David ‘Dick’ Turpin is a Brisbane friend of Almanacker Allan Barden. During the late 60s early 70s David spent a few years working in Woomera when it was quite a thriving community.
David has researched and written a history of footy in Woomera from the years 1948 to 1992.
The Footy Almanac will publish David’s extensive history over a number of weeks.
Dick has also completed a history of Woomera water polo.
1981
The same 4 sides registered with the league in 1981.
Coaches were Centrals – Phil Turner, Koolymilka – John Payne, Mt Gunson – John Hearne, and Norths Dennis Cavanagh.
During the year John Payne at Koolymilka was replaced by Bob Carey.
Long-serving WFL player, coach, administrator, and life member Bill Leverington and his wife Avis left Woomera after 31 years.
1981 was not a great year for football reporting and there are no match reports, tables, nor scores for any match other than the grand final.
The Area & Mail medals were won by Chris Foster of the Koolymilka club; second was 1980 winner Kelly Hill of Mount Gunson.
The best Under-19 award was won by Stuart Wilson of Koolymilka and the leading goalkicker was a newcomer to the league Wally Broome with 76 goals.
Points at the end of the minor round were Mt Gunson 18, Norths 18, Koolymilka 8, and Centrals 2. In the end, Mt Gunson won the grand final and their first premiership in the WFL.
| Team | Wins | Byes | Losses | Draws | For | Against | % | Pts |
| Mt Gunson | 9 | 3 | 18 | |||||
| Norths | 9 | 3 | 18 | |||||
| Koolymilka | 4 | 8 | 8 | |||||
| Centrals | 2 | 10 | 4 |
| Final | Team | G | B | Pts | Team | G | B | Pts |
| 1st Semi | Koolymilka | Def | Centrals | |||||
| 2nd Semi | Mt Gunson | Def | Norths | |||||
| Preliminary | Norths | Def | Koolymilka | |||||
| Grand | Mt Gunson | 25 | 13 | 163 | Norths | 18 | 12 | 120 |
Grand Final: Mt Gunson defeated Norths 25.13 (163) to 18.12 (120).
Premiership Coach: John Hearne. Premiership Captain: Kelly Hill.
Best in Grand Final: John Hearne – Mt Gunson, John Shepherdson – Norths.
League Best & Fairest – Area & Mail Medals: 1st Chris Foster – Koolymilka 17, 2nd Kelly Hill – Mt Gunson 15, =3rd John Hearne – Mt Gunson 11, =3rd Dennis Cavanagh – Norths 11, =3rd Ross Lambert – Norths 11.
Leading Goalkickers: 1st Wally Broome – Koolymilka 76.
Life Membership: Bernie McCarthy.
Player Life Membership: Terry Morphett – Centrals, Phil Turner – Centrals.
League President: Laurie Braid. League Secretary: J G Fountain.
Mt Gunson Football Club circa 1981
1981 WJFL
Attempts to continue the Colts league were not successful due to a lack of player numbers.
1982
As in the previous year, records for the 1982 season are few and far between.
Coaches appointed were Centrals – Phil Turner, Koolymilka – Bob Carey, Mt Gunson – John Hearne, and Norths – John Shepherdson.
Bob Carey at Koolymilka was replaced early in the season by Bob Spooner.
Woomera North won the lightning carnival.
In August 1982, the Arboretum Oval was renamed the O’Donoghue Oval. It was renamed in recognition of the work done over many years by the late Tony O’Donoghue in his capacity as foreman Arboretum. Area Services Officer John Staines said ‘Residents of Woomera who knew Tony will recall the many hours he spent at night watering ovals after topdressing to prevent wind erosion, and help sustain ovals during excessive hot weather’.
The Area & Mail medals were won by Dennis Cavanagh of Woomera North; second was his teammate, Michael Hamilton.
Leading goalkicker was Wally Broome of Koolymilka with 94 goals. This was a remarkable achievement as Koolymilka did not win a game for the entire season.
Points at the end of the minor round were Mt Gunson 16, Norths 14, Centrals 10, and Koolymilka 0. The league decided to do away with the traditional final’s format and only stage a qualifying final followed by the grand final.
The grand final was won for the second successive year by Mount Gunson who defeated Woomera North. This is the only grand final where I have not been able to locate the final score. I have asked some of the main participants including John Shepherdson, Kelly Hill, and Barry Gerhardy, all to no avail. If any reader does know the final score, they might like to get in contact with me through Facebook or Messenger.
| Team | Wins | Byes | Losses | Draws | For | Against | % | Pts |
| Mt Gunson | 8 | 2 | 16 | |||||
| Norths | 7 | 3 | 14 | |||||
| Centrals | 5 | 5 | 10 | |||||
| Koolymilka | 0 | 10 | 0 |
| Final | Team | G | B | Pts | Team | G | B | Pts |
| Qualifying | Norths | Def | Centrals by 4 goals | |||||
| Grand | Mt Gunson | Def | Norths |
Grand Final: Mt Gunson defeated Norths.
