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The Spirit Never Dies

SANDY BAY FOOTBALL CLUB

1945 — 1997

The Spirit Never Dies

SANDY BAY FOOTBALL CLUB

1945 — 1997

MIKE BINGHAMW.T. (Bi l l ) WILLIAMS and BRIAN LEWIS

PART I

CONTENTS

PART 1:

Foreword ix1. The Final Siren 12. Birth of The Bay 63. The Recruiting Ground 104. The First Flag 125. Gordon Bowman 156. Rex Geard’s Triumph 177. Building a Club 208. The Travellers Rest 259. The Ollson Years 2810. Three in a Row 3511. The Countdown 3912. Laying It on the Line 4413. Margot’s Story 4814. All in The Family 5715. Backing The Bay 6516. Pleasant Sunday Mornings 6917. Seagull Sorell 7318. A Time for Champions 7719. Unsung Heroes 8520. 9Hall of Dame 9021. Good for a Laugh 94

PART 2:Seagulls on the Wing. Official history of the Club, year by year.

viv

Published by Sandy Bay Past Players, Officials and Supporters Association Inc

Sandy Bay, TasmaniaAustralia

© Sandy Bay Past Players, Officials and Supporters Association Inc,Australia 2005

This book is Copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose ofprivate study, research, criticism or review as permitted under the

Copyright Act, no part may be reproduced or stored in a retrieval systemby any process without the written permission of the publisher.

Designed and edited by Michael Ward

Typeset by Mikron Media Pty Ltd, Hobart.

Printed by Monotone Art Printers, Hobart

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The MercuryThe Sandy Bay and South East Past Players, Officials and SupportersAssociation Inc. wish to gratefully thank The Mercury and itsEditorial Manager, Janet Weaving, for her substantial assistance andguidance with the publication of this book. The Association alsoappreciates The Mercury's permission to reprint over 150 images cov-ering the club's games, personalities and activities.

Photographers and CartoonistThe Association also wishes to thank and acknowledge the followingphotographers/cartoonist for their contribution to the pictorial histo-ry of the Sandy Bay Football Club from 1945 to 1997, some of whichhas been used in this book.The Mercury photographersKevin Bailey (cartoonist)Beattie’s Studios (Bill Stephenson – Tasmanian Historic Photographs)Joe BarnettAlan ManeyMichael DermoudyMichael WebbArtizan Photographics – (Sarah Gorringe Photographer)

The Association regrets if it has omitted to acknowledge any photog-rapher whose work has been used in this book.

W. T. (Bill) WILLIAMS The Sandy Bay and South East Past Players, Officials and SupportersAssociation Inc. wishes to acknowledge the contribution of BillWilliams for his original research and the publication Seagulls on theWing – Commemorating the 21st Anniversary of the Sandy BayFootball Club 1945 to 1966, which through the kind permission of hisdaughters Shirley Anning and Lynne Porter has been reproduced inthis book. The Association would also like to acknowledge that Bill’sbook provided the inspiration for the production and publication ofthis book on the complete history of the Sandy Bay Football Club.

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T H E S P I R I T N E V E R D I E S

SPONSORS

The Sandy Bay and South East Past Players, Officials and SupportersAssociation Inc. wishes to sincerely thank and acknowledge the gen-erous contribution provided towards the publication of this book by:

WREST POINT HOTEL CASINO

THE TASMANIAN GOVERNMENT

THE CASCADE BREWERY CO PTY LTD

The Association would also like to thank the following members for theirgenerous contributions towards this project:

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The family of Ken and Gladys AustinBob Purden

Robert Johnston (Shadforths Ltd)John Hollis

John Howard (Eye Spy Signs)Clive Simpson

Bill SorellIan Rumney

Denis HawkerLance Morton

John OldmeadowJohn GuiverBruce GossBob Lahey

Colin & Peter MillingtonBill Dienaar

Michael SeddonBarry & Lesley Joyce

Neville SchofieldBill ShieldsTony MartynLeith HarperGraham HillsRex MorrisbyRay GiblettAnonymous

Roger Henderson, Judith Abbott,Anthony Steele and Gary Henderson

FOREWORD

K E I T H W E L S H

FORMED IN 1945, SANDY BAY FOOTBALL CLUB flashed like ameteor across the sky and, in the next 53 years, delighted thousands ofkeen followers with many fine performances.

In its first season, Sandy Bay reached the TFL final and the nextyear won both the TFL and State premierships. Other successes were tofollow. In 1976-77-78, the club had a purple patch, winning three suc-cessive premierships, something hitherto unaccomplished in TFL foot-ball.

All this is history now, but the Sandy Bay and South East PastPlayers, Officials and Supporters’ Association, still functioning, hasdetermined that the club will be remembered by arranging for the pub-lication of Sandy Bay Football Club 1945-97 — The Spirit Never Dies.

The book has been written in two parts, one giving details year byyear of the club’s performances on the field and also naming officialsand players. The second part goes to great lengths telling of various offi-cials, coaches and players. Mention of these names will bring backmemories and whet the appetites of readers, particularly those whoplayed in the club’s colours, or who were officials, or who were just avidsupporters of the Seagulls. They, especially, will find these pages fasci-nating reading.

Sandy Bay certainly made a great contribution to football in theSouth and won eight TFL titles as well as two State Premierships.Fourteen William Leitch medals were won by Sandy Bay players, threeof whom won the medal twice.

As one who saw much of the players and officials during a quarterof a century as senior football writer for The Mercury and then asChairman of the TFL Umpires’ Board for seven years, I admired theclub. It was a well conducted and happy club.

With thousands of others I regret the demise of a great club. It hasa great history. Now, read on …

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THE SANDY BAY FOOTBALL CLUB SONG

Seagulls,Seagulls,that's our nameWe're the boys that play the game

The Tigers,The Robins we've beaten them tooThe Eagles,The Magpies, and even The ROOS,

So come on, come on, win or loseIt matters not to the White and Blues

Seagulls,Seagulls flying highMay the spirit never die.

To the tune of California Here I ComeAl Jolson.

1.

THE FINAL SIREN

LOSING A GAME IS TOUGH for any supporter or player. Losing aclub is devastating. The pain (and the passion) was never betterexpressed than on the late afternoon of Saturday, August 16, 1997,when Sandy Bay left the field for the last time. The club born inwartime and a giant of Tasmanian football throughout the 1970s wasno more.

James Kerr, a photographer for The Sunday Tasmanian was onthe boundary line at Bellerive Oval to take the picture which said itall – club president Bill Sorell, in tears with his arm around theshoulder of the equally tearful vice-captain Nigel Palfreyman. SandyBay had been beaten by 76 points and that hurt, but the real agonywas the realisation that there would be no chance for revenge the fol-lowing season, or any season. It was all over, and only 1222 peoplewere there to see it.

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Mike Bingham wishes to thank all the members of the Sandy Bay Past Players, Officials and Supporters Association Inc for their co-

operation and assistance, particularly Kerry Doran, Mike Polegaj, MargotScales and club historian Brian Lewis for their unstinting support and brilliantorganisation. Preparation and research was made much easier because such

meticulous records had been kept over more than 50 years and valuablememorabilia, including photographs and cartoons, assembled. The late W TWilliams’ book Seagulls on the Wing, (1945-1966) commemorating the 21st

anniversary of the club’s formation, was an excellent reference point.

ered that Saturday was increasingly spent ferrying kids to their ownhockey, netball or junior footy games.

Where once roster games attracted 4000 or 5000 spectators, atten-dances eventually slumped to as few as 400 or 500. In short, thelifeblood of local football was draining away. Bill Sorell, club presi-dent from 1991 until the end in 1997, knows better than anyone justhow tough those last few seasons were. ‘In the end it was hard to getpeople to stand for the committee because they knew there werefinancial problems and they didn’t want to get involved,’ he said. ‘Wehad half a dozen committeemen prepared to work their butts off, andthe Seahawks were great supporters, but the “money men” of SandyBay were more interested in sailing.’

Bob Gozzi, club president from 1982-1986 and later TFL chiefcommissioner, agreed with Sorell’s comments. ‘The 1970s were ter-rific and we got to the grand final in 1986, but that was just about thelast roll of the dice. The shops had blue and white all over them, butthat kind of passion just faded away. In the end I doubt we had 200members. The demographics had changed; there were AFL telecastsand the fact that people wouldn’t travel to Statewide League games,’he said. ‘And once Travs was sold we had nowhere to hold our func-tions apart from the clubrooms, and it was hard to get people to come

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Even the Clarence diehards acknowledged the loss of a once greatclub – standing to applaud and farewell their rivals. The Roos’ coach,Grant Fagan, a former Bay player, led his team and officials into thevisitors’ changeroom after the game to share a drink and swap mem-ories.

That gesture helped to ease the pain a little. But only a little. Clubchampion Graeme Mackey spoke for everyone when he told the gath-ering: ‘I have cried three times today, and this is the fourth. I want tothank Bill and the players who have carried the club this far.’

It is a very real measure of that strength and passion that now,almost 10 years later, the club lives on through the Sandy Bay andSouth East Players, Officials & Supporters Association, and that thesupport group, the Seahawks, continues to back junior football in thearea.

No single factor was responsible for destroying the Seagulls,though the introduction of the Statewide League in 1986 certainlyaccelerated the decline. Attendances fell and costs increased asTasmanians refused to travel to other regions for away games. Therewas no problem with the standard of football played – it was good –but it was talent that frequently played to virtually empty stands andterraces.

In a sense, the decline in the appeal of the traditional footballleagues can be traced back some 40 years before the Bay’s final game.Remember 1956 and the introduction of black and white television toAustralia just in time for the Melbourne Olympics? Who then couldhave imagined a world of live VFL and now AFL footy telecasts (incolour)? Telecasts which, particularly on a wet and cold winter’s day,offered the lure of fireside comfort rather than the chill and discom-fort of Queenborough, or KGV, or Bellerive, not to mention DevonportOval and York Park.

True, in the early days telecasts were often delayed, but thencame cable TV and the interstate champions were only a click of theremote control button from the loungeroom.

Families, which for a couple of generations had rugged up andgone to Queenborough with friends and neighbours season after sea-son, suddenly had other options, other calls on their leisure time. Amore affluent society with a car – even two – in the driveway discov-

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Club President Bob Gozzi, and Treasurer Roger Henderson, right, accept asponsorship arrangement from a Tasmanian Qantas representative.

reserves and under-age players who represented the club in its finalgame:

SeniorsB: Bailey McRae WhiteheadHB: Parnell Grant Joyce SartoriC: J Burbury DiVenuto HarrissHF: Mackey Blake ClarkF: Giles Waterworth WolakR: Strong Probert Palfreyman. Interchange: T Burbury, Donoghue. Emergencies: Leary,O’Byrne, Gavin Joyce.Best: Palfreyman, Donogohue, J Burbury, T Burbury, Probert,McRae, Strong.

Reserves: A Emmerton, M Brazier, J McIntosh, A Vince, M Steele, B Edwards, D Jestrimski, C Sutherland, M Abey, S Laird, C Beaumont, C Welling, S Marshall, D Danaher, M Grubb, D O’Byrne, B Cornish, M Leary, G Joyce, S Ling, C Backer.

Underage: D Viney, J Nichols, B Sward, D Bahr, J August, M Hunnibell, S Badcock, R Lowth, M Koumoudourus, S James,N Seewang, A Jauncey, R Dawson, R Evans, P Lane, D Taylor, O Johnson, W Chapman, S Page, B Newman, P Rule, B Phillips,S Woolley, S Turner, G Robertson, C DePaoli, N Leitch.

Proof of how much the memories of a once great football clubstill mean to so many people came on July 21, 2001, when 650 gath-ered at Wrest Point for the announcement of Sandy Bay’s top 50 play-ers and presentation of the best 25. Robert Shaw was there to cele-brate as his father, Bert, was named in the top 50. Also present wereseven men who played in the first premiership side in 1946.

As Shaw declared in his book Heart & Soul A tribute to the gameand its people – ‘That night the club that died a miserable death in1997 had found another heartbeat. Silly of us that we ever imaginedit stopping. Not while the Seagulls are on the wing. May the spiritnever die.’

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there after away games. At our last home game we had only 500 in thecrowd and by then we were regarding 750 as a good attendance.’

In hindsight it can be seen that the last chance to keep the clubalive in some form was lost when members rejected the suggestion ofa merger with Hobart. It opened the way for a club based in theKingborough region – a plan strongly favoured by the TFL commis-sioners. The club presidents had voted unanimously early in 1997 toreduce the number of Statewide teams from 11 to eight in the 1998season, and all clubs handed in their licences.

The extent of Sandy Bay’s financial woes became brutally appar-ent when it had to surrender Queenborough to Hobart City Councilbecause of a rates and charges debt of around $30,000 – a debt it wasunable to pay. The amount owed was wiped with the councilacknowledging the improvements the club had made to the groundand its facilities over more than 40 years. Thus the Seagulls werewithout a ground and had to rely on the personal guarantee of BillSorell for coach and player payments.

After the merger idea was knocked back, Sandy Bay eventuallyapplied for a joint licence with Southern Districts (the SouthernCats), but the TFL commissioners rejected this in favour of a licencefor Southern Districts alone. Thus Sandy Bay, Hobart and Launcestonwere dumped from the league. Coach Troy Clarke and many Bay play-ers transferred to the Cats, and were accompanied by Sorell’s person-al financial guarantee of $45,000.

For Sorell, who had given most of his life to Sandy Bay, it was afinal, bitter blow. Fortunately, financial arrangements between himand Football Tasmania properly addressed the matter. These days heis special events commissioner for AFL Tasmania and has continuedto manage the grand final lunch, which he first established in 1982with Graeme Mackey, Michael Elliott, Bob Purden, Nev Schofield,Graeme Loring, Margot Scales, Viv Lister and Liz Di Venuto as a majorfundraiser for Sandy Bay.

The majority of this team remain involved, with assistance fromMargot Scales, Viv Lister and Liz DiVenuto over the last 15 years,with the conduct of the function, and it retains its place as the biggestsocial event on the Tasmanian sporting calendar.

It is worth recording at this point the names of those seniors,

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took the committee onlysix months to establishitself and put a team onthe field for the opening ofthe season in May 1945.The other three clubswere North Hobart, Hobartand New Town.

Having decided thatthe Club’s colours wouldbe royal blue and white,with a white seagullacross the front of theguernsey, the next challenge was to get the kit made. Clothingcoupons were still required for retail purchases, but the committeefound a solution thanks to a Mrs Pike, of South Launceston, who hada home knitting business. She landed the order of 50 guernseys and50 pairs of socks (players to supply their own shorts). The deal cost41 pounds, 16 shillings and fivepence. It doesn’t sound much today,but the total gate for the new League’s opening round was 102pounds.

The Queenborough ground, labelled by some critics as ‘that cowpaddock’ also needed work. Bill Barwick, inaugural secretary, notedin his autobiography, Out of the Blocks, that the grounds and its facil-ities were a bit rustic. ‘Our first task was to construct a weatherboardchangeroom, 30ft by 18ft, and volunteer labour finished the job overthree or four weekends at a cost of 300 pounds for materials. MaxBennett, Roy Tait, Lionel Contencin, Harry Stevenson and Roy Davisheaded the volunteers.’

Even so, Archdeacon T J O’Donnell, the first president, thoughtit wise to appeal for some patience from supporters and oppositionfans. He told the annual general meeting in March that: ‘Patrons areasked to bear the small trials of not having shelter, but your commit-tee has agreed that it would be unreasonable to ask for more than thebare essentials at the present time, and to endeavour to make smallprovisions for the players. When the war clouds are lifted, the com-mittee hopes that construction will be such that the Queenborough

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2.

BIRTH OF THE BAY

THE SECOND WORLD WAR was near-ing its end and the Hobart communitywas looking forward to peace and theresumption of a normal lifestyle with thereturn of its service men and women,civilian life, and the resumption of foot-ball.

The game had been suspended in1942, but league members, including theformer Olympic athlete Bill Barwick, hadheld regular meetings during the recess.A decision was made to reshape the com-petition on district lines. More than 120members of the pre-war league hadjoined the services and three of the origi-nal clubs – Lefroy, Cananore and NewTown – had signalled that they wouldhave problems attempting to re-establishthemselves.

A sub-committee suggested a district league based on boundariesdefining North Hobart, Hobart, Sandy Bay and New Town, and a pub-lic meeting held at Wrest Point on 24 November, 1944, formed theSandy Bay Football Club. There were about 60 people present and thefirst annual meeting was held at the same venue on 1 March, 1945.The Wrest Point link would remain constant throughout the life ofthe Club and has continued since its demise in 1997 through theGrand Final Luncheons – a Seagulls and now AFL Tasmania high-light begun and still managed by Bay stalwart Bill Sorell.

The enthusiasm for football was huge after years of war and it

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Bill Barwick

The original Seagull jumper

and the war in Europe was finally over. A Victory Ball was held at theCity Hall (admission three shillings).

It proved to be a successful season for the Seagulls as they won10 of their 19 games, drew two, and lost the grand final against NorthHobart by 15 points. The Bay had won the final against North, but asNorth were the minor premiers they had the double chance.

‘Nunky’ Ayers won the best and fairest award, Noel Ruddock wasthe most consistent, Neil Clarke the most improved, and Col Williamsthe most serviceable. Reg Chopping and Dick Jones were the best clubmen and Keith McCarthy topped the goalkicking with 41.

No footy season was ever complete without a trip away and thehighlight for the Bay was an outing to Queenstown, where the teammatched the West Coasters’ formidable capacity for post-match relax-ation. Dick Jones and Col Williams returned to Hobart in their pyja-mas, and Keith ‘Skeeter’ McCarthy arrived back shoeless.

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ground will be the best appointed and the best playing oval inTasmania.’

Noting that club memberships were five shillings each, he saidthe main item of expenditure had been the 33 pounds spent on print-ing and stationery. ‘We have avoided extravagance, but on the otherhand have not wanted to spoil the ship for a ha’pence of tar.’

The Archdeacon discovered that running a football club did notsit well with all his parishioners. After he donated a small trophy, onedeclared that he was not putting money in the plate for theArchdeacon to give to a football club!

During the wartime recess many of the future district leagueplayers played for clubs in the Queenborough Association. Anothercompetition, the Southern State School Old Boys Association was anunder 19s group and one of its team, South East (established in 1933)provided Sandy Bay with many fine recruits. South East was effec-tively the Bay’s under 19 team in the initial years and eventuallybecame the under-age team.

A crowd of 1500 was at Queenborough to watch the Bay’s open-ing game against North Hobart on 5 May 1945. The Demons won 15.5-95 to 11.14-80. The team line-up, as published, was:

B Col Williams R Porter Dick JonesHB Noel Baker Harold ‘Nunky’ Ayers Kevin ThomsonC R Robinson Ivan Gorman Denis HawkerHF Stan Dobjeckie Reg Castles Jack RogersF Neil Clarke Noel Ruddock Keith McCarthyR Reg Chopping Bunty Bennett Eddie Barrenger19th Bill JagerEmergencies: Henry Medwin, R Purton, Clive Sherry, Guy Hopwood.

Hopwood was included in the final line-up and kicked a goal.There is an historic photograph,which was taken in front of the

club’s vertical board shed before the start of the opening match. Itshows Bill Barwick’s wife, Ita, and committeeman Harry Stevensonraising the Club flag.

