Yesterday's Heroes: Fremantle's footballers and wharfies | Interest
Yesterday's Heroes: Fremantle's footballers and wharfies
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25.01.2022 Barry John, left and Joe Lanzini worked writing down on a board the names of the wharfies who had been rostered work for a particular day. Before the roster system, workers were selected by a couple of people employed by the Fremantle Port Authority. It was the "you, you and you" system where a ring of wharfies wanting work for the day were were anxiously waiting to be selected. Those in charge would be in the inside of a ring of wharfies looking for work. Mates of those ...who were selecting the labour requirements needed for that particular day ( note that the two in the photo were not involved in that) were selected first. They would point to various wharfies saying "You, You and You". Money was changed over at hotels and given to the those doing the selecting by the bar staff, with the names of the donors. Those giving the money or buying drinks for the selectors were rewarded by getting picked for a job. The morning job-seeking ritual was called the 'pick-up' and the ring of men around those doing the selecting was called 'the bullpit. To make things worse, for their entertainment, those selecting the wharfies saved half a dozen tickets to throw into the ring, and sat back taking delight in watching men fight each other for a ticket to take to the FPA employees - such as those in the picture. Fortunately the whole system was rejigged and a roster system was introduce. See more
25.01.2022 I have received two photos but the players have not been identified. Can you help. I'm thinking that the player on the right is Stan Magro.
24.01.2022 The two Ebb brothers from East Fremantle: Alan, left and Ken right. Allan was another player who had his career cut short by World War 11. He played 128 games in 8 seasons with East Fremantle winning the Lynn Medal in 1946 as well as the Simpson Medal in the 1946 Grand Final. East Fremantle were undefeated in that year. Alan was an exceptional ruckman with great competitive spirit. Ken Ebbs made his debut in 1945 When Ken retired in 1956 he had made 159 appearances for Old Easts winning a fairest award in 1949, Whether in defense or as a ruck-rover type on the ball he was lively, shrewd and almost always effective. Ken also played 4 state games.
24.01.2022 Steve Marsh and Alby Western were both Kalgoorlie footballers when they enlisted for duties in World War 2. They both had played for Railways during the season. Marsh had applied for military leave to play with Railways in the Grand Final against Kangas [Kalgoorlie City). But Western took leave of absence. Western kicked 10 goals and Marsh 4 and Railways won the Grand Final. But the military police were called in to arrest Western. Negotiations took place and the military police agreed to take Western into custody at midnight: after he had his share of the keg at the premiership celebrations.
23.01.2022 South Fremantle footballers going on a trip to the Eastern States at the end of a football season. This photo was taken on the Perth station. One of the things the players used to do on the trip was to organise games of two-up when the steam train stopped at places on the trans-line to fill up with water. The players in the photo from left are: Don Glass (who later played for Subiaco), Tony Parentich, Peter Cobby and Pat Daly. South had an excellent record against clubs from the Eastern States in the years after WW2. They were unbeaten and before a jam-packed crowd at Fremantle Oval in 1954, thrashed a very good Collingwood team.
23.01.2022 South Fremantle's Col Davey, Norm Smith and John Gerovich. To get a game with South Fremantle during their golden years meant something because they had a fantastic team. Gerovich was recognised by most people as being the most spectacular high mark to have played the game. Norm Smith, a very good ruckman and State player played in SF's 1950, 1952, 1953 and 1954 premiership sides.
22.01.2022 From Chris Carmody: author of Yesterday's Heroes and Manager of Yesterday's Facebook page. I have spent a lot of time in hospital these last three months and have not been able to spend the time on my Facebook Page, Yesterday's Heroes, as I would like. I am making progress with South Fremantle Football Club to use their old photos to post on the website, in the manner that Maureen Gathercole has been able to do for East Fremantle. The ledger is probably East Fremantle's way ...and I hope for the sake of the South's supporters I can balance that up. With Christmas approaching I still have some books for sale at $35 per book (or $30 per book if more than one is ordered - less if there is a large order). Contact me as per below if you want information. The books can also be bought at Boffins in William St in Perth, the South Fremantle Football Club and the New Editon Bookshop in HIgh Street, Fremantle. if you have some old photos of EF &SF players, wharfies at work or at meetings etc, spectators at the football games or any which you think would be of interest for people who visit this website, please email them to me, with details of the photo, and I will post them on the web page : [email protected] Or phone me on 94464527 or moblle 0409371674 Enjoy the photos below of Steve Marsh and George Doig - two fabulous Fremantle footballers. See more
22.01.2022 Oscar Howard was inducted into the East Fremantle's Hall of Fame. He played 157 games for East Fremantle from 1955 to 1963. Howard played 4 state games for WA. He will be remembered for kicking a last minute goal against Perth in the 1957 Preliminary Final which put them into the Grand Final which they won. Howard's Grandson, Jhey Richardson, is currently playing cricket for the Scorchers and for WA. He made his test debut for Australia in February 2017.
19.01.2022 South Fremantle 's Garry Scott and John Gerovich at State training with Western Australia.
14.01.2022 Vale Colin Beard Colin Beard came to South Fremantle via Armadale Juniors. Born on 12th December 1941 he made his debut for Souths in 1959. Some of the highlights of his distinguished football career are: * Played 168 games for South Fremantle.... * Played 2 games for Western Australia. * Played 33 games for Richmond. * South Fremantle Fairest and Best 1966 * Premiership Player with Richmond 1969. * Coached Cuballing to a premiership in 1973. * Coached South Fremantle 1974-1976. * Inducted as a life member of the Tom Hafey Club. Deepest sympathy to his family. He will be sadly missed.
