GREAT SOUTHERN FOOTBALL CARNIVAL

Great Southern Football Carnival

The Great Southern Football Carnival started from an idea suggested by the then President of the West Albany Football Club, Mr. A. E. Bruce. Two years after World War I, in 1920 a visiting team of Katanning footballers were tendered a dinner at the Royal George Hotel, Albany. In responding to a toast, he outlined a suggestion to hold a Football Carnival for teams along the Great Southern. Little did he think what a wealth of football history his words would sow. The idea was talked about and, in 1922, the first Great Southern Football Carnival was held at Albany, under the organisation of the Albany Football Association, with Mr. L. S. Barnett, President, H. R. Rigby, Secretary, and Mr. R. B. Merrifield, Treasurer.

The competition went into recess during the World War II years (1940 – 1945) resuming in Albany in 1946. Over the years different leagues have come and gone. At one stage, it included the Eastern Districts League, The Goldfields League, and the Lower South West League with carnivals being conducted in Esperance, Kalgoorlie, and Manjimup.

In recent years, due to costs, it has become a Colts carnival with most games played in Lake Grace.

Carnival Winners from 1922

GREAT SOUTHERN NATIONAL FOOTBALL CARNIVAL
CENTENARY FOOTBALL CARNIVAL
Katanning – Premiers 1958
Back (L-R): T Perkins, L Stanford (Board members), F Quartermaine, I Crosby, E Quartermaine (V/Capt), J Marris, B McAuliffe, A Hatton, K Brindley, J Cobby, C Burridge (Board member).
Centre: D Walters, L Justins (Trainers), B Mellor, K Robertson, J Carr, C Stewart, G Flugge, N Giles, V Filmer, R Childes, L Hammond (Trainer).
Front: C Bastow (Coach), R Richards, K Ellis, K Marris, N Grigsby (Captain), R Flugge, (Association President), R Atkinson, P Walker, A Loo, C Punch (Association Secretary).
Absent – R Ward, R Guelfi, R Oliffe, A Guest, T Norrish.

NEWSPAPER REPORTS

FOOTBALL
GREAT SOUTHERN CARNIVAL

Great Southern Herald
4 August, 1923

September 7 and 8 (Friday and Saturday) have been fixed as the dates for the Great Southern Football Carnival.

The games today bristle with possibilities. Three teams are running neck and neck with one of the leaders a postponed game to play. Should both Brigades and Centrals lose, Broomehill will be minor premiers; Should Brigades and Broomehill, or Brigades and Centrals be victors, then the postponed match – Broomehill v. Australs – will be necessary. If after these eventualities have been met and two of the teams (or three for that matter, the possibility is there) are still on a level basis the averages of points scored for and against the teams concerned will be the deciding factor.

Each of today’s matches will be decided at Katanning. The games are – 1.45 p.m., Australs v. Brigades; umpire, F. Olsen. 3.15 p.m. Centrals v. Broomehill; umpire, F. Shenfield. The other officials are: Goal umpires, E. Cobby and W. Wilson; boundary umpires, F. Dyer and R. Sibley; gatekeepers, E. Stubbs. And C. King; timekeeper, R. Grose.

The following players will represent Australs in the match with Brigades at Katanning today (Saturday). Players to be on ground at 1.30 p.m. McAuliffe (3), Roberts, McDonald (2), Bettridge, McDowell, Moss, Rennick, Cruttenden, Ladyman, Meagher, Norrish, Haddleton, Keay, Grose, and Clayden. Emergencies: Peploe and Armstrong.

Brigades will be represented by the following players, play to commence at 1.45 sharp: Baker, Farrell, McGovern, Roberts, Kingdom, Beeck, McLeod, Purkiss, Fitzmaurice, Rafferty, Gare, Wilks, Fewings Keay, Shaw, Stehn, Haddleton and Norman. ‘Emergencies: A. Overington, Beeck, Quartermaine.

The following players will represent Centrals in their match against Broomehill today (Saturday): Old, Hanna (2), Tylor, Dorries, White, Lawson, Gilbert, Bell, Wilson, Keeley, O’Malley, Hastie, Shenfield, McLeod, Cleverley, Rafferty and Vincent. Emergencies: Crosby, Byrnes and Stapleton.