Two days after the opening round, there was even greater reasonto celebrate as Germany unconditionally surrendered to the Allies

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Sandy Bay Football Club Committee of Management 1946. Back: J. Pratt, J. Rogers, K.McCarthy, D.R. Tait, D. Pratt, M. Bennett, R. Jones,

E. Pilkington. Front: T.R. Combe (Hon. Treas.), E.W. Barwick (Hon. Sec.),Major V. A. Geard (President), B. J. Thompson (Dep. Pres),

H. Stevenson (Hon. Asst. Sec.) and W. Williams.

John Chick (1950) and Rex Garwood(1948-1949).

In 1955, coached by the legendaryTerry Cashion, South East won its secondpremiership. The captain was David Joyce,who later became an outstanding defenderfor Sandy Bay.

The contribution of South East wasrecognised in Sandy Bay’s 1955 annualreport: ‘This is perhaps an appropriatetime to pay tribute to the contributionmade to Sandy Bay by the South East OldBoys. It is reasonable to say that half therecruits each year come through thisUnder 19s team.’

Some of the South East players who joined the Bay were NeilEiszele, John Cracknell, David Joyce, Bobby Holmes, Don Lahey,Barry Burrows, Des Sward, Bob Lewis, John Huxley, Bob Lahey, Brian‘Tank’ Nicholls, Kevin Tonks, Roger Henderson, Kevin Pelham andKevin Burrows.

Ben McGuire was a South East committeeman for many yearsfrom around 1940. When it changed its name to Sandy Bay Under 19sin 1962, he was named chairman. Ben was the first South East officialto be awarded life membership of the SSOBA in 1960.

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3.

THE RECRUITING GROUND

SOUTH EAST, part of the State School Old Boys Association,proved to be a great recruiting ground for Sandy Bay. The associationwas established in 1933 and South East became the under-age feederclub from 1945 onwards. The other SSOBA sides were North West,Macalburn and Buckingham.

South East officially became the Sandy Bay Under 19s team in1962. When the association ceased to exist in 1973 it was replaced bythe TANFL Thirds.

It is interesting to note a Mercury report of May 1, 1933, whichoutlined the association’s beginnings: ‘North West and South Eastmet in the first match of the SSOBA as a curtain-raiser to a seniorgame at North Hobart. The South East boys were at a disadvantage sofar as training was concerned.

‘The team had been unable to secure a ground for the purposeand many of the boys had their first kick on Saturday. The North Westboys were in better condition and this factor had a great bearing onthe result – North West 13.8 (86) to South East 3.3 (21).’

Only surnames were used in match details, but many of themappeared years later in the results of Sandy Bay games. Names suchas Frier, Pearsall, Patterson, Hopwood, Pearce, Purdon, Martin andLucas.

South East won the premiership in 1936 and over the years pro-duced a number of winners of the association’s best and fairestaward. Among them were J Dobjecki (1935), N Richardson (1936),Geoff Frier (1942), Brian Cartwright (1951) and John Cracknell (1952).Other winners of note, from other Clubs, included Ian Stewart (1961),

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Ben McGuire

Tyler won the club’s award as best afield, and Collins and Columbineeach kicked four goals.

Proof of the strength of Tasmanian football in the early postwarera was the scant coverage given to the VFL by the state’s newspapers.The Essendon-Melbourne grand final, played the same day as thestate premiership, was dismissed in five sentences plus brief scoresby The Mercury.

Nine players represented the south in intrastate matches – LanceCollins, Jack Rogers, Frank Tyler, Ernie Pilkington, Harold ‘Nunky’Ayers, Noel Ruddock, Leigh Gaunt, Bill Kingston and Tom Pearsall.Ernie Pilkington capped off a brilliant season by also winning theWilliam Leitch Medal. ‘Nunky’ Ayers’ football career was to continuelong after his playing days were over as he became a very popular TVcommentator, best known for inventing nicknames for a generation offootballers.

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4.

THE FIRST FLAG

SANDY BAY CELEBRATED 1946, the first year of peace, in themost spectacular style as it won both the league premiership and thestate premiership in only its second year of competition. Fans beganstreaming into the North Hobart Oval at 11.30am for the grand finalagainst New Town and by quarter time the attendance was a record12,500.

Half an hour before the first bounce the queues stretched morethan 300 metres. The Bay had qualified for the final by beating NorthHobart in a semi-final, then toppling the minor premiers New Townin a thrilling, high quality clash. Down eight points with five minutesto go, the side stormed home for a two-goal win (17.19-121 to 15.19-109).

New Town had the right of challenge and were favoured to gainrevenge in what proved to be a scrambly, congested affair. There wereonly two goals in it at three-quarter time, but again the Bay finishedstrongly to win 12.16-88 to 5.16-46.

Captain-coach Lance Collins, recruited from Carlton the previousyear, kicked three goals and ‘Observer’ of The Mercury named ErniePilkington as best on the ground. Other players to go well were cen-treman Eric Zchech, Ian Westell, Harold ‘Nunky’ Ayers, Leigh Gaunt,Danny Quinn. Jack Rogers, Eddie Barrenger, Ross Thompson andMurray Columbine.

The following week the team took on North Launceston at NorthHobart and won the state title by six points (13.13-91 to 12.13-85).The game was very close all-day, but rover Frank Tyler could almosthave won the game off his own boot in the first quarter. He had 11shots on goal and kicked 3.5 – all but one point of the team’s score.

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Jack Roger, Lance Collins and Ernie Pilkington

5.

GORDON BOWMAN

FEW FOOTBALLERS have had a longer and more distinguishedcareer than Gordon Bowman who began playing school football inMelbourne in 1936 and quit in 1973, aged 46.

He was recruited as player-coach of the Bay in 1952, havingalready played six seasons for Melbourne and two with Hawthorn.

An accountant, he had been transferred to Hobart by his employ-er, a national Australian company, and was paid 15 pounds a week tocaptain-coach the club. ‘Bert Lucas, formerly of South Melbourne, gotthe same the year before, so I later sought a raise. Ken Austin was akind president but he resisted my suggestion, saying that I wasn’tthere for the money,’ Bowman dryly commented.

His arrival was a huge boost to TFL football and he took SandyBay to three grand finals, winning the 1952 flag, and runners-up in1953 and 1958. He was transferred back to Melbourne by his employ-er at the end of the 1958 season. During his time with the Bay heplayed 119 club games, represented the TFL and Tasmania, and cap-tained the state side in 1954 and 1957. He twice won the club’s bestand fairest award (1955 and 1957), the Lefroy Medal in 1954, and wasrunner-up in the William Leitch Medal count in 1954.

Today, Gordon Bowman lives in retirement near Hobart and canreflect on a career which saw him play in three VFL grand finals, andcoach in three states.

Asked to rate his biggest thrills he lists being appointed captainof Tasmania in 1954 and winning the Lefroy Medal for best playeragainst the Australian Amateurs. Being named in Sandy Bay’s best25, as well as the Mitcham (Vic) and Mayne (Qld) teams of the cen-tury were others.

Then there was his feat aged 41 in 1968 when he kicked 93 goalsfor Newtown in Sydney to win the NSW competition’s goal kicking

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A football team is more than just the players, a fact acknowl-edged in the review of 1946 which paid tribute to the trainers – BillNewitt, Jim Pelham, Max Newitt, Ernie Smith, B Moody and H Boon.The boot-studders were Theo Hopwood and Jack Ward.

Whoever prepared the toast list for the celebration dinner had arich sense of humour. It listed six toasts and responses (the first toKing George V1), and the program declared that ‘Speakers are askedto play the short game.’

The menu, which listed roast turkey and york ham; roast lamb,pork and beef; cauliflower, baked and boiled potatoes, green peas andSwedes; fruit salad and wine trifle; was prefaced by a quotation fromLord Byron:

All human history attests,That happiness for man – the hungry sinner

Since Eve ate apples, much depends on dinner.

The same menu ended with the heartening note: ‘HeavyRefreshments Follow.’ The first of the club’s premiership celebrationsmust have been a wonderful night.

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6.

REX GEARD’S TRIUMPH

REX GEARD, one of Sandy Bay’s best ever players, capped his foot-ball career by coaching the 1964 premiership team which beat NewNorfolk by 12 points.

Rex grew up in Gretna and played for Upper Derwent in 1945and 1946. The story is that New Norfolk approached his father, Les,to discuss signing him. The father left the decision to his son with thecomment: ‘You could be a big fish in a little pond if you go to theEagles. Well, son, what’s your answer?’

Rex responded that he thought he would rather try to be a big fish

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award. Bowman is also proudof the fact that in his last sea-son, 1973, his three sons –Michael, Leigh and Russell –all played beside him in theNewtown senior side for onematch.

In all he played close to500 matches and coached pre-miership sides in Tasmania,Queensland and NSW. He wasin charge of the Queenslandstate side for several seasons,and they were beaten only oncein that time.

Bowman began as a centre-man but moved to the forwardline later in his career. His firstseason at Sandy Bay, 1952, pro-duced the dream result of apremiership with an 18 pointswin over Hobart. His joy wasshared by the great TerryCashion, achieving his first

premiership win in the twilight of his career.The hardest opponents he faced in the TFL were Les McClements

and Stuart Spencer of Clarence, and North Hobart’s John Leedham.His list of star team-mates is headed by Cashion, and Norm Smith andJack Mueller, of Melbourne.

Murray Steele was another he rated very highly. GordonBowman’s final game with Sandy Bay was the 1958 grand final whichGlenorchy won narrowly. It was also the last game for another of theclub’s great champions, Ian Westell.

Bowman’s sporting interests today are bowls and golf, andwatching telecasts of some AFL games, particularly the Friday nightand Saturday night matches.

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Gordon Bowman leads Ian Westellonto North Hobart Oval on the way to

the 1952 flag.

Rex Geard, left, and team members David Jones, John Edwards, Roger Steeleand Wayne Denehey plot the grand final strategy at training.

and kept him goal-less. Hudson was moved off Flint and scored a goalin the last quarter. Dale says Ian Rumney knows who Hudson kickedthat goal on!

Other highlights of Flint’s career included representing the TFLand Tasmania six times (he captained Tasmania in 1965. Add to thatthe club’s best and fairest in 1961, and the Weller Arnold Medal in1961 and 1964.

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in a big pond. Thus he joined the Seagulls and played for five seasonsbefore joining VFL team Richmond in 1954. After two years at theTigers with the legendary Jack Dyer he coached McKinnon in theFederal League before returning to Sandy Bay in 1956.

In all, he played 206 games, representing Tasmania seven timesand the TFL on numerous occasions. One of the highlights was hisbrilliant performance in Tasmania’s epic victory over the VFL in 1960when he won the Lefroy Medal for being the best Tasmanian player.

In 2001, Rex was named in the Bay’s best 25. He was appointednon-playing coach from 1963-1966 and delivered a premiership inthe second season. New Norfolk, the club which had missed out onhim way back in 1947, finished on top of the ladder in 1964 anddefeated Sandy Bay in the second semi-final.

A crowd of 20,775 saw the Seagulls turn the tables in the grandfinal.

One of Rex Geard’s closest friends was Bay stalwart Bill Pearce.‘Geardy was a terrific player with a fierce will to win, and he was agood coach who knew what he wanted,’ Pearce said. ‘He was a realman’s man.

‘Rex was not a tall ruckmanbut he possessed a good leap andgreat courage.’

Dale Flint, who captained the1964 premiership team, remembersRex as probably the best club manand team player he ever playedfootball with. ‘And he was anastute coach who made sometelling moves in the 1964 grandfinal.’

Flint, who was also selected asone of the best 25, was recruitedfrom Wynyard in 1960 and went onto play 114 wonderful games. Inthe 1964 grand final he played full-back against New Norfolk on PeterHudson up to three quarter time

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Dale Flint

Association if they were short. During university holidays they usu-ally were.

With the introduction of district football in 1945 he reported toSandy Bay as a 17-year-old and played at full forward in the firstmatch against North Hobart. ‘I played half a season there then movedto the centre, apart from a season at centre half-back. Eventually Ibecame a second ruck or ruck-rover. In our second game (he playedall 19 in that debut year), our coach Jack Rogers played centre half-forward on New Town’s Harold Loring. Rogers said to me at half timeto take over as he had run Loring around and tired him out.’ Rogersmust have done a good job because young Ruddock finished withnine goals.

The following year the Bay won its first premiership and

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7.

BUILDING A CLUB

NOEL RUDDOCK AND GRAEME MACKEY are two men who per-sonify the spirit of the Sandy Bay Football Club, and between them isa heritage which covers every year of the club’s existence. NoelRuddock, then 17, played in every game during the inaugural 1945season and went on to play 242 games in a 16-year career spread overthree decades, and later served 11 years on the committee.

Graeme Mackey, the kid from the Channel who wanted to playfor North Hobart, was convinced to go to Queenborough in 1967 andthe rest, as they say is history – a record 269 senior games, vice-cap-tain, captain and captain coach, played in eight grand finals for fivepremierships, twice runner-up in the William Leitch Medal, TFL andTasmanian player and also led the state team several times. Afterretiring he was elected to the committee in 1983, became deputypresident the following year, and in 1993 president of the PastPlayers and Officials Association.

And the Mackey name was there when it all ended at BelleriveOval in August 1997 – one of his sons, Craig, played in the last game.

Noel Ruddock, who on May 3, 1958, became the first player toreach 200 senior games, has to be the greatest bargain Sandy Bay evermade. He played his entire career of 242 games and never receivedany payment. Not even 10 shillings. ‘I was entitled to two pounds amatch when I started but because of my involvement in athletics Icould not accept money without losing my amateur status,’ he said.

Ruddock, who grew up in York St, Sandy Bay, first started foot-ball at Princes St Primary where he also dabbled in soccer. Once atHutchins the game became more serious and during the early waryears he would play with the school team on Saturday mornings,then offer to turn out with University in the Queenborough

20

Noel Ruddock applies a solid hip and shoulder to a Hobart opponent asteam mate David Brammall runs in to support.

ple of others who couldn’t kick for nuts,’ Mackey laughed.He was reluctant to nominate the best players he had teamed

with because of the fear of missing somebody out, but rates MichaelElliott as the most unheralded. ‘He didn’t get to wear the Big T and Idon’t know why because he was a phenomenal player. Then you hadDoran, John Kuipers, Bill Butler and lots of others.’

As to opponents there were plenty. Men like Peter Bessell, GarryLinton, Robbie Dykes Mick Emery, and Malcolm Bugg. His coaches atSandy Bay were Ray Giblett, Rod Olsson and Paul Sproule. ‘Rodbrought something of the VFL style to Tasmania and he made us thefittest club in the competition by far. I always got on well with himand respected him although training on a Sunday morning after cele-brating on the Saturday night was a bit of a drag – particularly thelong runs up to the Globe and back. Some of the blokes used to hidein the university and pick the run up on the way back. That could getyou 20 extra laps on the track,’ he laughed.

Paul Sproule’s coaching approach was completely different (‘he

23


Ruddock knows of at least six veterans of that era who are still around– himself, Len Alexander, Leigh Gaunt, Bill Kingston, MurrayColumbine and Geoff Frier.

He has no doubt as to who was the best footballer he ever saw.‘Terry Cashion was just amazing. He was a rover with strong arms andwrists who could mark like a tall man. Gordon Bowman was anothergreat player; he used everything he had and his approach was similarto that of Rod Olsson.’ Others to impress him included MikeClennett, Ian ‘Stumpy’ Westell, Nunky Ayers, one-time Richmondplayer Eric Zchech, Murray Steele and Graeme Mackey (‘very much aBowman type’).

Among opposing players were Rex Garwood (‘one of the best’)and Stuart Spencer. ‘Gordon Bowman asked me to tag Spencer oneday. Oh God, you could be within a couple of feet of him and he’dstill beat you to the ball.’

As for the demise of the club in 1997 it hurt him then, and it stilldoes. ‘It was devastating and I have little interest in football now.However, I’m still a very anti black and white person,’ Ruddocklaughed.

As a youngster Graeme Mackey was always a North Hobart andMelbourne supporter, and wanted to play for North’s under 19s. TheBay refused him a permit, so he went to Franklin for a few gamesbefore eventually joining North Hobart in 1967. Despite only playing11 games he was runner-up in the best and fairest award and was partof the premiership side.

There was no way the Bay committee was going to let him escapea second time so during the off-season coach Ray Giblett and formerstar Bryan Bowden came calling. They convinced him (definitely nopermit) to switch to Queenborough which he did. ‘Being a boy fromthe bush and Taroona High I felt a bit out of it for the first month orso,’ Mackey said. He wanted to quit the club, but Bowden talked himinto staying. His first senior game against Clarence when he did wellagainst Clarence defender Kevin Palmer was the turning point.

‘I played half-forward then centre half-forward early on mainlybecause they didn’t have anyone else,’ he said. ‘Kerry Doran was cen-tre half-back and he was one of the finest kicks you would ever comeacross, so that made it a bit easier. Then he left and there were a cou-

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Graeme Mackey, right, with Brian Orr at training.

8.

THE TRAVELLERS REST

SANDY BAY’S BUSINESS ENTERPRISES, which included a pub,The Travellers Rest Hotel, and a butcher’s shop, captured the attention ofinterstate newspapers in 1973. The Herald in Melbourne reported onJune 27 that the club, unbeaten after 11 games, had bought a butchershop in Lower Sandy Bay. The article was headed: ‘Tas club in fortheir chop.’

The Mercury sportswriter Noel Moore had broken the story sev-eral days before, under the headline: ‘Seagulls buy a cut of the meatmarket.’ Secretary Michael Wright and manager Tony Sward werephotographed with a tray of prime pork chops. Noel Moore warmedto the theme with his opening paragraph ‘Magpie mince, Tiger steaks,Roo patties, Demon dogs, Eagle legs … take your pick, the Seagullswill have it.’

The butcher shop idea came from Wright who said the club hadhad its eye on the business for three years. Sadly the venture was

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played more on the mind’). ‘We were all around 25 or 26 or so andwere very fit – if you are not fit at that age you never will be. Sproulewas also a very good tactician and we won a couple of grand finalswhen playing only one ruckman,’ he said.

But the overall reason for the strength of the club was the fact thegroup – including the committee and trainers – was so united. ‘Wewent everywhere together, and with the wives and girlfriends aswell,’ he said. ‘You couldn’t move at Travs on a Saturday night and ifyou had had a good game you would find someone pushing a $20note into your kick.’ That was big money given that he was receiving$25 a match plus petrol money to get to training. ‘There were so manygood people at the club; blokes like ‘Dooie Turner’, the best rubdownman in the business; Bob Case, Reg Maizey, Charlie Anderson, BennyMcGuire and Billy Pearce.’ The bonding continued into the off seasonas many of the player’s used to turn out for United in the City CricketAssociation. ‘It was the way football was then; it isn’t like that anymore.’

Mackey was convinced from the outset that the Statewide Leaguewould be a disaster because Tasmanians would never travel aroundthe State for games. All that was achieved, he said, was to destroythree good regional competitions. He worries that terribly lopsidedresults in some of the leagues and associations will further damagethe game in Tasmania.

Mackey’s football career, at least the coaching role, got an inter-national extension last year when he was appointed assistant coachof the Boston Demons against the New York Magpies in New York.His son, Scott, now living in Boston, is the Demons’ president andcoach and recruited Mackey senior during his visit to the US.Naturally, the Magpies lost.