Premiership Coach: John Hearne. Premiership Captain: Kelly Hill.
Best in Grand Final: Unknown – Mt Gunson, Unknown – Norths.
League Best & Fairest – Area & Mail Medals: 1st Dennis Cavanagh – Norths, 2nd Michael Hamilton – Norths.
Leading Goalkickers: 1st Wally Broome – Koolymilka 94.
League President: Laurie Braid. League Secretary: J G Fountain.
The whole of Woomera was shocked by the untimely death of Ronnie ‘Wiggles’ Weser on 18th November 1982. Ronnie was a very well-known sportsperson who won 5 football premierships with Works in 1958, 1962, 1964, 1966, and 1968 and 9 cricket premierships with Works from 1956/57 to 1975/76.
In 1969, Ronnie was awarded one of the initial Player Life Memberships of the WFL. He was also a Life Member of the Woomera Cricket Association.
In later years he was best remembered for his dedication to junior coaching in both football and cricket and many a child in Woomera owed their future sporting career to Ronnie.
Some of the sympathy tributes received from members of the various sporting clubs around the Village included:
- The name Ronald Vivian Weser is firmly lodged in the hearts and minds of a lot of people in Woomera at the moment. For some, it will fade away, but for some of us, it will last forever.
- ‘Wiggles’ Weser will be missed in Woomera by a lot of people he loved, and we all loved him the same way. He shall be remembered by all the kids of this town as the guy who would rather help them than help himself.
- On behalf of the Jazza juniors I would like to express my regret at the sudden death of Ron Weser last week. Ron was a great contributor to the game of cricket and one of nature’s gentlemen. He will be sadly missed.
- I end this column on a sad note. We at Centrals mourn the death of Ron Weser, one of Woomera’s true sportsmen and a gentleman both on and off the sporting fields.
- Saturday was a sad day for Works junior cricket. Our loss to Jazza was overshadowed by a far greater loss, that of Ronnie Weser. I apologise for my inability to express the feeling of grief and sorrow that has touched us all, but I am sure of one thing Ronnie – we will never forget you.
1983
The same 4 teams as 1982 contested the 1983 season.
Some of the coaches were Centrals – Noel “Nipper” Hill, Koolymilka – David Bates, and Norths – Chris Bourne.
The lightning carnival ended up a draw between Centrals and Norths.
In an interleague match Bungala defeated Woomera 31.17 (203) to 15.12 (102). Bungala were a team from just outside Port Augusta.
For many years the Area medal had been donated by Peter H Bell. Peter was one of the early residents of Woomera and an early life member of the WFL. He began donating an area medal each year with the winner being determined based on the Mail Medal count for the Best & Fairest. Except for 1957, the same person won both medals. After Peter left Woomera, he was unable to fully support the league and the Area medal was then donated by Bernie McCarthy.
The Area & Mail medals for 1983 were won by Warren William “Wally” Broome. Wally also won the trophy for Best Under-21 player and was the league’s top goalkicker with 108 goals. This is believed to be a league record and the first time over 100 goals have been kicked in a season.
Points at the end of the minor round were Koolymilka 20, Norths 14, Centrals 8, and Mt Gunson 6. Koolymilka went on to win the premiership a remarkable achievement as they did not win a game in 1982.
| Team | Wins | Byes | Losses | Draws | For | Against | % | Pts |
| Koolymilka | 10 | 2 | 1475 | 901 | 62.08 | 20 | ||
| Norths | 7 | 5 | 1162 | 1209 | 49.00 | 14 | ||
| Centrals | 4 | 8 | 1217 | 1323 | 47.91 | 8 | ||
| Mt Gunson | 3 | 9 | 848 | 1381 | 38.04 | 6 |
| Final | Team | G | B | Pts | Team | G | B | Pts |
| Qualifying | Norths | 21 | 24 | 150 | Centrals | 6 | 8 | 44 |
| Grand | Koolymilka | 15 | 17 | 107 | Norths | 11 | 12 | 78 |
Grand Final: Koolymilka defeated Norths 15.17 (107) to 11.12 (78).
Premiership Coach: David Bates. Premiership Captain: Tom Blackie.
Best in Grand Final: All played well – Koolymilka, Alan Campbell – Norths.
League Best & Fairest – Area & Mail Medals: 1st Warren William “Wally” Broome – Koolymilka 18,
2nd Darryl Middleton – Mt Gunson 14, =3rd Stuart Wilson – Centrals 10, =3rd Malcolm McPhail – Koolymilka 10.
Leading Goalkickers: 1st Wally Broome – Koolymilka 108.
Player Life Membership: William Russell Campbell – Village and Woomera North.
League President: Laurie Braid. League Secretary: J G Fountain.
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Dare I say it, a clean sweep by Wally Broome in 1983
Great work, Dick.