Great Southern Football Carnival
AT WAGIN THIS WEEK
Some Bygone Memories

Mount Barker & Denmark Record
9 September 1946

(BY “POITREL”)
Two years after World War I., in 1920, a visiting team of Katanning footballers were tendered a dinner at the Royal George Hotel, Albany. In responding to a toast, the then President of the West Albany Football Club, Mr. A. E. Bruce (now a Councillor at our civic table) outlined a suggestion to hold a Football Carnival for teams along the Great Southern. Little did he think what a wealth of football history his words would sow.

The idea was talked about and, in 1922, the first Great Southern Football Carnival was held at Albany, under the organisation of the Albany Football Association, with Mr. L. S. Barnett, President, H. R. Rigby, Secretary, and Mr. R. B. Merrifield, Treasurer. To the latter gentleman must surely go the palm for the longest association with Great Southern football. Mr. Merrifield was on the Executive of the inaugural Carnival in 1922, and at the start of the present season in 1946.

As President of the pre-war Association, he handed over to the newly formed Albany District Football Association the sum of over £40 to be used for the specific of purpose of  assisting  to send this year’s Albany Carnival team to Wagin. As far as the “Great Southern era” of football is concerned, Mr. R. B. Merrifield is richly deserving of the title of the “Father of Albany Football” – there is little doubt that he did “father” the Albany Association through many troublous times.

Katanning Wins First Carnival in 22 Years
ERIC QUARTERMAINE THE OUTSTANDING PLAYER

Great Southern Herald
14 September 1951 – p12

After a lapse of 22 years, the Katanning Association won the Great Southern Football Carnival at Wagin on Saturday last before a huge crowd of spectators. Katanning players systematically added to their score during the final game and in the last quarter staged a run-away win by adding 7 goals 5 behinds to make a 10 goal 12 behind win against Narrogin.

Eric Quartermaine gave a faultless performance and won the trophy for the best goal-keeper of the carnival as well as three trophies for fairest and best player. The last occasion when Katanning won a carnival was in 1929, when under the captaincy of the late J.’M. (Snowy) Hamilton they “swept the pool” at Mt. Barker.

Although twenty-two years have elapsed since the Association’s last carnival win, the war years and times when the team has not competed, must be deducted from the period. From the Katanning viewpoint, the carnival was an outstanding success all round. The whole team perform ed extremely well throughout, a happy spirit prevailing and it would be really hard to pick out individuals for praise. Great credit must go to the skipper of the side, Charlie Bastow, who had the confidence of the players in his charge and was an inspiration to them; his football know ledge, which he imparted from time to time, contributed considerably to the side’s success.

The weather remained fine and warm throughout, and the conditions that prevailed were definitely to the advantage of the Katanning side and the players made full use of them. It would appear that the local team won the honours on the Wednesday, when they accounted for their old rivals Dumbleyung-Lake Grace who, as usual, put up very stiff resistance all through. In fact, Katanning players were in danger early in the third quarter when their opponents ran to a lead of 11 points and anything may have happened at this stage; however the locals steadied themselves to take over proceedings again and at three-quarter time held a lead of nine points. Continuing their attack, Katanning secured themselves in the last term to lead by six goals at one period but Dumbleyung-Lake Grace, still fighting back as has always been the case with this side, reduced the lead held by Katanning to 17 points at the final bell.

In the match against Wagin on Thursday, matters were evenly contested throughout until the final part of the game when Katanning drew to a 4 goal 5 point lead to clinch the game, Judging by performances throughout the Carnival, the Katanning team was in much better condition than most of the other sides. This fact is based on their performance in defeating Wagin on Thursday after their very hard game against Dumbleyung-Lake Grace the previous day. This has not been done by any other team in the last two Carnivals.

Fortunately for the Katanning team, they had twenty-six players listed and included spare men for each department and they were changed accordingly each day; just as good men were standing out as were playing In the grand final, Katanning was not seriously challenged at any stage of the game. Playing comfortably throughout, a first quarter lead of 2 goals 4 points was established, and this was increased to a 6 goal 5 point lead by half time. Narrogin picked up a little in the third quarter but were hopelessly outclassed, and lemons found Katanning 8 goals 8 points in front.