Reflecting on his TFL career, he has only one regret and that isthat the Bay did not win the 1973 grand final against Hobart – the onethat got away. On the other hand he is proud of the 1971 win overClarence. ‘We were the complete underdogs that year,’ he said.

Mackey is also proud and delighted that the past players andsupporters association remains so strong almost 10 years after the lastgame. ‘Everyone is still passionate about Sandy Bay. May the spiritnever die,’ he said.

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retary, told Richards that it had been bought to provide revenue forthe club. ‘We’re not Collingwood or Carlton with thousands of mem-bers. We’ve only got 500 financial members. But we have got a goodfollowing and we thought the crowds who come to our home gamesmight just as well buy a beer from us as anybody else. We get a verygood trade on Saturday nights, and, with the University close by, aworthwhile trade most other nights. It’s worked out very well. We’redoing alright.’

Things were certainly looking very good at the time and Richardsadded that the Bay was strongly favoured to win its third premiershipin a row. ‘You could say it has hit the jackpot,’ he said.

The property had been bought from Harold Groom after threemonths of negotiations. Up-front negotiations on behalf of the com-mittee were primarily conducted by Bob Lewis with assistance fromMichael Wright. Bob’s knowledge from his involvement in the realestate industry proved invaluable in the discussions and in preparingthe financial package.

The purchase arrangements were considered by the committeeand accepted enthusiastically by president Ken Austin and his com-mittee.

The first manager was Graham Roulston; the bar manager wasJim Martin; and the inaugural chairman of directors for the owners,the Sandy Bay Football Club, was Doug Palfreyman. Directors overthe years included Ken Austin, Bob Lewis, Bob Purden, MichaelWright, Don Carter, Bill Andrews, Gordon Bowman, Mick Hinmanand Bob Gozzi. Doug Palfreyman was succeeded as chair by GordonBowman (three years). Bob Lewis then took charge until the sale in1986.

Lou Richards’ estimate of a $200,000 purchase price was way off.In fact, it cost $300,000 and was obtained on an interest-only basis.Travs remained part of the club until 1986 when it was sold becauseof concerns that the annual profit of around $20,000 was insufficientto fund further improvements likely to be required under new licens-ing regulations. Bob Gozzi, then club president, said recently that theclub cleared the $300,000 debt and gained a surplus of $220,000 fromthe sale. The plan was for that money to be invested to provide anincome stream, but increasing costs soon swallowed it.

27


unsuccessful despite such specials as three pounds of pocket steakfor $1.99, lean beef mince at 45 cents a lb, and rolled brisket for 48cents a lb. Tony Sward recalls that there were two or three goodmonths then business fell away and it was sold within about 12months.

However, the Melbourne Sun footy columnist Lou Richards andhis ghost writer Tom Prior were mightily impressed that the Bay alsoowned a pub – the Travellers Rest, and said so in a major article inThe Sun’s sports pages on May 4, 1973. Lou told his readers that thepub had been bought three years before for about $200,000 –‘on fan-tastically friendly terms to be paid in 15 years.’ Lou, in those daysowner of the famous Phoenix Hotel in Flinders St, Melbourne, was aman who could appreciate a smart buy. He reported that Travs offeredsingle accommodation with breakfast for $9 (doubles $13), and thatthere were plans to add 28 motel-style units.

Michael Wright, who was manager of Travs, as well as club sec-

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Secretary Michael Wright and manager Tony Sward at the Bay’s butchery.

to accept the offer were that Ihad a high regard for Donand was very impressed thatthe club had recently boughtthe Travellers Rest. I thoughtthis showed business acu-men and foresight and that Iwas dealing with forward-thinking people.’

The contract for the newcaptain-coach was $4000 ayear, but there were hasslesalong the way given thatHawthorn would not grant aclearance. The Bay said thatin that case they would liketo negotiate a lower paymentif he was forced to be a non-playing coach. Olsson stoodhis ground, saying he wasmaking a total commitmentto the club and expected thesame in return. He won the argument and the coaching contract wassigned. But the fight for the clearance had only just begun.

Hawthorn demanded a transfer fee subject to certain conditions.It is believed the Hawks were keen to sign Graeme Mackay andMichael Elliott as part of the deal. The Sandy Bay committee servedthe first of six applications for a clearance in January, 1970.Numerous meetings and phone calls failed to gain an outcome.Hawthorn, in an attempt to block any clearance, lobbied other VFLclub delegates to revoke a rule which allowed players 28 and over,and with 100 games or more, a right of appeal against a refusal toclear. The Hawks were successful, thus blocking any personal appealby Olsson.

After six months of protracted negotiations, club president KenAustin went to Melbourne and finally broke the deadlock. Austinsaid the Bay was surprised by Hawthorn’s attitude, particularly their

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9.

THE OLLSON YEARS

THE ARRIVAL FROM HAWTHORN OF ROD OLSSON as captain-coach in 1970 began the club’s golden decade which was to producefive TFL premierships and eight successive grand final appearances.The decision to pursue Olsson, then vice-captain of the Hawks, cameabout by chance, and would have failed had Hawthorn’s committeebacked a plea to establish a gymnasium.

Olsson, coach John Kennedy, and captain David Parkin decidedat the end of the 1969 VFL season that Hawthorn needed a gymnasi-um to improve fitness and recovery. Olsson, who had suffered a seri-ous knee injury four seasons earlier, had long been convinced of theimportance of gym work and offered to research what was neededand how much it would cost. His estimate, based on former Hawkstar Brendan Edwards’ gym was $3000. Today it wouldn’t be a matchpayment for an average AFL player (Olsson was being paid $25 aweek at the time), but it was too much for the committee which saidno. That refusal and an amazing coincidence brought Sandy Bay intothe picture. Olsson had a friend who was between houses – one hadbeen sold, and the new place was three weeks from completion.

He invited Trevor and Joan Smith to stay at his home until theycould move into theirs.

Joan was the sister of Faye, wife of Bay supporter and commit-teeman Don Carter. The word got back to Queenborough and Donasked if he was interested in the coaching job. Olsson at first refused,but the disappointment that Hawthorn wasn’t prepared to back JohnKennedy, and wasn’t interested in increasing the vice-captain’s $25match payment caused a re-think.

‘I met Don Carter and John Oldmeadow in Melbourne then flewdown to Hobart to talk to the committee and decide whether I want-ed to take on the challenge,’ Olsson said. ‘The factors which led me

28

Rod Olsson

es by varnishing the floor,and Jack Allen, one of theclub’s deputy patrons, wasanother great help.’

Olsson dryly noted thatsome people saw the gym asa negative given that itspelled the end of the famous‘pleasant Sunday mornings.’But the name of the game atthe beginning of the decadewas professionalism, fitnessand discipline. And it paidoff. The seniors won the 1971flag, beating Clarence by ninepoints, and then going on towin the state premiership.

Another member of theBay families, Robert Shaw,made his debut in the seniors and later went on to play for Essendonbefore turning to coaching. Leigh Pilkington gained life membership

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inability to see the benefit ofhaving a high profile ex-play-er establishing goodwill inTasmania on their behalf.

The Melbourne Sun,quoting Austin on June 3,1970, reported that the clear-ance fee was $1000.However, on the followingday the Truth newspaperclaimed the Hawks hadreceived $3000. Olsson’s firstgame for the Bay was inround 10 on June 6 againstHobart. The Bay kicked 19goals that day and went on tohave its most successful sea-son for years, reaching thepreliminary final and losingto New Norfolk by eightpoints.

The coach’s legendary commitment to physical fitness soonbecame apparent. Although Hawthorn had missed the chance he wasdetermined that John Kennedy’s philosophy regarding fitness was theway to go. ‘He taught me that one area to work on was the one whichdidn’t require skill, just commitment and discipline and desire. Themessage was get fitter and stronger than the opposition because itmeant that even if you were not as talented the fitness would carryyou through 100 minutes when the others were tiring.’

Olsson asked the committee to install a basic gym but was toldby secretary Michael Wright that it could not be afforded. Olsson was-n’t about to accept a second knockback following his Glenferrie Ovalexperience, so he sought permission to raise the money himself. ‘Theresult was magnificent and Bob Purden did a fantastic job, and we gotsupport from outside the club as well. Barry Foster, later president ofNorth Hobart, put in $500 which was a lot of money in those days,’he said. ‘Bob Purden and Bill Andrews provided the finishing touch-

30


Olsson working out with fitness adviserBrendan Edwards.

The name of the Olsson game was professionalism.

Bill Andrews and Bob Purden

Newton, Rod Adams, John Gallus, Ken Hogan and Victor DiVenuto. Itlost the grand final to North Hobart, going down by 28 points.Olsson’s final season was as non-playing coach in 1975 and it pro-duced another grand final appearance. But discipline problems and acasual attitude to training by some players led the coach to declare hewould not seek reappointment in 1976.

The issue flared after a poor start to the season and the failure ofChris Saunders, Neville Miller, Des James and John Kuipers to attenda compulsory Sunday training run. ‘We had had a big win over NorthHobart and were facing Clarence the following week,’ Olsson said.‘Clarence had beaten us in our last two encounters and the non-appearance at training was the last thing we needed.

‘I had no intention of playing the four and fortunately receivedgreat support from the match committee. The players were droppedand the youngsters we brought in rose to the occasion with the rest ofthe team. It was one of the club’s finest wins (11.9-75 to 6.13-49) con-sidering the circumstances,’ he said. Olsson’s patience again snappedat another training session not long afterwards. He called the playerstogether and accused some of being slack and of considering them-

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when he racked up 100games, and Kerry Doranjoined him when helined up against Latrobein the state final.

Chris Saunders, therugged centre half-for-ward who was to go onand play 206 games,made his debut the fol-lowing season andplayed in all 19 games.He kicked five goals inhis first match. A fabu-lous year climaxed withboth the seniors and

reserves winning back to back premierships. The seniors beat NewNorfolk by 43 points, and the reserves hung on to down Glenorchy bythree points.

Olsson’s fourth season in charge, 1973, was the one that got away.Having been unbeaten throughout the season, the team lost the grandfinal to Hobart 10.5-65 to 11.19-85. The reserves also missed out on atrio of premierships.

‘The four previous times we played Hobart that season our win-ning margins were 66 points, 70, 51 and 85,’ Olsson said.‘Unfortunately, everyone was telling us not to be over-confident in thefinal with the result that we went out to save the game rather thanwinning it. Hindsight is a wonderful thing but completely uselesswhen it comes to reflecting upon grand final losses,’ he said.

Even so, the decision to clear Stewart Palfreyman to New Norfolkat the end of 1972, still rankles. ‘To me the Sandy Bay Football Cluband the Palfreyman family were synonomous. It was just unthinkablethat he be cleared to play against us.’ The decision almost certainlycost the Bay the 1973 flag. A bright spot was that Olsson won theWilliam Leitch Medal for the second time in three seasons.

The club had another good season in 1974, despite losing sever-al players including Kerry Doran, John Mundy, John Leary, Bob

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Olsson with the 1971 premiership trophy.

1971 was a fabulous year for the Bay.

10.

THREE IN A ROW

PAUL SPROULE’S RETURN TO TASMANIA after a 148-gamecareer with Essendon and Richmond produced a dream result for thenovice captain-coach and his new club, Sandy Bay. It also climaxedthe greatest decade in Sandy Bay’s history as he led the team to threesuccessive premierships – 1976, 1977 and 1978.

The club which had finished third in 1970 then reeled off eightsuccessive grand final appearances and five flags (the first two withRod Olsson in 1971 and 1972). The availability of Sproule afterOlsson left at the end of 1975, was a huge plus. Before going to theVFL Sproule had played with Hobart until 1966.

‘My return was a family move,’ Sproulesaid. ‘In fact in my last season withRichmond I had been living in Hobart andtraining here, and flying to Melbourne forgames. Someone heard that I was planning toreturn full-time and I was approached bySandy Bay (I can’t remember by whom) andaccepted the offer.’

Sproule acknowledged that he hadinherited an excellent and dedicated group ofplayers, and that there was strong off-fieldsupport from people like Bob Purden, DrMike Stanton, and trainers Bob Case andTony Cole. New players such as MichaelSeddon, Steve Mount and Tony Martyn werea further boost. Among the outstanding play-ers were Graeme Mackey and Des James, whohe describes as exceptional, plus Nifty Millerand Michael Elliott. John Kuipers, who

35

selves special. Then he dropped the bombshell, telling them he hadalready informed the club he would be standing down at the end ofthe season. ‘You can still make the finals, but it is up to you,’ he said.

Olsson then handed over to captain Graeme Mackey and told theteam to take it from there. The team responded and went on to playGlenorchy in the grand final.

These days Rod Olsson is not bitter about the problems in 1975as he reflects upon a great group of people, both players and sup-porters. ‘Sandy Bay was a club of character’, he said. ‘I really lovedeverything about Sandy Bay and its people and it is of great satisfac-tion that Paul Sproule was able to go on and win three successive pre-mierships. It is a great credit to him and thoroughly deserved by theplayers.’

Now retired on the Gold Coast, Olsson follows the AFL closelyand is delighted whenever any Sandy Bay people give him a callwhile holidaying up there. He also attends the Sandy Bay Past Playerfunctions whenever possible.

Rod Olsson established a magnificent record in his six seasons atQueenborough – 96 games, two premierships (1971-1972), twoWilliam Leitch Medals (1971, 1973), a state premiership (1971), TFLand state representative twice, captain-coach 1970-1974, non-playingcoach (1975).

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Paul Sproule

ferent game to the one he experienced, though the goal-kicking is nobetter. ‘The players today are full-time footballers and I have somereservations as to whether I could have coped with that,’ he said. ‘Ithink I would have become very bored. In my day, we had a mix ofpeople in a team – teachers, lawyers, carpenters, doctors, unem-ployed. Now there’s the robot model where everyone is of the samementality. That’s why some have problems when they go awaytogether; they’re all like robots, all in together.’

Reflecting on his three triumphant seasons at Sandy Bay, he mod-estly said that he didn’t face many challenges given the strength ofthe club, the depth of the team, and the positive response to hiscoaching methods. He said he regarded the group as perhaps thestrongest ever assembled by a TFL club. In the early 1980s, the clubunderwent a rebuilding phase during which the standout playersincluded Des James, Peter Dimartino, Grant Jackson, John Mundy,Lance Spaulding and Richard Squires.

Michael Elliott, the only Sandy Bay player to kick more than 100goals in a season (122 in 1978), was perfectly placed to evaluate boththe 1970s premiershipcoaches, Olsson andSproule. He was an 18-year-old when RodOlsson arrived fromHawthorn determined todevelop Kennedy-typefitness and endurance inthe team. ‘The attitudebefore Rod arrived wasthat training was fairlyminimal; a lot of hardwork wasn’t expected,’he said. ‘Then the wholeworld changed, not justfor Sandy Bay but forTassie football in gener-al.

‘He was ahead of his

37


rapidly progressed fromaverage to a state player,was another. ‘There werealso some good juniorswaiting to come through,and because we had somany experienced peo-ple we could afford toplay some youngsters.’

Sproule had playedunder a number of VFLcoaches – John Coleman,Jack Clarke and John Birtat Essendon, and TomHafey at Richmond. Hisown coaching philoso-phy was simple. ‘Workhard, help each other,and move the ball onquickly. You can’t afford

to be complicated, even in today’s football,’ he said. ‘Players can’tcope with too many rules.

‘The squad I got was very good. They were fit and I cut down thevolume of training and so got them sharper and more on the ball.’ Theresults were immediate and ongoing.

In his first season, 1976, the Bay thumped Glenorchy 21.10-136to 5.9-39 in the grand final – a stunning reversal of the previous grandfinal when Glenorchy won by 39 points (ironically their total score in1976).

Sandy Bay were just as dominant in 1977 scoring a 19.9-123 to3.14-32 triumph against the same club. They met in their fourth grandfinal in succession in 1978, and the Bay collected their treble, scoring11.14-80 to 9.15-69. It was a feat not equalled in the TFL since beforeWorld War Two. The team had completed the season with only oneloss in the roster games.

Sproule took a year off in 1979, then coached Hobart in 1980 and1981. He has no doubt that today’s AFL football is a completely dif-

36


John Kuipers and Des James.

Michael Elliott and Rod Olsson.

11.

THE COUNTDOWN

BETWEEN THEM LANCE SPAULDING AND PAUL BURNELLplayed more than 350 games for Sandy Bay and their careers spannedthe last two decades of its existence. Spaulding’s 200 games wereplayed between 1979 and 1989, and Burnell’s 151 from 1988 to 1997.

Lance Spaulding has never forgotten the day he gained a clear-ance from Hobart to Sandy Bay, nor his first game with the club’sUnder 19s.

‘I was a schoolboy at St Virgil’s in 1977 and I broke my leg play-ing school footy the day the clearance came through,’ he said. Theinjury set the young backman back a year, but he fronted up for thefirst game in the Under 19s in 1978 and dislocated his shoulder.

Life improved after that as he joined a team still blessed withsome of the big names from the earlier 1970s triumphs – GraemeMackey, Michael Elliot, Chris Saunders, John Kuipers, Pat Dermoudy,Des James and others.

It was a wonderful team for a youngster to join and Spauldingretains great memories of playing down back with the likes ofMackey, Saunders and James. In 1984, he won the best and fairest, anachievement he still cherishes given the talent in the side at the time.

The disappointment was losing the 1986 grand final toGlenorchy. ‘The disappointment is more about missing out, becauseyou don’t get many chances at a flag,’ he said. ‘But I can’t say we wereunlucky because they had a very good team with blokes like DannyLing, John Klug, Andy Lovell and Robbie Dykes.’

Lance Spaulding is proud of the fact that he coached theReserves to the premiership in 1994. He also coached the Seniors inthe following two years before again taking over the Reserves again inthe final season.

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time and he saw potential in his young side. We trained two morn-ings a week and three nights, and it was intensive with a lot of run-ning, particularly long sprints. Our bodies built up and Rod set astandard which it took other clubs a few years to catch up to,’ Elliottsaid. ‘Rod set goals and expected us to achieve them. He was the mostdetermined man I have ever met.

‘Paul Sproule was a completely different proposition, and a dif-ferent personality. He was a fairly inspirational speaker and he couldswitch minds on with his speeches and his knowledge. He had theability to convey the message to his players. With his playing back-ground at Essendon and Richmond he was the right man at the righttime. But Rod changed the course of football.’

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never forget Graeme Mackey or Tony Martyn,’ he said. ‘Tony wasprobably the best player I saw in those days.’

During his own playing career, in which he achieved the amaz-ing feat of winning four successive best and fairests, he wasimpressed by team-mates such as Graham Osborne (‘he taught mehow to put my body on the line’), Nigel Palfreyman (‘the most skilfuland talented player’), Nick Probert, Andy Bennett (‘he led by exam-ple’), Grant Joyce, Peter Di Venuto and Michael McGregor.

The highlights of his career were many: the Under 17 premier-ship in 1987, the Reserves flag in 1989, Seniors finals campaigns in1990 and 1994; club captain 1991-1995, those four consecutive bestand fairest awards, and being named a member of the club’s top 25.

The disappointments were never winning a Senior premiership,not being around in the magical 1970s and, of course, the demise ofthe football club.

After leaving the Bay he coached Hutchins Old Boys in 1999 and2000.