14.01.2022 Sol Lawn (his nickname came from a well-known bookmaker Sol Green) joined South Fremantle in 1929. One of his two brothers played for Souths and the other played for East Fremantle. Sol headed SF's goal-kicking list for the next seven years. One of his attributes was his accurate kicking from the place kick. He eclipsed Bonny Campbell's club goal-kicking aggregatee
12.01.2022 High Street Just before the Round House. The Decorations are now taken down.
11.01.2022 Colin Boot and Bernie Naylor put the pressure on West Perth defenders in a game at Fremantle Oval.
11.01.2022 From "Fremantle: A People's Place" (Courtesy Dennis Roberts -- A Chapter from his very popular book) THE TERMINUS HOTEL The Blood-house!!...Continue reading
07.01.2022 Les Everest, a football journalist and raconteer, writes some words about the development of "Yesterday's Heroes" and about Nukarni Football club and a farmer, Johnny Crook, in particular who South Fremantle recruited from Nukarni to play with them in 1950. 5 games into the season, the state selectors picked him in the state side for a match against Victorial. WA won convincingly and John Crook played a magnificent game against Victorian star, Bob Davis from Geelong.
07.01.2022 This is the famous South Fremantle Football team, coached by Ross Hutchinson, a primary school teacher. Hutchinson had previously coached East Fremantle and West Perth, taking them to five grand finals as well as winning premierships with both clubs. Hutchinson was captain-coach of SF in 1947 and coach in 1948 and 1949. John Todd also coached 3 clubs to flags. Both men came from Deanmill, near Manjimup. Hutchinson won the Distinguished Flying Cross in 1944 as an RAAF bomber pilot. He was MLA for Cottesloe from 1950 to 1977, a cabinet minister and a speaker of the Legislative Assembly. He was knighted in 1977 and died in 1999, This was the first premiership of South's golden run of flags. Six premierships in eight years. They were a power-house side. Thanks to Steve Errington who wrote "Southerners for Ever More".
06.01.2022 Bags of wheat waiting to be put on ships lining up on Victoria Quay before the days of bulk handling. A lot of sore backs and shoulders in those days. No wonder the EF and SF footballers who worked on wharf presented as very tough footballers.The building over the road from the P&O Hotel was the Waterside Workers Federation of Australia. A lot of business was discussed in the P&O hotel the licensee of which was Gerry Bahen, SF's great centre-half back.
06.01.2022 South Fremantle's great full-forward Bernie Naylor in action. 17 times or more, Naylor kicked 10 goals or more. Todd said that Naylor was a dominant factor in South Fremantle winning 6 premierships in 8 years after the war ended. During the war, Naylor practised kicking a football between palm trees in Darwin and New Guinea. Naylor kicked a hundred goals or more five times and topped the league goal kicking six times. Naylor attributed the length and accuracy of his torpedo punting to an unconventional grip on the ball with the lace on the right, rather than uppermost.
05.01.2022 Ideal Christmas Present "Yesterday's Heroes Fremantle's Footballers and Wharfies of the Golden Years" Chris Carmody, the author of Yesterday's Heroes, has tried to develop an understanding of what it was like living in Fremantle from the 1930's through to the mid-1960s through the eyes of East Fremantle and South Fremantle footballers, wharfies, publicans and and identities such as George Grljusich and Melbourne Cup winning jockey, JJ Miller.... Over 30 interviews have produced a smorgasbord of delightful stories and yarns which will give people an insight into life in Fremantle during those times. Among the many football interviewed were: George Doig, Steve Marsh, Jack Sheedy, MIchael and Harry Regan, John Todd, John, Gerovich, Wilson Onions, Trizzie Lawrence and many more. All of those interviewed have their own chapters. Unfortunately a few of those interviewed have since passed away. Signed copies are avaliable from Chris Carmody for $35. If postage is needed cost will be an extra $10. Contact detalis for the author are moblie: 0408934994, 0409371674 Landline: 94464527 Email: [email protected] Thank you Chris Carmody
03.01.2022 South Fremantle's sixth premiership in eight years from 1947 to 1954. They were a formidable team with many brilliant players. At that time approximately half of both the EF and SF teams' training lists worked on the wharf
02.01.2022 Unfortunately this photo is not the Victoria Pavillion situated at Fremantle Oval. It is a photo of the Members Stand at the Sydney Cricket Ground being built. In January 1887, local architect Frederick William Burvell won a competition by the Fremantle Council for the design of a pavillion for Fremantle Oval. He also designed the Sail and Anchor hotel amid other Fremantle buildings. The foundation stone was laid on 25 June to celebrate Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee. I wil...l posts some photos of the Victoria Pavillion at the Fremantle Oval. At a cost of 3650 pounds the pavillion was built by the Blackman brothers, and was opened by the premier Sir John Forrest on 6 November 1897. The building is listed on the Register of the National Estate. East Fremantle Football Club and the South Fremantle Football Club used the oval together. EF was formed in 1898 and SF in 1900. EF moved to EF oval at the start of the 1953 season. Thanks to Wikipedia for this information. See more
