Rushworth Football Club 1st XVIII premier 1965. Back H. Parker (trainer), A. Horne, W. Risstrom, J. Strain, I. Coyle, H. Hawking, P. Home, J. O’Donnell, R. Betson, G. Collard, M McLeod, M. Hitchcock Sr (trainer), W. Lambden (president); (seated) I. Baldwin, G. Johansen, W. Cruz (captain coach), M. Hitchcock Jr, R. Barlow, G. Hageman; (kneeling) P. Barlow, R.E. O’Donnell (secretary), G. Hickcock (mascot), W. Heath; (inset) J. WIlliams, P.Keogh.
Photo by
Contributed
Kyabram Football Club recently brought together “lads” from the 1965 under-18 premiership team for a 60-year reunion of players now aged about 76 or 77.
Hold tight - we’re checking permissions before loading more content
Rushworth Football Netball Club is going one better by holding a 60-year reunion of premiership players, most of whom were already men in 1965. Several are now well older than 80.
The Tigers have a fine tradition of recognising past successes and Saturday, August 9 will be the next opportunity, during and after home matches against Girgarre.
All former players are invited, with special guests of honour being the footballers who broke a long premiership drought in 1965, the club’s first season in the Heathcote league, taking the flags in the seniors and reserves.
There is also a 20-year reunion for Rushworth’s 2005 A-grade premiership side on the same day.
Rushworth had been a powerhouse in Goulburn Valley League football, winning five premierships in six years in the 1930s, before a long period of battling, making a rare, but unsuccessful, first semi-final appearance against City United (now Shepparton United) at Tatura in 1958.
The team that day included three Morrison medallists — Bill Cruz, Lindsay Turnbull and policeman Con O’Toole.
Seasons of further struggle until the end of 1964 prompted the move to the Heathcote league, with Cruz as captain-coach of the seniors, the reserves captained by his brother Len, known to all as Tony.
Senior players Murray Hitchcock (vice-captain), Graeme Hageman, Ivan Baldwin, Jim Strain, brothers Ralph and Paul Barlow, Robert Betson, Bill Heath, Wes Risstrom and John O’Donnell have all been invited to get together.
These 10 men will remember their late teammates Bill Cruz, Howard Hawking (Heathcote league best-and-fairest 1965), Malcolm McLeod, Peter Home, Alec Horne, Graeme Johansen, Graeme Collard, Ian Coyle, and the 19th and 20th men James Williams and Peter Keogh.
Rusthworth Football Club HDFL reserves premier 1965. Back R. Murphy, P. Cleary, F. Smith, L. Morgan, L. Hoyling, B. Howard, J.P. Williams, J. Malony, R. Francis; (centre) K. Wilson, F. Leggett, R. Talbot, R. Borger, R. Coyle, M. Quirk, H. Parker; (front) Maurice Hitchcock, M. Barlow, W. Barlow, R. Williams, L. Gleeson, W. Lambden (president), L. Parker, L. Cruz (captain) and P. Keogh.
Photo by
Contributed
Also located and invited are the seven surviving seconds players, Bill Barlow, his cousin Michael Barlow, Ross Williams, Ross Coyle, Les Hoyling, Ken Wilson and Lyle Parker.
Gone from that team are Peter Keogh (two flags in a day, playing seconds then 20th man for the seniors), Tony Cruz, Rob Borger, Peter Cleary, Linton Gleeson, Barry Howard, Frank Leggett, John Maloney, Les Morgan, Mick Quirk, Fred Smith, Dick Talbot and John P. Williams.
The rare 60-year reunion will feature a special lunch at the pavilion, starting at noon for the sharing of memories of the great season in 1965 and an historic team photo.
The important day will also recognise 20 years since the excitement of the 2005 netball premiership in Kyabram District League.
All netballers from that season will be warmly welcomed.
After the day’s play the club plans a silent auction, the presentation of incentive awards, and a goods and services auction, all in the pavilion.
For more information, phone club secretary Crystal Pateman on 0481 386 981 or visit the club’s facebook page.
13°C