The greatest chal-lenge he faced as captainwas trying to mould acohesive and competi-tive team. ‘We didn’thave the money or theresources at our disposalto entice or encourageplayers so we had tobuild an environmentwhereby the playersenjoyed being aroundthe club,’ he said. ‘Thiswas achieved by the cluband match committeesworking together to pro-vide this sort of atmos-phere. Too many timesin football these twogroups tend to pull in

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His great career was brought to an end, not by injury or loss ofform, but by the demands of operating a milk delivery business – anoccupation that often spells 11 or 12 hour shifts kicking off around10pm. In fact, he pulled the plug at the start of the 1989 season byswitching to St Virgil’s in the Amateurs. But after half a dozen gameshe began to miss Sandy Bay and its comradeship and community, sohe returned. His 200th game coincided with the last roster game of1989. ‘It wasn’t planned; it just happened,’ he said. But it was the per-fect ending.

Coaching kept him a part of the club right through to the end, andhe has since been assistant coach of the Tassie Devils for five years.

The sadness of Sandy Bay’s last game at Bellerive in 1997remains with him today. ‘I was there that horrible day; it was a sur-real atmosphere,’ Spaulding said.

He likes to think that Sandy Bay Football Club could revive oneday and is buoyed by the strength of the junior football club.

Paul Burnell had always wanted to play for the Bay and joinedthe Under 17s as a 15-year-old in 1985. As a kid, he attended homegames at Queenborough so he could see his heroes in action. ‘I will

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Shane Williams, left, Lance Spaulding and Ross Burns.

Paul Burnell at full throttle for Tasmania.

he was 18 before playing in a thirds competition in Broken Hill.He coached the Bay to third place in 1988 and returned to the

club in 1991 and 1992 before retiring following a serious injury. In areview of his TFL career he named Bill Sorell as the best match man-ager any coach could wish for.

Players who impressed him included Michael Seddon, RickyDolliver, Lance Spaulding, Ross Burns, John Mundy. Tim Maxwell,Peter Crowe, Trent Nicholls, Darrin Pritchard, Chris Fagan, PatDermoudy, Gary Henderson and Ambrose McDonald.

As for his greatest satisfaction, that was moulding a very diversegroup of players from a variety of backgrounds into a solid playingunit.

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different directions, but we were able to maintain a competitive andcooperative playing group and club,’ he said.

Paul Burnell has no doubt what helped kill Sandy Bay. It was theStatewide League which triggered a sharp decline in attendances, andleft Queenborough without a game for two or three weeks at a time.

‘I can remember going to games in the early 1980s and beingunable to get a seat. That’s the way it was. I worked with a fellow whotold me that his family used to go to the ground at 9am to make sureof a seat.’

Burnell had a knee reconstruction in 1996 which effectivelyended his career, attended the last game at Bellerive in August, 1997,and has never forgotten the emotion of the day and the sense of loss.He assisted coach Troy Clarke that day and was in the rooms beforethe match. ‘It was an eerie feeling and hard to believe that it was theend,’ he said. ‘Past players like Graeme Mackey, Tony Martyn andJohn Kuipers were there, and Mackey was walking around shakinghands with all the players while tears streamed down his face. It wasthen that it hit me that it was all over.’

Burnell, the father of three children – two of them boys – is coachof the Sandy Bay Under 9s and is saddened that so many terrificyoung footballers give the game away after leaving the juniorsbecause there is no clear pathway to a top level club.

He clings to the hope that one day the Sandy Bay Football Clubwill be revived and that he will be able to take his boys to a game.

‘It is great shame for them, the Sandy Bay Junior Football Club,and the local community,’ he said. ‘There are 300 boys at the club

playing football from the Under 8s to theUnder 17s, and they won four premier-ships last season. When I’m in the roomsat Queenborough with the juniors it stillfeels like home to me.’

The last Sandy Bay side to play in aTFL grand final was the 1986 team cap-tained and coached by the former SouthAdelaide, Hawthorn and St Kilda playerAndy Bennett. Bennett made a late begin-ning to football, as he played soccer until

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Andy Bennett

Reserves. Bert Shaw, Robert’s father, was Reserves coach, and GordonBowman was in charge of the senior side. After not being selected forthe opening Reserves game, young Lahey joined Hydro in theAmateur league and had a good year playing at centre half-forward.But he was back at Queenborough in 1958 and Bowman played himin every game and he was runner-up in the best and fairest award.

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12.

LAYING IT ON THE LINE

BOB LAHEY, one of the most colourful characters to play for theclub, has nothing but happy memories of the 16 seasons duringwhich he amassed a record 315 Senior and Reserves games between1958 and 1974.

These days, he is retired on the Gold Coast and a good friend ofRod Olsson, the coach who made Sandy Bay a powerhouse and savedLahey’s career. On arriving at Queenborough for the start of the 1970season, Olsson was told by an official that he should get rid of Lahey,who had already been told he was not wanted.

‘Being a determined Aries, I continued to train,’ Lahey said. ‘RayWilson was appointed coach of the Reserves but returned interstateafter just four weeks. By that time Rod had seen for himself who andwhat I was. He gave me the opportunity to play and in 1971 I becameassistant coach and playing coach of the Reserves until I retired in1974.’

Bob Lahey’s interest in football began at Princes St PrimarySchool and continued at the technical high school in Hobart. Thetech produced the first of many footy yarns. ‘One thing I remember isthat Bobby Holmes, who later played for the Bay, wanted to captainthe school team. He bought everyone a pie so they would vote forhim, but the teachers found out and wouldn’t allow him to be skip-per,’ Lahey said.

After leaving school he trained with South East, which was inlater years to become the Bay’s under 19s. The coach was FrankNaylor. Lahey trained hard but got only a few games over the first twoyears (‘I was only a skinny kid with not many skills’).

Terry Cashion took over the following year, 1956, and played himat full-forward in every game. The team won the premiership and in1957 he trained with the Bay in the hope of getting a game in the

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Rod Olsson and Bob Lahey.

that it functioned as one big family. ‘The players, committee membersand supporters all gave something,’ he said. ‘Everyone did their bitbecause they wanted to be part of the family. We always think ofeveryone as coming from Sandy Bay itself, but people from BatteryPoint, the Huon, Kingborough and the North-West also contributed.

‘And it was the complete families that were the great strengthwith members being involved in one way or the other – as players,committeemen, supporters, or those providing financial help. Namessuch as Palfreyman, Fitzgerald, Austin, Sorell, Henderson, Schofield,Purden, Pearce, Gay, Jacobs, Behrens and Pelham are just a few,’Lahey said.

It was the peak of the TFL competition, an era in which six clubsin the Hobart areas regularly drew 4000 to 5000 to a roster game.There was little football on TV which was in its infancy, and pubsclosed at midnight on Saturday which meant that celebrations wenton in private homes.

‘I was very lucky that I played in the days when there was onlyone umpire. Of course, I had to give them some help and tried to edu-cate them, even by having a beer with them after the game,’ Laheysaid. ‘I was reported a few times, but maybe should have been report-ed a lot more. We were certainly lucky that we didn’t have to livewith video cameras.’

On May 23, 1964, Bob was vice-captain of the team and hisbrother, Don, was captain. This is believed to be only occasion thatbrothers held such positions in a senior TFL team. Don Lahey camethrough the South East side and was a member of their 1955 pre-miership team which was coached by the legendary Terry Cashion.Don had represented Tasmania in the 1952 schools football carnival(one of his team-mates was a small kid named Darrel Baldock).

A fine ball-handler and delightful kick, Don played in the centreand as a no-nonsense straight-ahead half-back. He spent some timeplaying in the South Australian league before returning to the Bayand went on to play 97 games, plus a number of TFL representativegames. In 1964 he was made vice-captain and was a member of RexGeard’s premiership team. In 1965, aged 29, he moved to Queenslandand continued his football career as a coach.

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The 1961 season found him as captain-coach of Woodbridge inthe Channel association, a move which had some people brandinghim a renegade.

Lahey returned to the Bay the following year and continued until1974. There were a couple of occasions when he was dropped to 19th

man which in those days meant sitting on the bench all day unless aplayer was injured. Lahey’s response was to head for the Dr Syntaxand demand to see Ken Austin, the head selector. ‘ I would tell himthat I wanted to play in the Reserves, not sit on the fence, and hewould say it was the other two selectors’ decision to drop me. Whenasked later, both of them would say they wanted me in the seniorteam.’

Bob Lahey got his way and he enjoyed the runs in the Reservesbecause he liked being his own boss and setting an example to theyounger players. One was a schoolboy named Robert Shaw. ‘I wasasked to look after him in his first match in the Reserves, and lookhow he turned out.’

The great joy of being associated with the club for so long was

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Gordon Bowman, left, Tony Hazell and Bert Shaw.

the Club and spend many hours away from the running of the hotelin the knowledge that the day-to-day operation of the business was invery capable hands. This support also extended to his public lifewhen he entered Parliament in 1964 – a year that was significant forhim: He turned 50, Sandy Bay won the Premiership and he was elect-ed to Parliament. A lot of Mum’s contribution to the Club was notknown or recognised as she was a behind the scene “doer” – workingexceptionally long hours at the hotel to allow Dad to attend to Clubmatters. She often prepared food for delivery to the Club for players’teas on training nights, helped players, their wives and families whenthey faced difficulties be it financial or medical, and on a many occa-sions took players shopping when they were not in a financial posi-tion to buy new footy boots or clothes.

Dad was also very fortunate that he was very well supported byothers at the Club. Obviously it would be impossible to list all thosededicated committee members but even though it is dangerous to listnames for fear of missing someone out I must mention Doug Plaister,who was for many years a very loyal deputy, Bill Pearce, Bill

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13.

MARGOT’S STORY

THE SANDY BAY FOOTBALL CLUB has been a part of MargotScales’ life as long as she can remember. Margot, the daughter of thelate Ken Austin, mine host of the Dr Syntax Hotel and long-time clubpresident, has continued the family tradition. She is patron of theSandy Bay and South East Past Players, Officials & SupportersAssociation. This is her story:

My first memory of the Sandy Bay Football Club was the cele-brations following the 1952 Premiership. As a near 7-year-old, livingat the Dr Syntax Hotel, I should have been in bed but crept halfwaydown the stairs to sneak a look at and listen to what all the noise wasabout. I can recall vividly the high pitched wailing from outside thelocked front door of the hotel that seemed to go on and on. That wasmy introduction to a real character around the Club – Reggie Dyson!Apparently that night Reggie had been removed from the premisesand proceeded to wail and cry outside for what seemed like hours.Believe me, he was the first of the many, many larger than life char-acters who formed part of the Sandy Bay Football Club.

Dad joined the Committee at the Club in 1953 and had continu-ous service until he stood down in 1979 – a very long but rewardingterm in office. I think the biggest high he experienced was the three-in-a-row Premierships in the ’70s, and perhaps the low was the defeatby Hobart in 1973 when the Bay were red hot favourites. During hislong term in office, Dad was also League Delegate, Southern Selectorand a State Selector – in those roles the highlight would undoubted-ly be the State game in Launceston when Tasmania defeated Victoria,and it took him two days to get back to Hobart – obviously there weremany road closures between Launceston and Hobart!

Dad was fortunate that he had great, unselfish support from Mumas well as the staff at the hotel so that he was able to give his all for

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Margot Scales, right, with close friends Rose and Michael Seddon.

The Club alwayshad a wealth of loyalsupporters over its histo-ry and they were alwaysthere through thick andthin. How could anyoneforget Jean Abel who wasnever short or a word ortwo but whose heart andsoul was Sandy Bay? Norshould anyone forget the“Hedge Dwellers” – thatgroup of vocal (some-times overly critical)supporters who stood infront of the hedge atQueenborough throughrain, hail and sunshine.Who could forget thebooming voice of Tobyfrom his permanentposition on the fence atQueenborough? I have fond memories of spending many Saturdaysover the years sitting on the terrace at Queenborough or North Hobartsurrounded by wonderful supporters like Mrs Pelham, Fay McNaney,Pat Power, Barbara Hampton, Jack and Lois Wilson, and Mr and MrsKenny.

There are pages and pages that I could write about the Club, andobviously there are many stories that I cannot recount (for fear ofdefamation) but I feel I can list a few.

I clearly remember when Max Howard was coming to play for usit was arranged that we would all go one Sunday for lunch with thefamily at Wattle Grove near Cygnet and then bring Max up to Hobart.When it came time for us to leave with Max there were tears every-where. It was as if we were taking him to the other side of the worldinstead of just to Hobart.

Another story that Dad enjoyed recalling was when a certain

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Williams, Alec Johnston, Jim Henderson, Jim Pelham, Jim Kearney,Ben McGuire, Bob Purden (who succeeded Dad as President), and thewonderful dedicated members of the Social Committee over the years(with special mention of Doris Behrens).

The Pleasant Sunday Mornings in the early days were an inno-vation and great fundraiser for the Club and were very well organisedby that larger than life character, Bill Pearce. After the first problemwas resolved regarding the purchase of barrels from the Brewery (asoutlined in Chapter 16 – Pleasant Sunday Mornings), the secondproblem arose. A family friend who happened to be the Officer-in-Charge at Hobart Police Headquarters called to say that he had noidea what was going on at Queenborough on Sunday mornings, nordid he want to know (ignorance is bliss) but there had been com-plaints from residents about illegal parking in Nelson Road, trafficjams in Peel Street and that this Inspector’s budget did not allow himto pay overtime to traffic police to be on duty on Sunday mornings!That problem was solved with an “arrangement” made with the oper-ators at the Caravan Park in Peel Street to allow visitors to the“Recovery Sessions” to park in their grounds!

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Gladys Austin, wife of Ken, serves players tea to Michael Elliott and Tony Thiessen.

Ken Austin and Doug Plaister.

Sunday and as they neared the Syntax the cleaner was arriving to letherself in. They decided to follow her in and made themselves verycomfortable at the bar and one member got behind the bar and start-ed pouring “Breakfast Drinks” for the thirsty players while they gavemany renditions of the Club song.

Sandy Bay was very well served by fine coaches over its time. Ido feel that the one who had the greatest cultural impact when hearrived was Rod Olsson. His professional approach to footy saw him“kill off” the Pleasant Sunday Mornings and turn the clubrooms intoa gymnasium, which was a huge shock not just for the players but forall those associated with the Club. The numerous stories of the tor-turous first pre-season run that Rod took the players on would beremembered by many players – the toll that it took on those who par-ticipated surely told them very early what was in store for themunder Rod’s coaching. Rod, together with former coaches like GordonBowman, Rex Geard, Paul Sproule, and in the time after I returned toHobart, Andy Bennett, Chris Fagan and Lance Spaulding were greatcontributors not only on the field but off.

The formation of the Seahawks all those years ago had an instantand lasting impact on the Club. Not only was their financial assis-tance so valuable but the professional and business expertise that themembers brought to the Club benefited the Committee, players andcoaching staff. As the years have rolled on and the Club ceased toexist, it is such a credit to the Seahawks that they are still in existenceand wholeheartedly support functions – Grand Final Luncheons andthe Past Players, Officials and Supporters Association annual din-ners.

With much forward thinking the Club purchased the TravellersRest Hotel in 1970 at a time when the Government of the day wasplanning to grant a licence to Wrest Point to operate a casino. Dadserved as a director from the time of purchase until his passing andthe board was chaired by some very capable men who gave willinglyand freely of their time – Doug Palfreyman, Mick Hinman, GordonBowman and Bob Lewis. For the first 8 or so years the venture washolding “its own” but by the late 70s and into the 80’s with the mas-sive increase in player payments, Club running costs and the down-turn in suburban hotel trade the hotel ended up being the “cash cow”

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Sandy Bay player whohad proved very difficultto manage asked for aclearance to another TFLClub. At the Committeemeeting that was consid-ering the clearance,apparently Dad toldthem “Give him a clear-ance in triplicate – 2copies on paper and thethird tattooed on hisbackside just in case heloses the paperwork!”

Another time, Dadas Chairman of Selectorshad reached the end ofhis tether with the fatherof one of the Bay playerswho was critical ofeverything the Club did,the criticism of his sonby the Coach and why his son should be selected in the senior team.His throw-away line about this particular father was “All footballersshould be born orphans!”

How can anyone forget that certain residence in Crelin Street inBattery Point that was rented by some players at one time? The land-lord frequently called in to the Hotel to talk to Dad about the com-plaints of excessive noise and other activities that he received fromneighbours. On one visit there was a pyramid of empty cans on dis-play that any publican would have had a massive increase in sales ifhe had been lucky enough for them all to have been purchased fromhis premises!

I remember the morning after the 1964 Premiership when every-one at the hotel was awoken very early by the singing of the Seagullsong – and it was not coming from on the street! Apparently a groupof the players were wending their way home at daybreak on the

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Max Howard flies in from Wattle Grove.

ing interstate since 1970, I eagerly awaited the start of the 1986 sea-son and to get back to Queenborough but I was shocked to see howsmall the crowds were at home games and the missing faces that I hadgrown used to over many years. Because Sandy Bay had been such ahuge part of my life and even though I had been interstate for over 14years I gradually became involved around the Club, renewed oldfriendships and made new friends.

Since my return to Hobart I must pay tribute to Bill Sorell for hisdevotion over many years and, in particular, when he took on thePresidency and fought to save the Club from extinction when the lastrites were being administered by everyone, especially the TasmanianFootball League. The birth of the Sandy Bay Grand Final Luncheonsall those years ago and their continuance today (even though under adifferent banner) is a tribute to Bill and his loyal band of workers – Ihave thoroughly enjoyed my involvement in these luncheons in whatis seen as a legacy from our once great Club. As well, I enjoyed work-ing with Bob and Viv Lister, Liz Di Venuto, Sandra and Heather Tew,and Bev Watterson preparing and presenting the Home GameLunches at North Hobart. These lunches raised much needed cash-flow for the Club as we attempted to stave off our demise. As well, inthe latter years, “Chef” Enrico Di Venuto’s after-match BBQs atQueenborough were well patronised and appreciated.

My involvement continues with the Club through being a mem-ber of the Past Players, Officials and Supporters Association and I wasvery humbled to be asked to be Patron two years ago. The time andeffort that members give each year (with special mention to ourPresident Kerry Doran, Secretary Mike Polegaj and Treasurer NevilleSchofield) to the ongoing running of the Association must be com-mended. The task of undertaking the publication of this book hasbeen very time consuming for all concerned but it was the strong con-viction of the Committee that it must be written so that our historyfrom beginning to end will be on public record. As well, I felt hon-oured to accept Dad’s induction into the Hall of Fame in 2004 andwas thrilled that my two daughters were in attendance that night andwere able to share with me the emotion of the night and be madeaware of the contribution their beloved “Poppy” made.

In conclusion, I think the most amazing aspect of the past few

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to keep the Club afloat. It was very disappointing when, in 1986, thehotel had to be sold and the Club lost what was seen in 1970 as aninvestment in the future.