Although Narrogin rallied and added five goals in the final quarter the game was beyond redemption. In taking the honours for the Caris Bros. Medal and the Presidents Trophy for the Best and Fairest for the Carnival, Eric Quartermaine richly deserved the awards and was probably the most popular player to take the field. His display was faultless and he also annexed the trophy for the Best and Fairest for Katanning as well as the trophy for the Best Goalkeeper of the Carnival. Jim Rodney, who took out the trophy for the Best Forward of the Carnival, plus the Highest Individual Scorer, also gave a match-winning performance.

CARNIVAL TROPHY WINNERS
Fairest and Best of Carnival, President (H. C. Vickers’ Trophy): Eric Quartermaine. Fairest and Best of Carnival,
Caris Bros. Medal: Eric Quartermaine. Best Goalkeeper of Carnival, (Wagin Fire Brigade Trophy) Eric Quartermaine. Captain Carnival Premiers (P. C. Darcy Trophy) C. Bastow. Captain Carnival Premiers, (Colour Patch Trophy) C. Bastow. Fairest and Best Final Game (Len Abbott Trophy) N. Badger. Best High Mark of Carnival (A. J. Q. Smith trophy) N. Badger. Best Forward of Carnival, (Foys Trophy) J. Rodney. Highest Individual Scorer, Including final for Carnival (Wagin Pharmacy Trophy) J. Rodney. Fairest and Best for Katanning, (W. R. Wann Trophy) E. Quartermaine. Most Serviceable for Katanning (T. R. Ashworth Trophy) K. Robertson. Best placed for Katanning (G. A. W. Piesse, M.B.E., Trophy): W. Tanner. Most Unselfish for Katanning, (Claremont F/C. Trophy) C. Bastow.

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THE FIRST CARNIVAL

Four teams – Albany, Mt. Barker, Katanning and Narrogin – competed in the initial Carnival 24 years ago and play was confined to two days. The final was between Albany and Katanning and the home team won 6.11 to 3.4. It was perhaps fitting that S. C. Bruce of Albany, a brother of the originator of the idea of the Carnival, should be the outstanding player of the game.

Albany’s team was:
Aubrey Hagg (Capt.), W. Green, G Wilkinson, Ray Nott, Basil Harris, Broun, S. Bruce, Jack Fitzpatrick, Ernie Willis, “Napper” Angove, “Barney” Mouchemore, “Cab” Wheeler, Clarrie Cooper, Percy Cooper, Gordon Davey, Stewart Hegarty and Jack Kit.

Aubrey Hagg (now President of the Albany Branch of the Waterside Workers’ Union), skipper of the first Albany Carnival team, was one of the most astute players who has been in the game locally, and long after his active days were over, as coach for East Albany, strung up a list of premiership successes to that Club which is almost akin to Bernborough’s record.

MT. BARKER’S TEAM
Mt Barker’s team in that initial Carnival of 1922 was as follows:
Les Riches (Capt.), F Williams (Vice-Capt.), J. Warn, Johnson, J. Inge, Wear, J. Dickenson, F. Sounness, Ridge, M. Wright, B. Fellows, Young, Stewart, Allen, Davey, Hops, Toms and Nicholas.

In this Carnival Narrogin defeated Mt. Barker on the first day.

The following year – 1923 – the Carnival was held at Katanning and again four teams took part. This was a memorable occasion for Albany. On the first day the men from the port met Narrogin and the result was: Albany, 5.10; Narrogin, 4.16 – a draw! Katanning comfortably beat Mt. Barker and to decide their opponents for the final it was decided that Albany and Narrogin should play 20 minutes each way on the morning of the final. Albany won 3.5 to 6 nil but went down to Katanning in the afternoon.

