chef de Mission. He was a big, commanding man. I was just tall and carried less weight than I do now.

Bill had called me into his room and asked how I manage men. The question seemed a little strange to me but he explained that in all the years of managing swimming teams he felt they were just youngsters and not yet adults, which was probably the case. I explained that when they all signed the pledge that they would not touch alcohol, that it would not be the case.

"There will be some who have a drink or two, some who will have one, and some who won't," I said.

The word to the team was that if you turn out uncommitted in the morning, then you would be sent home on the next flight. We sent no one home.

Bill was a strong leader and he was respected for that. It was my second meeting with the man and far from my last.

When I was seconded to the FINA Press Commission 13 years ago, it was after I had met Bill at the FINA Championships in Perth, for a second time in 1998 at the VIII FINA World Championships. Then again in Sydney at the 2000 Olympics and subsequent years since.

He had been elevated to the FINA Bureau in 1996 and took on various roles, mainly as the ceremonial man, carting around medals in a briefcase and allocating positions for medal presenters. He served as the Bureau Liaison for open water swimming and masters. Then, in 2005, I think, he became the FINA Vice-President for Oceania.

Shirley, my wife, and I got to know Joan, his wife, and they traveled around sights and shops together when she followed me around the world.

Bill and Joan were inseparable and made a lovely couple, traveling extensively and even stayed in a snow-in cottage in England last Christmas. The battle to get to England from Dubai where we were attending the FINA World Short Course Swimming Championships was an effort in itself, with all the travel chaos borne from the Iceland volcano fallout.

In Shanghai three weeks ago, I was with Bill and Joan on several occasions for the Gala Dinner and a meal at the Mansion, which housed the FINA and media offices.

It was the last I was to see of Bill, the man from Waikanae on New Zealand's North Island. We were attending the Closing Ceremony and someone said did I hear the news of Bill. I feared the worst but was told that he had been admitted to hospital in pain and a major operation was undertaken. It was thought he would be delayed in Shanghai for some time to recover before returning to New Zealand and his golf.

Our thoughts and love went out to Joan and family. Then the dreaded FINA Press Release this week: "FINA in Mourning."

Bill had passed away, never to play golf again and no chance of returning to Riccione in Italy, where he had recently been with Joan to inspect the preparations for next year's FINA Masters World Championships.

Bill will be sadly missed, even though he never managed to give me a gig of presenting flowers at a FINA World Championships. For this I forgive him but for leaving us I don't. I miss the Man.

Source: http://fina.org