A couple of years before I returned to live in Hobart, I was herewith my daughters for school holidays and it was at the time that thethreatened introduction of Statewide football was being discussed.Apparently Dad (in retirement) had been approached by the thenhierarchy of the League for his endorsement for Tassie’s footballfuture and they were none too pleased with his response! He wasadamant that Statewide would be the death knell of football in eachregion, that it could not be sustained financially, that there would bea loss of supporter base, but that the biggest loss would be the deathof the what was known as the “whole” club where boys and theirfamilies could join the club through the juniors and progress throughthe underage, reserves and then hopefully the seniors. If players werenot good enough to play senior football they could still be involvedin the reserves so that they and their family were not lost to footballor the Club. He felt that there was a place for the elite player but theremust be room in the structure for all players to be part of the ClubFamily. I think Dad’s thoughts were vindicated as not only was SandyBay buried but those “good average” players were lost to the sport.Perhaps I am talking like a politician’s daughter and/or a former polit-ical staffer but I have seen in other sports, particularly hockey, netballand soccer, where there is a place for everyone who wants to playwhatever their level of skill. These sports are thriving because allplayers feel part of their chosen Club no matter in what grade they areplaying; they enjoy the camaraderie and are not looking at what to dowith their idle time. However, the good news is that the Sandy BayJuniors are still in existence, are very well organised and still givingyoung boys the opportunity to play junior football and to keep theClub flag flying. The sad news is that they cannot stay with Sandy BayFootball Club and progress through the ranks once their junior play-ing days are over.

The Seddon family, my two daughters and I returned fromMelbourne to Hobart at the end of 1985. Dad was desperately ill onour arrival back in Hobart and it was a very demanding time for ourfamily until he sadly passed away in August 1986. As I had been liv-

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14.

ALL IN THE FAMILY

ONE OF THE GREATEST STRENGTHS of the Sandy Bay FootballClub was its strong sense of family and bonding. Sons followedfathers and uncles into the team and mothers, wives and daughterswere there to cheer them on. For years neighbours would walk to thefooty together and those friendships continue to this day.

Browse through the list of members of the past players associa-tion, note three or four families, and in total they could field a team.Names such as Steele, Palfreyman, Joyce, Newton and Ricketts toname just a few.

The Steeles from Margate would easily make a chapter on theirown. Five of the seven brothers played for the Bay, and anotherjoined Hobart. Murray, recruited as a 17-year-old in 1958, was an

57

years of the Association is that we could get more people to attend the“Bay’s Best 25” function than we could get to attend home games inthe last few years we existed! Surely this proves that all of us wholoved the Club be it as a player, official or supporter have a continu-ing commitment to honour, celebrate and remember all the hard workand dedication by so many around the Club over the years and –

“May the Spirit Never Die.”

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The Steeles — (back) Michael, Peter (played with Hobart), John, Roger andMurray, and (front) Garry and Wayne.

Amateurs player. Scott made his debut in 1962 and easily topped thegoal-kicking in his first season. He had been a prolific goalkicker forHutchins in the Amateurs, and as a schoolboy once kicked 27 goalsin a game against Scotch College. His success at the Bay encouragedBrent to try his luck and he joined in 1965 mainly because he want-ed to play footy with his brother.

They had just two games together before Scott was tragicallykilled in a car crash.

Brent played a total of 135 games, including the 1971 premier-ship, and twice topped the TFL goalkicking list.

The third brother, Stewart, played his first game in 1968, and fin-ished with 75 before transferring to New Norfolk aged just 24. He alsoplayed two seasons with Geelong in the VFL. Brent’s sons – Richardand Nigel – also played for the club, and Nigel was assistant coachand vice-captain in the final game in 1997. Stewart’s son, Adam, wasanother Seagull. Brent, asked how players of his era would fare in themodern game, dryly commented: ‘Well, I know I would have to be alot faster than I was, and today’s skills are certainly a lot better thanmy day.’

The Newtons were another great father-son combination withBob playing 86 games between 1972 and 1975 mainly as a half-for-ward, centre or ruck-rover. Bob later became a committeeman andgeneral manager of the club. His three sons – Robert, Fred and Adamfollowed him to the Bay. Robert’s first games were with the under 17sin 1980 and began his fine senior career in 1984. Fred made his seniordebut in 1987, after playing a season in Western Australia. Theyoungest Newton, Adam, a ruckman, began with the thirds in 1989.

Brothers David and Barry Joyce were key defenders over a peri-od of 13 seasons. David played with South East from 1953-55 andcaptained that side to the flag in 1955. David showed so much talentin the under-age team that was sought by Gordon Bowman and seniorselectors Bill Williams and Keith Downie, when only 17. He certain-ly did not disappoint, and played 99 games between 1955 and 1960.

Barry made the senior team in 1965, but his career was inter-rupted, like several others, by service in Vietnam where he waswounded in action. Barry recovered fully and returned in 1969. Hewent on to play 164 games, winning the best and fairest in 1973.

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immediate success at centre half-back and twice represented the TFLin his first season. The following year he tied with Mal Pascoe for theWilliam Leitch Medal, but lost on a countback. He was later present-ed with the medal. In 1960 Murray was a member of the State teamwhich beat Victoria in Launceston by seven points. A magnificentmark he caught the eye in the Brisbane carnival in 1961 whenmatched against much taller centre half-forward Noel Teasdale.Several times he flew high over the back of the Victorian star andmarked.

Two more Steeles, John and Wayne, joined the ranks in 1961.John, aged 19, played three seasons, mainly in the back pocket, beforereturning to the Channel. Wayne, 17, began as a rover or half-forwardwith the Reserves, then he too returned home, before having anothercrack at the league in 1964. In 1965 he was a member of the Reservesside which won the premiership.

Roger Steele was another teenage debutant in 1964 and aged 19was named TFL recruit of the year. It was just the start of a champi-on career which saw the centreman claim five club best and fairests(he was runner-up on two other occasions) and two William LeitchMedals. He also represented Tasmania and the TFL. He continued tosupport the club after his retirement and was chairman of selectors in1986 and 1987.

The fifth brother to wear the Bay colours was Michael who hadthree stints with the club between 1968 and 1980, playing 176 gamesas a wingman and half-back. He lost two seasons when called up andposted to Vietnam as a national serviceman. On his return he playedin four grand finals and represented Tasmania.

In all the five brothers played over 550 league games, won sixbest and fairests, and three William Leitch Medals. In April, 1967,they made history when Murray, Roger and Wayne played againstHobart at Queenborough. Another brother, Peter, lined up for Hobart.In later years the Steele name re-merged with Murray’s sons Anthonyand Jason (underage) Michael’s sons Kent and Mark, Peter’s sonDamian (underage) and Wayne’s sons Stewart and Todd (underage)representing the club.

The Palfreymans also made their mark, beginning with brothersScott, Brent and Stewart, the sons of Doug Palfreyman, a fine pre-war

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jFor instance, ErniePilkington won aWilliam Leitch medaland his son, Leigh, wonthe George Watt ReservesMedal. Keith Cripps, aclub best and fairest win-ner, produced Warren,who collected the under-age and Reserves awardsand later, with Hobart,won that club’s seniorbest and fairest. Warren’sbrother, Lance, playedReserves for the Bay. IanWestell, a seniors bestand fairest and leadinggoalkicker several times,is the father of Chris,who was Under 19s bestand fairest and theReserves leading goalkicker in 1974.

Other father-son combinations include Bert and Robbie Shaw;Noel and Simon Ruddock; Roger and David Chapman; Roger andGary Henderson, Gary and Dominic Baker, Warren and Haydn Smart,Kerry and Adam Doran, Graeme, Scott and Craig Mackey; Graemeand Jeremy Rae; Les and Trent Nicholls; Bryan and Leigh Bowden.

The family heritage was poignantly evident that sad day atBellerive in August, 1997, when the Bay left the field for the last time.Nigel Palfreyman, Peter Di Venuto, Craig Mackey, Mathew Leary andGrant Joyce provided echoes of a glorious past.

Sandy Bay’s family links were not confined to the playing fieldbecause contributions off the field, and in many cases behind thescenes, were just as common.

There was, for instance, Archie Fulton and his family. He servedin many capacities for the Under-age (South East) before 17 years onthe Bay’s committee, as well as a similar period on the social com-

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David’s sons, David junr and Glen, also played for the Bay, as didBarry’s boys, Gavin and Grant.

The Ricketts – Chris, Nigel and Greg – were another Bay trio.Chris, the eldest, generally played in the ruck, and Greg and Nigelwere forwards. Nigel was a magnificent kick, and Greg representedTasmania. All three played in the 1972 premiership team – an amaz-ing achievement. And speaking of family connections, Bob Newton istheir cousin.

The list of brothers and father and sons is extraordinary and pos-sibly unique. The Fagan trio – Chris, Grant and David; the Morrisons,Paul, David, Peter and Noel; Lance and Stephen Spaulding; Des andTony Sward; Neil and David Eiszele; Wayne and John Denehey;Warren and Darrel Smart; Kevin and Barry Burrows; Don and BobLahey; Graeme, Vern and Chris Mackey; Neil and Gordon Clarke;Tony and Roger Thiessen; Chris and Graeme Rae; Kevin and CraigBradburn; Phil and Michael Kingston; Paul and John Loveluck; Nevand Peter Styles; Noel and John Leary; John and Frank Kuipers; Peterand Michael Di Venuto; Shayne and Todd Stevenson, Richard andRussell Squires, Doug and Terry Russell.

Some fathers and sons achieved fascinating doubles.

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Chris, Greg and Nigel Ricketts.

Rex Geard, left, and Archie Fulton.

Neville’s other son in law, Leon Cupit, joined the club as a train-er in 1987 and eventually head trainer, plus the building and repairshandyman. Neville, who remains treasurer of the past players associ-ation, says of his involvement with Sandy Bay: ‘The time contributedto club activities is irrelevant given the lifelong friendships madewith the many wonderful people associated with the club.’

Jim Henderson and his son, Roger, are the only father and soncombination to be awarded life membership by the club’s committee.Jim was on the general committee from 1951-1954 and treasurer from1955 to 1971. He was awarded his life membership in 1959. Rogerplayed with South East, and for the Seniors and Reserves from 1960-1962 and became a committeeman in 1984.

He was treasurer from 1984-1987, president 1987-1988, Reservesmatch manager 1989-1990, and Seniors match manager from 1991-1997. He received a merit award in 1990 and life membership in1993. The family connections don’t end there. Jim’s daughter. Judith,married South East and Sandy Bay player Laurie Abbott. Judith’sdaughter, Wendy, married Bay player Anthony Steele (son ofMurray). Roger married Bob and Don Lahey’s sister. Christine. ThenRoger and Christine’s daughter, Tracey, married the Bay’s BradHowarth. Son, Gary, played Under-age and Seniors with the club.Roger remains a valued member of the past players committee and inrecent years has shared with Dickie Harrold the MC duties at clubreunions.

Brian Lewis, who played a handful of games during the 1960swas recruited as club statistician in 1970 by Rod Olsson. He recallsduring the great run of 1970s grand final appearances that he and hisfamily used to scale the fence at North Hobart to decorate the Cazalystand in the club colours. Brian was on the committee from 1973-1976, and from 1988 onwards. He was deputy president for two yearsand Reserves match manager from 1991-1997. His wife, Diane,worked in the canteen for five years. Eldest son John played Under-age and was Reserves runner in 1991-1992. His other son, Michael,was a member of the training staff during the 1990s.

Brian joined the past players committee in 1999 and has made asignificant contribution to the preparation of this book, particularlyin updating Seagulls on the Wing 1945-1966, through to 1997. He

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mittee. His wife, Joy, served 12 years on the social committee andtheir daughter, Christine, nine years. Sons Tony and Peter playedUnder-age, and Tony was secretary of that body for two to three years.

Neville Schofield first became involved with the Bay in 1945,aged nine, when he attended games with his father who helped hisuncle Stan Hutchison as a trainer. Neville attended most games from1945-1970, and became an official from 1970-1997. His friend, DickieHarrold asked him to be his assistant secretary in the Under-age andhe accepted. As well he took over the time-keeping role and it wasnot unusual for him to do it for the fourths through to the Seniorswhich added up to a nine-hour day. Neville was made a life memberin 1985 and was awarded the TFL’s Certificate of Merit in 1986. Hisson in law Shane Morrisby held a number of committee positionsincluding deputy president, secretary, TFL liaison officer and con-tract organiser. Following Shane’s untimely death in 1995 Neville’sdaughter, Maree Morrisby, took on her husband’s role as secretary,and was also the club statistician from 1987-1997.

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The Schofield clan — Neville and Joy with daughter Karen, front, son Chris, back left, daughter Maree and husband Shane Morrisby and

son-in-law Leon Cupit.

15.

BACKING THE BAY

THE SUCCESS OF A FOOTBALL CLUB relies on more than justonfield skills and determination. It needs strong backing by peopleprepared to give their time and their efforts to provide the essentialfinancial backing. Sandy Bay, from late 1969, was fortunate to havethe Seahawks, a group which continues to aid football to this day.

It all began when John Oldmeadow and Leith Harper decided itwas time to call a meeting of local business people in an attempt toform a group to back the club. The attendees at that first meeting wereOldmeadow, Harper, Don Carter, Peter Hutchins, Ernie Pilkington,Bruce Saunders, Tom Fitzgerald, Bert Wicks, John Watchorn and BillAndrews. Watchorn was elected chairman, Oldmeadow secretary,and Wicks and Hutchins as treasurers.

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received the merit award in 1993 and life membership in 1996.For more than 10 years from the early 1980s, the Dennis family

operated the club’s canteen at Queenborough. Mother Phyl helpedskipper the ship with son Malcolm, his wife Denise and daughterDenise Bartram. Malcolm, who played Under-age with the Bay latersaw his son, Norm, play 97 games with the club, and another son,Mathew, also play Under-age. Daughter Lisa married Kent Steele.Phyl can recall Sandy Bay-Clarence games at Queenborough wherethe takings would reach $3000. In 1990, the club acknowledged thefamily’s contribution by awarding each of them the Certificate ofMerit.

The Pelham/McNaney contribution to the Club spans manyyears. Jim Pelham started as a Trainer in the Club’s first year and hewas later to become Head Trainer until his retirement in 1968. Jimwas awarded Life Membership in 1956 for his commitment to theClub. Jim’s son, Kevin, was a fine player representing the Club (174games) as well as the TFL and Tasmania. Kevin was a member of theBay’s 1964 premiership team, was Vice Captain in 1970 and ReservesCoach in 1970, 1978 and 1979.

Jim’s daughter, Fay, married Terry McNaney and are long-timesupporters and contributors to the Club. Fay was Treasurer of the“Seagull Funding Committee” raising significant funds for the Clubin the 80s. During that time, Terry held the Club Secretary’s positionin 1984-85 and was Deputy President in 1987.

Fay’s and Terry’s son, Graeme, played for the Club from 1967-69before pursuing a career in the media. He returned to the Club asSecretary in 1978 but was forced to resign in 1979 due to a transfer inemployment to Melbourne.

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Seahawk Leith Harper with Rod Ollsen and a youthful Bill Sorell.

Aileen Wright, Doreen Chancellor, Barbara Lack, Diane St Hill, MarjLennon, Margaret Davies, Nancy Pelham, Gwen Andrews and PennyWilliams.

The lunches were held at the Travellers Rest (now the home ofFederal network gaming) which was owned by Sandy Bay from thelate 1960s until the mid-1980s. Other fundraising activities includedcocktail parties, dances and champagne breakfasts. One of the majorgifts to the club was a sauna for the gymnasium.

Despite the club folding in 1997, the Seahawks are still in exis-tence, led by president Bob Purden. They meet a couple of times ayear because of the strength of the friendships maintained over theyears.

Sandy Bay’s first social committee was established in 1948 andover the years it had many long serving and committed people dedi-cated to fundraising and general support for the club. Their activitiesinvolved the usual and the unusual. The unusual being the DonBaker Revue at the Theatre Royal in 1948, and the usual being thesale of raffle, margin and jockey tickets; running the kiosk at homegames; and general fundraising in support of the Bay’s entrant in theTFL Queen competitions. Some of the longer serving members were:

Mrs Carleen Jacobs, the mother of Ron who coached the Reservesto a premiership. Over 24 years she was an enormously hard workerprepared to tackle any task. Carleen was awarded the TFL Certificateof Merit.

Charlie Bird gave 23 years service from 1955 to 1973 and from1975-1978. He was chairman of the social committee and received thefirst merit award given by the club. Charlie was made a life memberin 1967 in recognition of his wonderful contribution.

Mrs Doris Behrens gave a total of 27 years to the social commit-tee (1970-1987 and 1988-1997), 17 of them as secretary. She was alsoco-organiser of the bingo and in 1988 was awarded the merit certifi-cate. Doris is the only woman to be awarded life membership ofSandy Bay (1979) and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2004.

Eric Westwood spent 13 years as a hard working member pri-marily involved in the successful operation of the canteen and after-game activities in the clubrooms.

Jim and Pat Kearney had 13 years on the social committee

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In its heyday, membership was around 100 and the Seahawks’greatest triumph was in initiating the recruitment of Rod Olsson fromHawthorn as captain-coach in 1970. They were also instrumental insecuring Paul Sproule (ex Hobart, Essendon and Richmond) who suc-ceeded Olsson.

They also assisted in getting John Gallus, John Brimacombe, JohnGuiver, Lance Morton and Ken Hogan to the club.

The organisation’s first 10 years were the most influential as theclub became a powerhouse of Tasmanian football, playing in eightconsecutive grand finals.

In the years since, the executive of the Seahawks has includedpast players, officials and supporters. The list includes presidentsJohn Watchorn, Bert Smart, Peter Sinclair, Darcy Blackwood, LeithHarper, Jim Lucas, Col Von Bibra, Bruce Greenhill, Noel Ruddock,Bob Gozzi and Bob Purden. The secretaries have been Peter Hutchins,Bert Wicks, Bill Bale, Noel Harper, Graeme Phillips, Cam Sorell, DonBitcon, Jim McLeod, John Marshall and Michael Elliott. Elliott hasalso served 20 years as treasurer.

Michael recalls that when he was a young player with the clubhe had a car accident and it was the Seahawks who provided severalhundred dollars to repair the vehicle.

The club also owes much to the Seahawks for bringing GraemeMackey to Queenborough. Mackey was keen to play for North Hobartwhere he had played underage football, but the Bay clinched the dealwhen the Seahawks were able to offer him petrol from MalcolmStreet’s Seagull service station (now Shell, opposite the Dr Syntax).

In the early years the main fundraiser, apart from personal dona-tions, were the membership fees which fluctuated from $30 to $50,and film nights. The Saturday lunch provided by the Sandpipers wasalso a key part of the income. The Sandpipers were a women’s com-mittee which existed from 1972-1981, and each year raised between$1000 and $2500 – substantial amounts in that era. Nell Whitehousewas the original president and Lynne Purden was secretary.

Others to serve on the committee during those 10 seasons includ-ed Faye Carter, Pam Black, Wille Fehre, Joan Middleton, MargRuddock, Mary Oldmeadow, Betty Lewis, June Abbott, CathNicholas, Clutha Ellis, Dawn Farmer, Doreen Chandler, Kate Stanton,

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16.

PLEASANT SUNDAY MORNINGS

A WORLD OF ENTERTAINMENT came to Sandy Bay the day in1962 that Bill Pearce and Ben McGuire decided the old clubrooms atQueenborough were a white elephant and something had to be done.

Their solution was to introduce Pleasant Sunday Mornings offer-ing a barrel or two, some lucky spins, a door raffle, and an array of tal-ent (some real, some imagined). There was a slight problem – thelicensing laws of the day were very strict and the police were notabout to approve the dispensing of ale at a footy club on a Sundaymorning. There was a solution, as Bill Pearce, now 77, explains.

‘I was a workmate of BasilOsborne at Charles Davis, andBasil was Lord Mayor of Hobart.I explained the difficulties wewere having and he told me thatthe council had full control ofthe ground and had the powerto grant a permit.’