THROUGH THE YEARS

And so down through the years the Carnival went on. In 1924 at Mt. Barker, Albany and Katanning played off and the latter won 7.6 to 4.7 – Jock Hambley (later Secretary of Claremont-Cottesloe in the W.A. League) had 21 shots for goal for Albany. But Albany turned the tables on Katanning in the final of 1925 winning 7.11 to 5.7 (Arthur Retell was the best man on the ground for Albany in this final). The following year – 1926 – Albany were out of the final at Wagin. Katanning (5.20) defeated Narrogin (5 13). In 1927 Narrogin entered the winning list scoring 13.8 against Albany’s 10.9 in the final.

At Katanning in 1928 the redoubtable “Snowy” Hamilton, formerly of South Australia and Subiaco, led the home team to victory over Narrogin – 11.7 to 6.11.

The gallant band of ‘Barkerites, who had been in the Carnival since its inception, got into the final in 1929 at Mt. Barker, but to the disappointment of the majority of the huge crowd went down to Katanning, 10.8 to 6.5.

Narrogin came back in the honours list in 1930, defeating the doughty Katanningites, 10.15 to 7.17, and they made it two years in succession when in 1931 at Wagin they defeated Albany, the scores being 11.12 to 6.14.

In 1932, at Albany, the final provided the most memorable battle in the history of the Carnival. On a beautiful day before a huge crowd Albany met Tambellup and in a real feast of football Albany won by two points right on the bell. The scores were Albany 8.21, Tambellup 9.13. The Haywards’ and others were the stars of the country side, and Albany included such players as Bill Shenfield (who later played with South Fremantle and then Fitzroy in the Victorian League), Bill Halliday, Bill Morrell, Bill Martin, Johnny Angove and others. (Incidentally, it was Bill Shenfield who kicked the winning goal).

A FOOTBALLER AND A HALF

Among a host of good footballers who came from the Great Southern Carnival one of the most outstanding was Ron Cooper, of Albany. Missing the early matches of the W.A. League season when he first broke into metropolitan football, he went within two votes of winning the Sandover Medal. He was then playing for Claremont-Cottesloe. Later he went to Melbourne and played for nine seasons with a redoubtable Carlton side in the Victorian League. Ron played in his first Great Southern Carnival when he was barely 16 years of age.

FIRST POST-WAR CARNIVAL

This week’s event at Wagin will mark the first Carnival after World War II. During the war years a keen and enthusiastic band, headed by Mr. S. Manea, as President, formed the Albany War-time Football Association and roused interest to such a pitch last year that a Great Southern Football Carnival staged at Albany was looked upon as being equal to any of the highlights of pre-war Carnivals.

Well that energy and interest has paved the way to a promising post-war era for the Football Derby of the Great Southern, and if accommodation problems can be overcome to everyone’s satisfaction, there’s a bright future ahead.

ALBANY FOOTBALL.
SUCCESSFUL REVIVAL.
Final Won by Home Team.

West Australian
11 September, 1945

ALBANY, Sept 10.
The Albany Wartime Football Association successfully organised a revival of the Great Southern carnival over the weekend. Four teams competed, the absentees being Tambellup and Wagin. Ideal weather prevailed on Saturday and a very large crowd of town and Great Southern residents witnessed the play on Centennial Oval.

The Albany Association provided a cup which was won by Albany, with Mt Barter runner-up. Mt Barker won a cup given by Mr W. Hyde. The secretary of the WA National Football League Mr W. R. Orr attended the carnival and the games were umpired by the WAFL umpires’ coach Mr C J Calcutt.

A civic reception was tendered to the visitors by the Mayor of Albany (Mr C H Wittenoom) and councillors. There was also a largely-attended complimentary dinner on Saturday evening to the teams and officials at which the association president (Mr S. Manes) presided. Trophies were presented for Saturday’s play. The carnival ball was held in the Town Hall on Saturday night. The carnival was enlivened each day by selections by the Albany band.

Details:
Saturday: Mt Barker. 11.14 (80) d Katanning, 9.4 (58)
Albany. 14.20 (104) d Narrogin, 3.6 (24)
Sunday (final): Albany. 5.6 (36). D Mt Barker, 3.4 (22)
In an exhibition curtain-raiser Katanning, 6.14 (50) d Narrogin 3.6 (24).

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Great Southern Football Carnival