Even so, the law requiredthat a guest club had to be invit-ed, and that although beercould be consumed it could notbe sold. Nor could the drinkersbe standing. They had to beseated. For Pearce and McGuireit was just another series of hur-dles easily surmounted. LordMayor Osborne arranged theweekly permits, tables and

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between them, but many more stapling jockey tickets and sellingthem at the Dr Syntax Hotel and the Clarendon Hotel. They also ranthe ‘chook’ raffles at the Dr Syntax on Friday nights.

Mrs Joan Langford, together with Norm and Millie Dalword,Doris Behrens and Lesley Joyce coordinated and conducted the twiceweekly bingo sessions in the old Tatler building in Bidencopes Lane.The sessions lasted for some 12 years, before fading away in the1990s. Joan, Millie and Norm were all presented with merit awardsfor their service to the club. Joan, with Dawn Hill, also spent over 10years running the gate raffles at both North Hobart and Queenborough– in all weathers.

During the 1980s Mavis Farrell assisted in the canteen for sixyears, but spent many more years with her daughter Pam selling gateraffles at North Hobart and Queenborough.

During the late 1980s and 1990s, Margot Scales, Liz Di Venuto,Bev Watterson, Viv and Bob Lister, Heather and Sandra Tew GraemeLoring and John Panton prepared and served home game lunches atNorth Hobart and less frequently Queenborough, as every effort wasmade to boost the club ‘s finances. The preparation and conduct ofthe lunches on the top level of the grandstand at North Hobart provedas much a physical test as a culinary exercise. But it became in thelater years a crucial contribution to the club’s cash flow. In 1995, themembers of this great group were all presented with merit awards.

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Bill Pearce

Blenkinsop (piano), Graham Wilkinson (vocals), Dick Harrold(vocals), Valerie Mole (vocals) and Len Toyne (story teller).

The forerunner of the Pleasant Sunday Mornings was probablythe Monte Carlo nights first held during the 1940s, and Bill Pearcehas a few stories about them, along with a rich fund of yarns from thePleasant Sunday Mornings. There was the night that Noel Ruddockwas banker, with money stuffed in every pocket. The night went onand on, until at 4am several people realised it was probably too lateto go home, so they settled down with a single bar heater, two rub-down tables, and one dirty mat.

The stayers included Pearce, Don Coram, and Lloyd Orchard.They awoke, cold and hungry. Coram heard a rooster crowing andthought it would make an excellent breakfast, so went looking for-ward for it. He returned 15 minutes later, covered in green slime, hav-ing tumbled into a drainage ditch.

Head trainer Jim Pelham turned up with ‘beautiful tomato sand-wiches’, waited until they had been eagerly and gratefully consumed,then announced he had found the bread in a rubbish bin.

A much earlier monte carlo evening was raided by police and thestory goes that long-serving trainer Don Purdon jumped out a windowinto the arms of a constable. Bill Pearce reckons he missed out onsome senior selections following an incident on one bitterly coldtraining night. He had walked out of the shower and saw that the door

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chairs were set up, and there was a door raffle with tickets at 10shillings each.

‘Anyone who wouldn’t buy a raffle ticket knew they would neverbe invited again,’ Pearce said. ‘I bought 30-piece dinner sets fromCharles Davis (at a good price), and Ben made tables, which we addedto the lucky spins. Mrs Austin, wife of Ken Austin at the Dr Syntax,sold me fowls for the wheels.’

Ken Austin also bought the beer on his brewery account. ‘Westarted off with an 18-gallon keg, but eventually we were getting five18s and a 10,’ Pearce said. ‘One day Ken called me and said he wasgoing to open an account for me. I asked why, and he replied:‘Because the brewery has put my rent up by 50 quid a week.’ Up atCascade, they had noticed a discrepancy in barrels supplied andincome earned.

The first two Pleasant Sundays ran at a loss and Pearce andMcGuire had to carry the can, but from, then on they were hugelypopular, often attracting 100 or more for the 11am to 1pm get-togeth-ers. They were preceeded by training clinics for youngsters – kids asyoung as seven or eight.

The entertainment regulars were the Harmony Two (Don Banksand Les Round) and Geoff Walkley (the Syntax Trio), stars of the reg-ular cabarets at the Dr Syntax. Others included Trevor Young (organand xylophone), Ray Martin (piano), Peter McKay (piano), Bert

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President Ken Austin, Ben McGuire and Ken Harry working on the books.

The Syntax Trio — Les Round, left, Geoff Walkley and Don Banks.

17.

SEAGULL SORELL

BILL SORELL NEVER PLAYED a senior, or even a Reserves gamefor Sandy Bay, but if there had been a William Leitch Medal for loveand support of a club, then he would have a drawer full of them. Thekid who lacked the skills to play the game he loved decided early onto give his all for Sandy Bay.

More than 40 years ago, Bill and his young brother, Cam, used toturn up to every training night, watch their heroes, then clean all theboots after the run.

On Saturdays with their mother and father, the boys wouldattend every match.

Sometimes young Bill would walk to Queenborough with RogerChapman, who had a shop in King St, near the Sorell family home. ‘Iwas 11 or 12 at the time and Roger would get me into the ground fornothing,’ Bill remembers.

As a player he managed a few games in his school’s second 18and had a run or two with the Bay’s under-age team but that was asfar as his playing career went. ‘I was hopeless,’ Bill said.

But he joined the social committee at age 18 and served on it forthree years; became Reserves team manager and later Seniors manag-er from 1972 to 1990; and president from 1992-1997.

Throughout all those years, he never delivered anything but hisbest for the Bay. His commitment was total and his promotional skillsand contacts were of immense value. In 1982, with the help of BobPurden, Graeme Mackey, Neville Schofield and Graham Loring, helaunched the first grand final lunch at Wrest Point. About 150 peopleattended, but it soon grew to be an annual must, drawing 700 guestsand a waiting list of scores more.

The line-up of speakers has featured the biggest names in

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was wide open. ‘Put the bloody wood in the hole,’ he bellowed. ‘Wecould have saved money and bought a tent.’ There was a deathlysilence because the door had been opened by committeeman andselector Keith Downie who was showing some women visitors thenew clubrooms.

It was just one of the many stories bandied around the PleasantSunday Morning. Stories such as the day coach Gordon Bowman wasaddressing his players before a match against New Norfolk. Bowmansuddenly spotted Bob Holmes eating a piece of cake. Bowman almostexploded as he demanded to know what Holmes was doing. ‘Eatingmy lunch’, was the innocent answer.

Bill Pearce said the gatherings were more than just fundraisers(‘we made 90 quid on a good day’). They provided an opportunity forplayers, officials and supporters to get together. The players had a bitof a run and a stretch , got some treatment from the trainers, thenrelaxed over a few beers. The session finished promptly at 1pm andpoor behaviour was not tolerated.

Brent Palfreyman, a first year player in 1965, has fond memoriesof the gatherings, and believes they did much to build the Sandy Bayspirit and image as a family club.

The Peel Street Caravan Park came in handy on occasions,according to Pearce. ‘Our new clubrooms (the ones at Queenboroughnow) were being built and we hadn’t had any trips because all themoney went into the building fund, so I decided the sell the surplusshed to raise some trip money,’ he said. First he spoke to one of thebuilders and asked about progress on the building. Would it be com-pleted by Saturday week. ‘No worries,’ was the answer. ‘So I adver-tised the shed for 30 quid and a farmer from Tea Tree called on theSunday and loaded it on his truck,’ he said.

Unfortunately, come the following Saturday only the Bay roomswere ready. The visitors’ hadn’t been completed. New Norfolk weredirected to the caravan park to change and shower. ‘You should haveheard them,’ Pearce said. ‘They weren’t impressed, and we won thegame as well.’’

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ed a chapter of his own book to BillSorell and calculated that he wouldhave attended 600 games. ‘Bill alwaysled the supporters and players in thesinging of the club song and he madetears run down your cheeks when thatchorus sounded around the change-rooms – ‘Seagulls, Seagulls flying high.May the spirit never die.’

‘Of course, there were days whenthe Bay didn’t win, but that didn’t stophim. There would be a deathly silenceafter the coach had delivered a spray.Then, out of a corner of the room, in a defiant and proud tone, wouldcome Bill’s booming voice: Seagulls, Seagulls.’

As Robert Shaw says: ‘The chorus after a loss was not a sign ofbeing a poor loser. It was the Seagull call to arms and a warning tonext week’s opposition. The booming Sorell voice was good for more

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Australian football – Ted Whitten, Lou Richards, Robert Walls, KevinBartlett, Eddie McGuire, Sam Kekovich, Sam Newman and DermottBrereton. There have been various official titles for the lunch butmost know it as ‘Billy’s Big Lunch’, football writer David Stockdalesays. Bill’s post-Sandy Bay role in football has hardly diminished. Heis special events commissioner for Football Tasmania, a key figure inthe management of the Tassie Devils, and still operates the big lunch,which provides backing for the development of junior football insouthern Tasmania.

Despite these roles memories of the Bay are still very strong, par-ticularly the performances of his boyhood heroes. The great ruckmanRex Geard; fullback Peter Gadsden; Roger Steele, Tony Martyn,Michael Seddon, and two who became his good mates – GraemeMackey and Michael Elliott. Mackey, Elliott and Sorell meet regular-ly for reflective lunches.

Robert Shaw, who joined the Bay as a 16-year-old and went on toa magnificent career in the VFL and AFL as a player and coach, devot-

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Bill Sorell and the Kiss of Death, Lou Richards.

Sam Newman, Bill, and Dermott Brereton.

Robert Shaw

18.

A TIME FOR CHAMPIONS

THE 2001 REUNION OF THE SANDY BAY and South East PastPlayers & Officials Association and the Seahawks was a blend ofexcitement, anticipation and nostalgia as the club named its top 50players and best 25.

A six-member selection committee had had the awesome task ofreviewing 52 seasons stretching back to 1945 and was guided by strictprinciples of selection. One was that the combined knowledge of thecommittee had to cover the entire period, and that to be eligible forconsideration a player had to have played a minimum of 50 games. Itwas also decided to nominate the top coaches.

The guest speaker at the dinner at the Wrest Point Hotel Casinowas Robert Shaw; club stalwart Dickie Harrold profiled the best 25;and Darrin Pritchard made the presentations. Pritchard, a member ofthe Thirds 1983 premiership team, played 38 senior games beforebeing selected at No. 26 in the first national draft in 1986. He went onto play 211 games with Hawthorn (including seven grand finals).However, neither he nor Shaw was eligible for the Bay’s best 25because they had played less than 50 games with the club.

The best 25 were chosen from the following 50: Andy Bennett,Bob Lewis, Keith Cripps, Sammy Purdon, Bert Shaw, Des James,Kerry Doran, Ross Burns, Geoff Whitton, Ernie Pilkington, Bill Butler,Roger Chapman, Ian Westell, Paul Burnell, Roger Steele, MikeClennett, Tony Martyn, Victor Di Venuto, Bob Newton, Grant Jackson,Brian Orr, Michael Steele, Brent Palfreyman, Lance Spaulding,Richard Squires, Noel Leary, Scott Palfreyman, John Kuipers, RodOlsson, Chris Saunders, Des Sward, Leigh Gaunt, Barry Joyce, WarrenSmart, Brian Bowden, Michael Seddon, Graeme Mackey, MichaelElliott, Dale Flint, Rex Geard, Ian Rumney, Bruce Greenhill, NevilleStyles, Geoff Wiggins, Murray Steele, Noel Ruddock, Gordon

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than singing a song, and three favourite targets were umpire LesManson, North Hobart’s John Devine and John Bingley, of Clarence.Umpire Vern O’Byrne also made the A list.’

Bill, on occasions, had been seen to have balance problems andsome people suggested that he had two left feet. This is as far from thetruth as was proved during an end-of-the-season trip to the then VFLgrand final in Melbourne. As the troops gathered in their hotel to pre-pare to attack the restaurants of that city, there was no sign of Bill.

Eventually he staggered red-faced from the hotel lift, limping likea man with a wooden leg. It transpired he owned two identical pairsof shoes and had brought the two left ones. A rapid (relatively speak-ing) visit to a nearby shoe shop, and the outlay of $190, restored hisstability. At least until later in the night.

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Kerry Doran. Played 114 games in 1963, 1965 and from1968-1973. Made a sensational debut when his longkicking and strong marking earned him the TFL’srecruit of the year award. Vice-captain 1971 and 1973,and played in the 1971 and 1972 premiership teams.Won the Lefroy Medal in 1971 and the E C Billett Shieldin 1965. Represented TFL and Tasmania (nine times).

Gordon Bowman. Played 110 games from 1952-1958,and captain-coach for his entire career with the club.Best and fairest in 1955 and 1957, Lefroy Medal winnerin 1954, premiership captain-coach in 1952. TFL andTasmanian representative (twice).

Roger Chapman. Played 172 games from 1953-1963.Vice-captain 1959 and 1962, and captain in 1962. TFLand Tasmanian representative (five times).

Michael Elliott. Played 256 games from 1969 to 1983,including the 1971, 1972, 1976, 1977 and 1978 pre-mierships. Club’s leading goal-kicker in 1973, 1976 and1978 (123 goals). Regarded as the best half-forward everseen in the TFL.

Ian Westell played 169 games from 1946 to 1958,including the 1946 and 1952 premierships. Vice-cap-tain in 1950, 1956 and 1958. TFL top goal-kicker in1948, 1950, 1952, 1954, 1957. Kicked 666 goals for theclub. TFL and Tasmanian representative (nine times).

Paul Burnell. Dynamic rover who played 156 gamesfrom 1988 to 1997, and captain 1991-1995. Best andfairest 1991, 1992, 1993 and 1994. TFL and Tasmanianrepresentative (twice).

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Bowman, Nick Probert, John Mundy and Kevin Pelham. The panelalso nominated three coaches – Rod Olsson, Paul Sproule andGordon Bowman. It was a glittering field and proof of the tough taskthe selectors had in naming the best 25. Here they are:

THE BAY’S BEST 25

Rod Olsson, captain-coach. Between 1970 and 1975 heplayed 96 games, took the team to the 1971 and 1972premierships and three other grand finals, plus the statepremiership. He won the William Leitch Medal in 1971and 1973. TFL and Tasmanian representative (twice).

Andy Bennett. Played 86 games in 1986-1988 and 1991-1992. Captain coach in 1986-1987, coach in 1988, bestand fairest 1986, and William Leitch Medal winner thesame year. TFL and Tasmanian representative (fivetimes).

Bob Lewis. Recruited from South-East, he played 140games from 1952-1959. Played in the 1952 premiershipside and won the William Leitch Medal in 1956. TFLrepresentative.

Geoff Whitton. Joined the club in 1960 and became oneof the state’s top ruckmen. Played 134 games from 1960-1966 and in 1972. Led the team in 1966 and was coachin 1990. A 1964 premiership player, best and fairest1963 and 1964, and William Leitch Medallist in 1963.Represented TFL and Tasmania (seven times).

Warren Smart. Played 104 games from 1946-1953, Mostof his games were at centre half-back where he excelled.Played in the 1946 and 1952 premiership sides, andwon the William Leitch Medal in 1950. RepresentedTFL and Tasmania (five times).

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Rex Geard. Played 205 games from 1947 to 1951, 1956-1962, and in 1965. Captain in 1959 and coach from1963 to 1966. Played for Richmond for two seasons inthe early 1950s. Coached Bay’s 1964 premiership team.Best and fairest in 1958, and won Lefroy Medal in 1959.Represented TFL and Tasmania (seven times).

Ian Rumney. Played 200 games from 1953 to 1964 andplayed in the 1964 premiership team. A brilliant highmark and reliable long kick, he played in nine differentguernsey numbers. Represented TFL and Tasmania(twice).

Graeme Mackey. Played 269 games from 1968 to 1972,including the 1971, 1972, 1976, 1977 and 1978 pre-mierships.Vice-captain in 1973, 1974, 1976, 1977 and1978. Captain in 1975. and captain-coach from 1978 to1981. Best and fairest 1971, 1974 and 1977.Represented TFL and Tasmania (13 times).

Murray Steele. The first if the Steele clan to join theclub. Great high mark who played 97 games from 1958to 1962 and in 1967. Best and fairest in 1959 and win-ner of the William Leitch Medal the same year.Represented TFL and Tasmania (seven times).

Noel Ruddock was 17 when he became one of the 1945‘originals’ and was one of only four who played everygame that season. Played 242 games from 1945 to 1960.Played in the 1946 and 1952 premierships. Three timesbest and fairest (1947, 1951 and 1954) and vice-captainin 1955 and 1957. First to play 200 games (May 3,1958). Represented TFL.

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Roger Steele. Wonderful centreman who played 178games from 1964 to 1977, including the 1964, 1971 and1972 premierships. Five times best and fairest (1965,1966, 1968, 1969 and 1970). Won the William LeitchMedal in 1969 and 1970, and the Weller Arnold Medalin 1968. TFL and Tasmania representative.

Des James. Backman who was the nemesis of opposingplayers. Played 209 games from 1972-1984 and wascaptain in 1983 and 1984 and vice-captain in 1982.Played in the 1976, 1977 and 1978 premierships. Wonthe Weller Arnold Medal in 1977. All-Australian in1979, represented TFL and Tasmania (24 times). Hisdashing clearances were always a delight to watch.

Mike Clennett. Ruckman who played 184 games from1949 to 1960. Premiership player in 1952, vice-captainin 1974. Coached Under 17s to their first flag in 1963.Represented TFL and Tasmania (five times).

Tony Martyn. Graduated from the under-age ranks toplay 129 games from 1975-1978 and 1982-1984. Threesuccessive premierships in 1976, 1977 and 1978. Bestand fairest in 1978, 1982 and 1983. William LeitchMedallist in 1982 and 1983. Won Lefroy Medal in 1982and the E C Billett Shield in 1976. TFL and Tasmaniarepresentative (10 times).

Dale Flint. Came from the North-West Coast to play 114games from 1960 to 1965. Vice-captain in 1963 and cap-tain in 1964 and 1965, Best and fairest in 1961, and wonthe Weller Arnold Medal in 1961 and 1964.Premiership player in 1964. Represented TFL andTasmania (10 times).

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BAY HIGH ACHIEVERS

Darrin Pritchard was a member of the Sandy BayThirds 1983 premiership side, won the Thirds best andfairest award in 1984, and played 38 Senior games in1985 and 1986, before being recruited by Hawthorn inthe inaugural national draft. He went on to play 211games for the Hawks, including seven grand finals (win-

ning five). Darren also played seven State of Origin matches, captain-ing Tasmania three times, and won a string of Hawthorn club awards.Darrin received Sandy Bay’s most outstanding achievement award.

Robert Shaw joined Sandy Bay in 1971 as a 16-year-oldunder the father/son rule, and in that year played fiveSenior and 16 Reserves games, kicking two goals and 29goals respectively. The following year he played 12Senior and nine Reserves matches. Robert was recruit-ed by Essendon in 1973 and remained with the

Bombers until the end of 1983. He then returned to Tasmania to becaptain-coach of Clarence from 1984-1985, then assistant coach ofEssendon 1986-1988. The following season he was appointed assis-tant coach at Fitzroy, and led the Reserves to a premiership. He heldthe Senior coaching role at Fitzroy from 1991-1994, and coachedAdelaide from 1995-1996. In 1998 he was coaching director of theTassie Mariners, and had another stint as assistant coach at Essendonfrom 1999-2001. Robbie played State of Origin for Tasmania in 1979and 1980, and was coach in 1988, 1990, 1991 and 1992. He receivedSandy Bay’s highest achiever award.

Terry Cashion started his career with BuckinghamSSOBA Underage 1935-38, then played with New Town1939-40 and was runner-up in the Association Medal.In 1942 Terry played 6 games with South Melbournebefore suffering a serious knee injury. After World WarII he returned to the game with Clarence in the

Southern District Association in 1946 and won their Best and Fairest.In 1947 he joined Clarence in the TFL and won the Best and Fairest

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Noel Leary. Played 85 games from 1974 to 1978, andwas vice-captin in 1975. Best and fairest in 1975 andplayed in the 1976, 1977 and 1978 premierships, and atotal of five grand finals. Represented TFL andTasmania.

Michael Seddon. Played 161 games from 1975 to 1979,1986 to 1991, and 1996. Vice-captain 1990 and WilliamLeitch Medallist in 1988. Also won E C Billett Shield in1976. Played in the 1976, 1977 and 1978 premiershipteams. TFL and Tasmanian representative (13 times).

Chris Saunders. Played 206 games from 1972 to 1979,1981 to 1982, and 1984 to 1985. Best and fairest 1976and 1979. Won the Lefroy Medal in 1981. Played inseven grand finals, including four premierships. TFLand Tasmanian representative (12 times).

Ernie Pilkington played 99 games from 1946 to 1951and was captain-coach in 1948 and 1949. Best andfairest 1946 and 1950, and vice-captain 1946 and 1950.Played in the club’s first premiership (1946) and wonthe Lefroy Medal the same year. Represented TFL andTasmania (three times).

As the basic requirement was to have played 50 games with SandyBay, three high profile players were effectively ruled out of con-tention. They were Darrin Pritchard, Robert Shaw and Terry Cashion.

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19.

UNSUNG HEROES

CLUB LEGEND ERNIE PILKINGTON said it all more than 30 yearsago – the boot-studders, the trainers, time-keepers, gate-keepers arethe unsung heroes of football. He made his comments in his SaturdayEvening Mercury column ‘Voice of Football’ on August 26, 1972. Hesaid that ‘like the goal posts, they remain steadfast, and silently wit-ness the passing parade.’

It is worth reprinting some of that column in this book for themessage is as relevant today. ‘Any footballer, past or present, whodoes not rate at least one of these blokes among his best mates, isunfortunate. Consider this typical case: Tim is a 17-year-old beardlessrecruit, attending his first training session in the big league. He isthrilled but overawed to find himself sharing the same soap andwater with such illustrious shower-mates.

No player has shown much interest in anything but his own earlyseason fitness, and down deep Tim would like just a little more atten-tion. Then three blokes in white coats approach and introduce them-selves as Ray the boot-studder, Bob and Reg trainers. Suddenly Timfeels good.

A few weeks later the debut is over, the team has been defeated,and after an early shirtfront (Bob had another word for it) Tim mus-tered only eight kicks for the match. The dressing room is bereft ofsupporters – only a few committeemen who could be mistaken for atouring party of morticians, and all seem to be agreeing this roomwould make a fine funeral parlour.

Then Ray starts singing the club song, and Reg, with his armaround the shoulders of the disappointed Tim, joins in. In a flasheverybody – including the morticians – are singing and laughingagain. This afternoon is now yesterday, and next Saturday we will kil-l’em, but first there’s tonight to enjoy.’

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award as well as playing for Tasmanian in the ANFC Carnival inHobart and won the T G Standcombe Trophy as Tasmania’s Best andFairest Carnival player.

Terry then joined Longford 1948-51 and three times wonLongford’s, the NTFA’s and Mercury Best and Fairest awards. In 1950as Vice Captain of Tasmania at the Brisbane Carnival he again wonthe T G Standcombe award.

Terry then moved South and joined Sandy Bay 1952-53, played34 games and kicked 73 goals. He won Sandy Bay’s Best and Fairestin 1952 and 1953, and in 1953 won the William Leitch Medal as wellas the Mercury, 7HO and ABC awards.

Terry played in three ANFC Carnivals for Tasmania in a row.He turned to coaching and coached Princes Street State School in

1953; 1954 Premiers Snug; 1955-58 South East Under 19s who werePremiers in 1955; and Sandy Bay in 1959.

Terry joined the Committee in 1960-62 and was President of thePast Players Association 1963-64.

In 1965 Terry was involved in a serious car accident and it tookmany months of recovery to be able to walk again and this effective-ly ended his participation in football.

In 1994 Terry was named as one of Tasmania’s “MagnificentSeven” alongside Ian Stewart, Rex Garwood, Peter Hudson, DarrelBaldock, Royce Hart and Alistair Lynch.

Des James. While Des was named in “TheBay’s Best 25” his individual achievementof being selected in the All Australian Teamin 1979 was outstanding and his recordclearly shows what a remarkable player hewas: 209 games from 1974-84; member ofthe 1976, 1977 and 1978 Premiershipteams; Vice Captain 1982; Captain 1983 and1984; represented Tasmania 23 timesbetween 1977 and 1984; won the WellerArnold Medal 1977.

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Des and he equallyfamous VFL/AFL

umpiring brother Glen

seen using his skills doing building alterations or maintenance workaround the club.

Richard ‘Dickie’ Harrold’s football claim to fame is eight Reservesgames in 1966 and one ‘absolutely magnificent goal’. During the1960s, Dickie was either MC, singing, or telling jokes at the PleasantSunday Mornings, or playing base as back-up to The Harmony Two.‘Base’ was a tea-chest with a length of broom handle and a string tothe bottom of the tea-chest.

He was secretary of the Under-age from 1971-1984 and spentthree years on the general committee, serving under three presidents– Ken Austin, Bob Gozzi and Tim Maxwell. Dickie was awarded lifemembership in 1984 and has strongly contributed to the success ofthe reunions (He has been the MC since 1986). In short, a wonderfulcharacter and contributor.

Charlie Anderson, a property steward, performed every taskaround the club for more than 15 years, including construction andmaintenance work. He built the bar which at one stage was known toall as Charlie’s Bar. During the footy season anyone seeing his station

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Ernie Pilkington wound up his column by looking ahead to 1992– then 20 years away. ‘In 20 years’ time the Tims in every team willbe welcomed, nurtured and befriended by similar godfathers. Apartfrom their towels and white coats, plus of course the goal posts, noth-ing else will be recognisable because by 1992 there will have evolveda complete turnover of personnel.’

The unsung heroes referred to by Pilkington in 1972 were RayMartin the boot-studder, and Bob Case and Reg Maizey the trainers.

Ray Martin was around in the days of leather stops and would bethere on training nights with his hammer and last, pulling out and fit-ting new studs. On Saturdays he was property steward, doorman, andboot-studder if required. On the Pleasant Sunday Mornings he wouldbe the first to the piano for a singalong.

Bob Case, trainer and head trainer, served the club for more than44 years. He was there when the club was founded in 1945 and tooka break after 38 years before being lured back as head trainer. Bob wasalso inducted into the Hall of Fame.

Reg Maizey, known as ‘Crazy’, was a trainer for more than 10years and also served on the social committee and general fundrais-ing. He was also an integral part of the Pleasant Sunday Mornings, aswas his trainer mate R ‘Dooie’ Turner.

But not all the unsung heroes aremen. Doris Behrens gave Sandy Baygreat service over 27 years (1970-1997)and was secretary of the social com-mittee for 17 years.

The club also takes this opportu-nity to acknowledge the great contri-butions of all of the following people:

Ben McGuire worked for manyyears as a committeeman for the SouthEast under age from around 1940. In1962, South East changed its name toSandy Bay Under 19s, and Ben waselected chairman of the Under Agecommittee. Ben worked at Kemp &Denning’s timber mill and was often

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Doris Behrens

Dickie Harrold, second from right, with coach Rex Geard, Wayne Behrensand Ken Austin

significant contribution in the construction of the gymnasium andsauna which proved to be a critical element in the club’s success dur-ing the 1970s. During this time he also served as a director on theboard of the Travellers Rest Hotel. He was awarded life membershipin 1982.

Col Von Bibra was elected to the committee in 1968 and serveduntil 1980. During that time he was the senior committee representa-tive on both the Under-age and social committees. He was also heav-ily involved in establishing the sauna in the gymnasium, as well asupgrading the ground lighting with Max Cherry and Bob Purden.

Col did not restrict his role to committee activities and had ahands-on role as under-age, thirds and senior match manager from1969 to 1979. He was awarded life membership, and in 1971 receivedthe TFL Order of Merit. Since the demise of the club, he has main-tained his interest in football and was chairman of the SouthernTasmanian Junior Football League from 1999 to 2002.

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wagon go past could be forgiven for thinking ‘there goes some rev-head with his car lowered.’ It wasn’t. It was Charlie carting all therequired gear to or from games or training sessions. But he always lefta spot on the front lefthand side for ‘Bub’ (his wife) to sit. Charliereceived both the merit award and life membership for his manyyears of hard and loyal work.

David Cleary was awarded life membership for his 16 years ofdedicated service to the Under-age teams.

Bob Hope, Peter Millington and Leon Cupit were a dedicatedtraining trio who studied first aid so they could contribute as muchskill as possible to good injury management. All three were commit-ted to the club and later progressed to the head trainer position.

Jim Pelham, who started as a trainer in 1945, the club’s first year,was awarded life membership in 1956. He later became head trainerand also held that position with the Tasmanian team in 1960.

Jim, who also owned and trained greyhounds, became over-excit-ed one night at the TCA ground in 1963 when his dog won a race. Hejumped the fence to hug his champion, forgetting about the lure on asteel bar which was just completing a circuit of the track. The ‘rabbit’swept up behind him and the result was a broken leg. Bob Case filledin for Jim during his recuperation. When Jim returned he continuedin the role until 1968, clocking up 23 years service.

Trainers have always been the heart and soul of a football cluband there were many characters among those who served the Bay.People such as Alan ‘Chopsy’ Salter, George Howard, R ‘Dooie’Turner, Don Purdon, Tony Cole, Gerald Tonks, Bill Newitt, Les Harrisand Peter Hickman.

On the general committee scene, many long serving officials havebeen acknowledged in other chapters, or as inductees. But two otherswho made a significant contribution were R (Bob) Purden and ColVon Bibra. Bob Purden was elected in 1971 and served until 1981,and during this period was vice president (1975-1978) and president(1979-1981). He was also a very active member of the major supportgroup, The Seahawks, which was established in 1969. He is still pres-ident of the Seahawks which continues to support junior footballdevelopment in the area.

In the early days of Rod Olsson’s reign Bob Purden made a very

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Rex Geard (1947-1951 and 1956-1972). Rex played 305games, represented Tasmania seven times, and the TFLon numerous occasions. He was awarded life member-ship of the club in 1957 and won the best and fairest thefollowing year. In 1959 he won the Lefroy Medal asTasmania’s best player, and was a member of theTasmanian side which beat the VFL in 1960. Rexcoached the 1964 premiership team, and after coachingspent six years on the committee. He was chosen as oneof the club’s best 25.

Doris Behrens (1970-1997). A loyal supporter and hardworker for Sandy Bay, Doris was made a life member in1979. She was the only woman ever to receive this hon-our. She also received a merit certificate in 1988. Doriswas secretary of the social committee from 1970-1987,and a member of the fundraising committee and bingogroup from 1988 to 1997.

Bob Case (1945-1982 and 1988-1989). Bob, one of theoriginal trainers, retired after 38 years service, but waslured back six years later to become joint head trainer.He was made a life member in 1961 and in 1975 washonoured by the TFL with a merit award.

A (Bill) Pearce (1948-1968). Bill played 207 games andkicked 107 goals. In 1956 he won the Reserves best andfairest, received life membership, and played in theReserves premiership team. He was captain-coach ofthe TFL Seconds in games against the NTFA in both1955 and 1956. On retiring as a player he became clubsecretary. Bill also played a major role in establishingand conducting the legendary Pleasant SundayMornings. He is a life member of the Sandy Bay PastPlayers, Officials & Supporters Association.

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20.

HALL OF DAME

SEVEN YEARS AFTER SANDY BAY’S last game the spirit of theclub’s former players, officials and supporters was stronger than ever– a fact proved by the 2004 annual dinner at Wrest Point Hotel Casinowhen the inaugural members of the Hall of Fame were inducted. Itwas also an occasion to mark the 40th anniversary of the 1964 pre-miership and the 10th anniversary of the 1994 Reserves flag.

The Sandy Bay and South East Past Players, Officials andSupporters Association established the Hall of Fame primarily toacknowledge the contribution of players, officials and supportersover the life of the club. It will eventually accommodate 30 inductees.

Those inducted so far are:

Ken Austin (1953-1979). Ken was deputy presidentfrom 1953-1957, president from 1958-1978, and patronin 1979. He was also a club selector for 10 years, clubdelegate to the TFL and a state selector. Add to that vicepresident and senior vice president of the TFL. Kenreceived life membership of the club in 1958. In 1976,he was awarded the NFL Certificate of Merit, and alsoreceived life membership of the TFL.

Gordon Bowman (1952-1958). Gordon was captain-coach throughout the period and led the club to a pre-miership in his first season. He played 118 games, rep-resented Tasmania twice, and the TFL 14 times. Gordonalso captained the TFL team. He won the club’s bestand fairest in 1955 and 1957, and won the Lefroy Medalas Tasmania’s best player in 1954. Gordon was selectedas a member of Sandy Bay’s best 25 players.

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Bill Sorell. At the age of 18 joined the Social Committeeand progressed to the General Committee in 1973 andserved until 1986. He was appointed Reserves MatchManager from 1972-1979 and Senior Match Manager1980-1990. In 1991 Bill fulfilled a dream and becamePresident of his beloved Seagulls and remained in thatposition until 1997. A totally committed Seagull andenergetic worker.

Major V. A. Geard. President 1945-1958. Joined theLefroy club in 1911 and in 1920 was named captain.Major Geard represented Tasmania in the 1914 carnivaland retired as a player in 1926. He resigned as SandyBay president in 1958 to became chairman of the TFL,a post he held until 1971. He was a life member ofLefroy, Sandy Bay, and the TFL.

Bob Lahey. Recruited through the South East underageteam and played a record 315 games over 16 years(1958-60 amd 1962-1974). Bob captained the Reservesin 1966 and 1969, and from 1971-1974. He also coachedthe Reserves in 1966 and from 1971-1974. Bob had atotal of four premierships (1964 Seniors, and Reservesin 1969, 1971 and 1972. He won numerous clubawards including Reserves best and fairest in 1965,1966 and 1970. On May 23, 1964, he was vice-captainof the Seniors to his brother Don. They are possibly theonly brothers to hold the captaincy and vice-captaincyin a senior TFL team. Bob was awarded life member-ship.

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Graeme Mackey (1967-1984). Recruited from NorthHobart, Graeme played 269 games over 15 seasons. Hewas a member of the 1971, 1972, 1976, 1977 and 1978premiership teams and won the club’s best and fairestawards in 1971, 1974 and 1977. He was runner-up inthe William Leitch Medal in 1974. Graeme played forthe TFL and Tasmania 13 times. He is a member of theclub’s best 25. As well as his distinguished playingcareer he also served as a committee member anddeputy president, and in 1993 was president of the pastplayers and officials association.

Doug Plaister, AO, MBE (1951-1974 and 1980-1983). Apassionate supporter and tireless worker the club. Dougwas deputy president from 1959-1974, a TFL delegate,and patron of the club from 1980-1993. He managedTasmanian teams which played against South Australiaand the VFA, and also managed Tasmania during the1966 ANFC Carnival in Hobart. He was appointedchairman of the Tasmanian Football Council in 1975.

Noel Ruddock (1945-1960 and 1979-1989). Noel, thenage 17, was one of the 1945 originals and one of onlyfour to play in all 19 games that season. His 16-yearplaying career of 242 games spanned three decades. Heplayed in the 1946 and 1952 premiership teams, andwon the club’s best and fairest in 1947, 1951 and 1954.On July 27, 1951, Noel became the first Sandy Bay play-er to reach 100 games. On May 3, 1958, he played gamenumber 200. In addition to his wonderful playingcareer, Noel was a tireless worker for the club, havingserved as secretary, treasurer and auditor, as well asbeing a dedicated member of the past players associa-tion committee and the Seahawks.

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THEN there was the fishing trip offshore from Triabunna whereGraeme Mackey got a huge bite and began to haul in his catch. Noteasy, as Mackey’s hand and arm were in plaster. No problems. Withhis plastered hand pointed skywards, he refused help and insteadpulled the line between the thumb and forefinger of the injured hand.

It was a hell of a struggle but he was determined and eventuallythe prize began to appear. It was a large green plastic bucket. BillButler, fishing on the opposite side of the boat, had hooked Mackey’sline and tied the bucket to it, then given a sharp tug.

Mackey, excited, dropped his stubby (the only one he everdropped!) and hauled in his catch – an effort that reduced the plasterto mush.

Back on shore the local football club had arranged a beer and bar-becue in honour of the visitors from the Bay. As a fundraiser, theTriabunna mob auctioned a frozen tuna. Butler and BrendanLockwood decided to pool their cash and take turns lodging bids. Thepair became a tad too enthusiastic and ended up (as the only bidders)pushing the price to $30 instead of the predicted $20.

On the way back to town by bus Lockwood asked Butler if he hadput the tuna in the luggage compartment. Bill replied: ‘I thought youdid.’ The tuna was still at Triabunna and no doubt attended severalother fundraisers. The great fishing expedition finally ended withKerry Doran proudly carrying his catch into the house, wrapped inhis raincoat. And a very impressive entry it was as the fish slid downthe sleeves and landed on the carpet.

BOB Lahey always played the game hard and was never the mostpopular player with members and supporters of opposition clubs. Herecalls one game against Clarence at Queenborough when StuartSpencer put him into and under the bottom rail of the boundaryfence.

Lahey suffered a twisted ankle and had to be carried off on astretcher. Ben McKay, president of Clarence, leaned over the wound-ed warrior and said: ‘It should be a coffin that you’re being carried offin.’

North Hobart’s Ryde Street Stand and the North supporters ledby Daisy Upton always kept on eye on Lahey and on one occasion an

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21.

GOOD FOR A LAUGH

FUNNY THINGS HAPPEN in and around football clubs and SandyBay was certainly no exception. The arrival of Rod Olsson in 1970with his fierce commitment to fitness and endurance was the dawn ofa new era in Tasmanian football and some found it a touch exhaust-ing.

For instance, the pre-season training regime included runningfrom Queenborough down to Nutgrove beach. Once there, the sum-mer poundage was subjected to sprints up and down the beach, thenthrough the dunes before hitting the water or copping some compet-itive ball games.

To top off the outing, there was a timed run back to the oval.The coach’s instruction was ‘get back to Queenborough as quick-

ly as you can’. The slowest left in the first bunch, while the very fitOlsson and the greyhound Chris Rae were last to set off. Invariablythey reeled the first group in.

But one night, unbeknown to the players, a staunch supporterhad enjoyed an extended stay at the Beach House Hotel and was,somewhat unwisely, preparing to drive home at the wheel of his flat-tray truck.

The slow group took their coach at his word and flagged downthe driver. Eight of them clambered up onto the truck and away theywent, one with his legs hanging over the passenger side of the vehi-cle. He narrowly escaped a serious injury when the supporter wentclose to wiping out a parked car.

All eight survived and jumped off at the Travellers Rest andsprinted to Queenborough. They had showered and were gettingdressed when Olsson burst through the door in a lather of sweat.Little was said but nothing was missed because at the next trainingrun eight players found themselves doing extra 440s and 220s.

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agent. He went first, then Geard soaked up his share. The only prob-lem was that when they drained the bath they couldn’t shift the blackwater line around its edge. The tanning was a big success, but theirblack butts took some explaining.

That wasn’t the end of their adventures in Brisbane. One nightthey went to a dance hall and arrived back at the hotel an hour afterthe 10.30pm curfew. They spotted the team manager through thehotel’s glass doors, so Rex suggested they climb a fence and enter viathe fire escape. He clambered up onto the fence, then hauled Daleafter him. Rex then jumped – and landed on a stack of empty bottles.All hell broke loose as the bottles shattered. Flint reckoned it wouldhave been quieter if they had decided just to smash the front doorsand stroll through the foyer.

IT was during Rod Olsson’s reign that the committee decided toimprove the ground lighting. This required extra poles to be installedon the northern side of the ground. The Hydro had just acquired anew truck with hole-boring and pole-handling equipment, and theoperators required practice in their use.

The club was kind enough to allow this to happen at Queen-borough and without charge to the Hydro. Naturally, once the poleswere erected they had to remain in situ! Some of the neighboursdidn’t like the lights on the southern side, and one took to the cableswith an axe on several occasions.

Secretary Michael Wright set himself up in the timekeeper’s boxin order to catch and arrest the offender. However, his snoring musthave driven the mad axeman away as the vandalism never occurredagain. Perhaps he thought a wild animal was lying in wait.

COMMITTEEMAN Bill Andrews tended to stutter when excited andalso had a fear of air travel. During one meeting there was discussionabout chartering a Fokker Friendship to take the team to Melbournefor a practice match.

This particular type of plane was at the top of Bill’s terror list andhe objected strongly. It does not bear repeating in print Bill’s attemptsat articulating the plane’s name!

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orange was thrown at him. He picked it up, peeled it, ate it, thenthrew the peel back into the stand.

But after the games, be it at Bellerive or North Hobart, all was for-given and it was common for Bay players to attend other clubs par-ties.

When Lahey broke the club record for games played, he receiveda card of congratulations signed by ‘your sincere old friend, DaisyUpton.’

THE march of technology (circa 1989) had some players and officialsunder pressure, according to a report in the Southern Seagull Newsin March that year. Coach Shane Williams, players Ross Burns andMichael Seddon, and team manager Bill Sorell were returning fromBurnie by car after having watched a Burnie-Devonport practicegame.

They were in a new Falcon, courtesy of the sponsor Budget, and‘Percy’ decided to change the station they were listening to to the onewhich had the race results. He was convinced that the station theywere on was 432. After a lot of button-pushing on the new-fangleddigital controls, one of the passengers pointed out that 432 which hadsuddenly become 433 was a clock, not a radio frequency.

WAY back in 1962, club secretary Bill Pearce enlivened his regularSeagull Sentiments report with the following: I would like to con-clude with this little poem dedicated to the memories of memberswho arrive home late on Saturday nights.

A lovely black eye has my poor Uncle JimHe said his wife aimed a tomato at himTomatoes don’t hurt you, I said with a grinNo, but these here tomatoes were in a tin!

DALE Flint and Rex Geard took part in the 1961 ANFC Carnival inBrisbane and during the pre-carnival parade they realised how lily-white they and their Tassie team-mates were in comparison to thebronzed interstaters. They realised something had to be done. Flint’ssolution was to fill a bath and add Condie’s crystals as a tanning

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SANDY BAY FOOTBALL CLUB HONOUR BOARD

President1944 Archdeacon T J O’Donnell1945-1957 Major V A Geard MBE1958-1978 K E Austin1979-1981 R H Purden1982-1986 R K Gozzi1987-1988 R J Henderson1989-1990 T K Maxwell1991-1997 W A F Sorell

Secretary1944-1946 E W Barwick1947-1948 R T Jones1949 C Thornbury1950-1961 A R Johnston1962-1968 A Pearce1969-1978 M R Wright1979 G McNaney/N Ruddock1980-1981 N J Ruddock1982 N J Ruddock/J Robertson/C Wright1983 A Abbott1984-1985 T McNaney1986 T K Maxwell1987 R Newton1988 K Harvey1989-1995 S Morrisby1996-1997 M Morrisby

Treasurer1944 J Rogers1945-1946 T R Coombe1947-1948 E C Briggs1949 J Rogers1950-1954 E C Briggs1955-1970 J T Henderson

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TRAINER R ‘Dooie’ Turner was involved in a heavy debate with fel-low trainer Reg Maizey one night during the 1960s and was heard tosay: ‘Yes, alright, alright, I accept there’s been injuries and deaths infootball, but none of them serious.’

LANCE Spaulding delivered a half-time address to the Reserves sidein the 1994 grand final and made it clear he wasn’t happy that theywere not picking up players because, in short, they assumed theopposition wouldn’t kick short. ‘Never, never, never assume anassumption,’ he roared.

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Life Members – PlayersR Lahey (315) G Mackey (269) M Elliott (256) N Ruddock (242)V Di Venuto (224) D Sward (215) L Pilkington (215) D James (209)C Saunders (206) R Geard (205) A Pearce (200) I Rumney (200)L Spaulding 201) D Morrisson (190) M Clennett (184) G Coleman (184)R Steele (178) T Whitford (178) R Jacobs (178) K Pelham (174)K Cripps (173) R Chapman (172) Michael Steele (172)R Newton (172)I Westell (169) P Di Venuto (169) N Ricketts (167) B Joyce (164)R Burns (164) N Eiszele (162) M Seddon (161) B Orr (159)G Hills (159) R Baker (157) J Mundy (156) P Burnell (156)J Kuipers (155) B Knight (152) D Jones (152) S Spaulding (152)N Styles (150) P Dermoudy (150) R Johnston (150) M Watterson (150)R Holmes (149) A Clarke (146) J Huxley (146) R Lewis (140)J Mason (137) A Shaw (136) B Patterson (135) B Palfreyman (135)G Whitton (134) B Bowden (132) G Baker (131) D Coram (131)D Purdon (130) R Gay (128) W Butler (127) L Abbott (125)L Gaunt (123) R Touliman (119) G Bowman (119) C Beckett (115)L Orchard (114) D Flint (114) K Doran (114) J Denehey (113)D Finch (111) M Howard (109) A Thiessen (108) L Cahir (107)B Loring (106) G Clarke (105) W Smart (104) D Hawker (102)M Wright (102)

Eligibility for player life membership changed from 100 games to 150 in1971, to start from the 1972 season due to a new Constitution being adopt-ed on 9 August 1971. The reason behind this increase was that players werenow playing up to 25 games a season, which meant that a player was eligi-ble for life membership after only 4 years. This was not considered a longenough service to the club to warrant life membership.

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1971-1974 J A Andrews1975-1979 J D Whitehouse1980 N J Ruddock1981 J D Whitehouse1982 N J Ruddock/F Abel1983 F Abel1984-1987 R J Henderson1988-1997 N Schofield

Senior Coaches1945 J Rogers 1979-1981 G Mackey1946-1947 L Collins 1982 G Linton1948-1949 E Pilkington 1983-1984 P Sproule1950 J Rogers 1985 T Maxwell1951 A Lucas 1986-1988 A Bennett1952-1958 G Bowman 1989 S Williams1959 T Cashion 1990 S Williams/

G Whitton1960-1962 S Booth 1991-1992 P Jeffreys1963-1966 R Geard 1993-1994 C Fagan1967-1969 R Giblett 1995 M Hibberd/

L Spaulding1970-1975 R S Olsson 1996 L Spaulding1976-1978 P Sproule 1997 T Clarke

Life MembersMaj.V A Geard J Pratt W Williams W NewittJ Pelham K E Austin S Simpson F NaylorL Hurst D R Plaister B McGuire R MaizeyC Von Bibra Mrs D Behrens E Westwood R HarroldN Schofield G Howard P Millington S MorrisbyE W Barwick D Pratt K McCarthy E C BriggsA R Johnston J T Henderson D Stevenson R CaseJ Kearney C Bird A Fulton M StreetD R Turner R H Purden W A F Sorell D ClearyC Anderson A Salter R Henderson B Lewis

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Seniors Reserves Under 19s Under 17s1978 T Martyn H Pastoor P Inglis R Fazackerly1979 C Saunders M Cook D Chapman J Fletcher/

F Kuipers1980 J Mundy L Prapotny A Davies C Coleman1981 G Jackson L Prapotny J Fletcher E Robert

Thirds Fourths1982 T Martyn A Jessop P Sherwood T Fox1983 T Martyn P Davis S Nichols D Huxtable1984 L Spaulding P Crowe D Pritchard M Rofe1985 C Fagan P Crowe G Shaw R Banks-Smith1986 A Bennett C Margetts G Joyce D Burrows1987 R Burns G Joyce J Griggs J Ransom1988 R Dolliver/ M Herlihy M McGregor J Williams

B Dunne1989 S Stevenson P Burnell S Bayley N Yeoland1990 G Osborne B Wolf D Hall J Bradshaw1991 P Burnell R Palfreyman M Keogh J Oakley1992 P Burnell R Stevens S Mackey B Williams1993 P Burnell B Chorley K Steele R Freeman1994 P Burnell S Strong C Freeman B Cornish1995 G Wiggins S Duigan J Harriss M Herd

Under 18s1996 N Probert G Joyce M Johnston1997 N Palfreyman C Sutherland

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Best and Fairest Award WinnersSeniors Reserves Under 19s Under 17s

1945 H Ayers D Purton1946 E Pilkington D Briggs1947 N Ruddock N Clarke1948 W Kingston D V Smart1949 I Westell H Smith1950 E Pilkington R Toulmin1951 N Ruddock B Mudge1952 T Cashion D Lewis1953 T Cashion B Mudge1954 N Ruddock D Williams1955 G Bowman B Knight1956 K Cripps A Pearce1957 G Bowman D Anning1958 R Geard J Huxley1959 M Steele P Bruce1961 D Flint B Beckett1962 R Francey T Bayley1963 G Whitton T Russell L Sward1964 G Whitton R Jacklyn1965 R Steele R Lahey D Hughes1966 R Steele R Lahey J Banks1967 P Gadsden D Hughes R Elwell1968 R Steele R Hynes T Bell R Pepper1969 R Steele L Pilkington B Lovell P Unsworth1970 R Steele R Lahey P Unsworth P Styles1971 G Mackey R Lahey C Beadle W Cripps1972 N Styles J Marschall J Oates A Davis1973 B Joyce W Cripps C Westell L Prapotny

Under 18s1974 G Mackey P O’Dwyer T Martyn1975 N Leary T Lewis/ T Martyn

P Bucher1976 C Saunders D Morrison S Mount1977 G Mackey H Pastoor S Dillon D Coleman

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George Watt Medal (Reserves):1947 Neil Clarke1949 Ron Toulmin1950 Ron Toulmin1951 Ron Toulmin1959 Brian Nicholls 1961 Barry Beckett1969 Leigh Pilkington1976 John Mundy1978 Henry Pastoor1980 Henry Pastoor1987 Craig Randall1987 Mark Radford

Thirds Association Medal:1935 J Dobjecki (South East)1936 N Richardson (South East)1942 Geoff Frier (South East)1951 Brian Cartwright (South East)1952 John Cracknell (South East)1975 Michael Seddon (Sandy Bay)1980 Alistair Davies (Sandy Bay)1982 Peter Sherwood (Sandy Bay)1983 Robert Newton (Sandy Bay)1985 Shane Sinnitt (Sandy Bay)1990 Drew Hall (Sandy Bay)

Fourths – D R Plaister Medal:1987 Paul Burnell

E C Billett Shield (Best 1st year under 21 player in TFL):1965 Kerry Doran1976 Michael Seddon and Tony Martyn (tie)

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Merit AwardsC Bird, D Davis, R Maizey, D Purdon; Mesdames C Jacobs, M Purdon,D Hill; R Hill, C Anderson, G Howard, Mesdames D Wiggins, VMcCarthy, J Langford, M Dalwood, D Behrens, P Dennis, D Bartram,D Dennis; G Genson, N Dalwood, M Dennis, R Henderson, PMillington, D Ling, G Loring, M Burles, B Lewis, R Lister, J Panton, EDi Venuto, M Scales, V Lister, E Di Venuto; Misses H Tew and S Tew.

TFL and Tasmanian AwardsThe honours and awards gained by players and officials over theClub’s 52-year history are proof of the great contribution they made tofootball. Three players twice won the William Leitch Medal as Bestand Fairest (Roger Steele, Rod Olsson and Tony Martyn) and DesJames was selected in the 1979 All Australian team. Terry Cashionwas awarded the William Leitch Medal in 1953 and was Tasmania’sbest player in the interstate carnivals of 1947 and 1950. The amazingIan Westell six times headed the TFL goalkicking list (1948, 1950,1952, 1954-55 and 1957).

The following is the list of major achievements 1945-1997:

William Leitch Medal:1946 Ernie Pilkington1950 Warren Smart1953 Terry Cashion1956 Bob Lewis1963 Geoff Whitton1969 Roger Steele1970 Roger Steele1971 Rod Olsson1973 Rod Olsson1982 Tony Martyn1983 Tony Martyn1986 Andy Bennett1988 Michael Seddon1995 Geoff Wiggins

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Most Games for TFL and Tasmania:Des James (24), Graeme Mackey (13), Michael Seddon (13), Chris Saunders(12), Dale Flint (10), Tony Martyn (10), Kerry Doran (9), Rex Geard (8), IanWestell (7), Murray Steele (7), Geoff Whitton (7), Michael Clennett (5),Warren Smart (5), Roger Chapaman (5), Andy Bennett (5).

TFL Leading Goalkicker:1947 Johnny Martin 45*1948 Ian Westell 571950 Ian Westell 831952 Ian Westell 67*1954 Ian Westell 681955 Ian Westell 851957 Ian Westell 671969 Brent Palfreyman 641970 Brent Palfreyman 641973 Rod Adams 87 (plus 10 in finals)1978 Michael Elliott 122. (Elliott was the only Sandy Bay player to kick

100 or more goals. He was runner-up to Peter Hudson with 149.)1995 Michael McGregor 93* The League did not count goals in Finals.

TFL Merit Award:1970 Ben McGuire1975 Bob Case1977 Mrs Carlene Jacobs1978 Col Von Bibra1986 Neville Schofield

TFL Life Members:Major V A GeardKen AustinDoug Plaister

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Weller Arnold Medal (Best and Fairest in TFL intrastate side):1961 Dale Flint1964 Dale Flint1965 David Jones (tie)1968 Roger Steele1977 Des James

All Australian:1979 Des James

Lefroy Medal (Best and Fairest for Tasmania):1954 Gordon Bowman1959 Rex Geard1971 Kerry Doran1981 Chris Saunders1982 Tony Martyn

Tasmanian Carnival Team Honours:1947 Lance Collins, Captain.1950 Terry Cashion, Vice Captain (Longford)1966 Doug Plaister, Manager1969 Doug Plaister, Manager1972 Doug Plaister, Manager1975 Graeme Mackey, Captain

Tasmanian Team Honours:1950 Terry Cashion, Capt. v. New South Wales1954 Gordon Bowman, Capt. v. Australian Amateurs, Capt v. VFA1965 Dale Flint, Capt. v. South Australia. Vice Capt. v. VFA.1967 Doug Plaister, Manager v. Victoria1968 Doug Plaister, Manager v. VFA1970 Doug Plaister, Manager v. VFA1971 Doug Plaister, Manager v. South Australia1973 Rod Olsson, Vice Captain v. Victoria. Doug Plaister, Manager1975 Graeme Mackey, Captain v. Queensland1975 Graeme Mackey, Captain v. ACT1977 Paul Sproule, Captain/Coach v. South Fremantle

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Statisticians:W Williams, B Lewis, J Whitehouse, J Blackwood, N Harper, R Purden, P Fehre, C Von Bibra, Bob Hope, D Bicton, B Moore, A Docking, T Nicholls, G McNonagh, B Carter, N Ruddock,M Gregory, G Cohen, P Chadwick, ‘Rocky’ Cohen, Mesdames M Morrisby,M Ruddock, Misses D Coad, K Ruddock.

Banner Makers:B Andrew, A Abbott, B Saunders, W Sorell, R Hend, M Burles, S Morrisby,Mesdames R Seddon, S Maxwell, N De Vos, Misses D Anderson, KRuddock, D Linscott, L Bateman.

Bar Staff:M Cummins, B Carter, A Dick, B Lewis, S Morrisby, S Allenby, R Carter, G Webb, B Dienaar, D Noga, G Loring, K Gunton, J Panton, GBartley, D Jacoora, G Gilbert, N Scofield, W Sorell, K Reinmuth, D Ketchell, Mesdames M Morrisby, M Scales, A Dick, Misses T Henderson, L Bateman, D Anderson.

As the Club did not retain full records of all people involved in the above categories, the authors apologise for any omissions.

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THE FORGOTTEN PEOPLE OF FOOTBALL

Trainers:W Newitt, J Pelham, R Case, S Hutchison, B Moody, M Newitt, E Smith, H Boon, R Maizey, D Purdon, C Edhouse, A Burnett, W Smart, ‘Dooie’ Turner, G Tonks, W Milburn, P Hickman,Grosser, L Harris, L Green, B Moore, George Howard, A Salter, T Cole, G Clarke, Glen Howard, L Anderson, P Millington, P Anderson, J Don, K Collis, T Nicholls, L Cupit, M Lewis, S Tidswell, G Glass, S Kingswell, S Francis, Bob Hope, R Hope, S Spence, M Gregory, M Williams, A Millington, N Cane, K Millington.

Timekeepers:H Stevenson, J Prairie, J Henderson, D Lipscombe, A Williams, L Champion, H Burnie, N Griggs, M Lennon, S Jones, L Lack, D McHugo, M Hagar, J McConnon, W Jenkins, D Thomas, R Hend,N Schofield, B Lewis, T O’Neill, P Watterson, B Smith, N Grey, B Gilham, B Carter, M Thompson, Mesdames M Morrisby, K Thompson.

Team Runners:B Connolly, M Seddon, A Verrier, M Watterson, S Francis, S Johnston, N Gowans, T Goc, M Steele, R Johnston, M Armstrong, G Hughes, V Di Venuto, C Rae, J Lewis, K Grace, R Catheral, M Allie, M Elrick, J Ransome, D Hughes, R Squires, T Steele, D Coventry, T Smeekes, R Morrisby.

Honorary Solicitors:L Murdoch, W Ayliffe, A Hinman, Wallace Wilkinson & Webster, D Whitehouse, D Noga.

Honorary Auditors:H H Facy & Son, J Bennetto, R Ikin, B Palfreyman, N Ruddock, M Peck, R Ridge.

Boot Studders:T Hopwood, J Ward, D Donahue, J McNamee, R Martin, C Risely, G Twoomey, C Anderson.

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Back: George Howard, Alan Salter, Geoff Woolley, Charlie Anderson andDooie Turner. Front: Peter Millington, Glen Howard and Leigh Anderson.

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