Almanac Footy: A History of Australian Rules Football in Woomera 1948 to 1992 – Part 16:1987-1989
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.
1987
When most leagues were diminishing, 1987 saw an expansion of the W&DFL to include a second team from Roxby Downs. This team was known as Olympic Dam.
Coaches were Centrals – Roy Menner, Koolymilka – Ashley Randall, JDSCS – Don Kenney, Olympic Dam – Neville Growden and Roxby Districts – Tim McLeod. John Shepherdson replaced Ashley Randall as Koolymilka coach during the season.
Back in 1975, a delegate to the league AGM suggested that games be played on a Saturday in lieu of the traditional Sunday. His suggestion was howled down at the time. By 1987 things had certainly changed with games being played on Friday night; Saturday afternoon and night; and Sunday afternoon. In fact, the league had to make allowances for union requirements that games did not affect the operation of the Olympic Dam site.
JDSCS were adopted by various sporting/social clubs in Woomera. At the beginning of 1987 they were known as the JDSCS/RSL Warriors, by the end of the year they were known as the JDSCS/Works Warriors.
The Area & Mail medals were won by Don Henderson of Centrals with 13 votes; second was his teammate Joe Gaby on 11 votes; equal third on 8 votes were Peter Koenig of Koolymilka, M Pierce of Olympic Dam and Tim McLeod of Roxby Districts.
The leading goalkicker was Terry Dwyer of Roxby Districts with 103 goals.
The minor round table has never been published to my knowledge however with the help of an Excel spreadsheet I have been able to recreate it.
| Team | Wins | Byes | Losses | Cancelled | For | Against | % | Pts |
| Roxby Districts | 9 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1536 | 411 | 78.89 | 18 |
| Olympic Dam | 8 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1652 | 458 | 78.29 | 16 |
| Centrals | 8 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 1622 | 829 | 66.18 | 16 |
| Koolymilka | 3 | 3 | 9 | 0 | 843 | 1643 | 33.91 | 6 |
| JDSCS | 0 | 3 | 11 | 1 | 104 | 2416 | 04.13 | 0 |
The cancelled games were Olympic Dam -v- JDSCS and Olympic Dam -v- Roxby Districts. Both were caused by industrial unrest at the Olympic Dam mine site.
JDSCS 104 points ‘For’, was from a score of 14 goals 20 points for the whole year. One must admire the dedication of the JDSCS players to front up each week knowing you are not likely to win.
Now looking at the table as it stands you would say that the 1st semi-final would be between Centrals and Koolymilka however that was not the case.
During the year both Koolymilka and JDSCS had points deducted for utilizing unregistered players. Koolymilka must have had more players involved than JDSCS as in the final washup JDSCS was -2 points and Koolymilka was -4 points.
Thus, the first semi-final was played between Centrals and JDSCS, and the second semi-final was played between Roxby Districts and Olympic Dam.
In the end, Olympic Dam won the premiership in their first year in the competition.
| Final | Team | G | B | Pts | Team | G | B | Pts |
| 1st Semi | Centrals | 43 | 35 | 293 | JDSCS | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 2nd Semi | Roxby Districts | 14 | 10 | 94 | Olympic Dam | 9 | 14 | 68 |
| Preliminary | Olympic Dam | 18 | 19 | 127 | Centrals | 11 | 9 | 75 |
| Grand | Olympic Dam | 15 | 12 | 102 | Roxby Districts | 7 | 13 | 55 |
Grand Final: Olympic Dam defeated Roxby Districts 15.12 (102) to 7.13 (55).
Premiership Coach: Neville Growden. Premiership Captain: Neville Growden.
Best in Grand Final: Unknown – Olympic Dam, Unknown – Roxby Districts.
League Best & Fairest – Area & Mail Medals: 1st Don Henderson – Centrals 13, 2nd Joe Gaby – Centrals 11, =3rd Peter Koenig – Koolymilka 8, =3rd M Pearce – Olympic Dam 8, =3rd Tim McLeod – Roxby Districts 8.
Leading Goalkickers: 1st Terry Dwyer – Roxby Districts 103.
League President: Geoff Steer. League Secretary: Di Steer.
Stuart Football League
In March an Under-16 side with schoolboys from Andamooka, Tarcoola, Woomera, Leigh Creek, and Hawker played a curtain-raiser match against a North Whyalla side. The main game was a SANFL match between Port Adelaide and West Torrens.
In May history was made when the Stuart League staged a match against the Northern Areas at Leigh Creek. This was the first occasion two teams affiliated with the SANFL had played in Leigh Creek.
In the Under-17s, Stuart League won 9.7 (61) to Northern Areas 8.9 (57). The result was reversed in the Under-13s where Northern Areas 6.11 (47) defeated Stuart League 3.2 (20). Captain of the Stuart League was Jamie Spooner, son of well-known Woomera player and coach Bob Spooner.
The league continued its association with West Torrens in the SANFL.
In 2 matches before the W&DFL Grand Final; North Whyalla U13 defeated Stuart U13 10.5 (65) to 4.5 (29), and South Whyalla U18 defeated Stuart U18 19.13 (127) to 7.12 (54).
Woomera Juniors
Colts matches between Woomera and Roxby Downs continued throughout the year.
1988
In 1988 both Koolymilka and JDSCS failed to register teams with the W&DFL. The competition was thus down to 3 teams: Centrals, Olympic Dam and Roxby Districts.
Brendan Would was the coach of Centrals.
On the 31st July 1988 the Roxby Downs Oval Complex was opened and league games could now be played at both Woomera and Roxby Downs.
The Area & Mail medals were won by Tim McLeod of Roxby Districts with 10 votes; equal second were Paul Niekel of Roxby Districts and Jeff Page of Centrals each with 8 votes.
In 1988 Wally Lewis was awarded life membership of the league in recognition of his contribution to the W&DFL as a committeeman over many years.
Points at the end of the minor round were Roxby Districts 18, Centrals 8, and Olympic Dam 0.
Roxby Districts went through the season undefeated and won the grand final against Centrals by 112 points.
| Team | Wins | Byes | Losses | Draws | For | Against | % | Pts |
| Roxby Districts | 9 | 4 | 0 | 1072 | 233 | 82.15 | 18 | |
| Centrals | 4 | 4 | 5 | 536 | 948 | 36.15 | 8 | |
| Olympic Dam | 0 | 5 | 8 | 340 | 767 | 30.71 | 0 |
| Final | Team | G | B | Pts | Team | G | B | Pts |
| Grand | Roxby Districts | 26 | 16 | 172 | Centrals | 8 | 12 | 60 |
Grand Final: Roxby Districts defeated Centrals 26.16 (172) to 8.12 (60).
Premiership Coach: Tim McLeod. Premiership Captain: Tim McLeod.
Best in Grand Final: Unknown – Roxby Districts, Bob Evans -Centrals.
League Best & Fairest – Area & Mail Medals: 1st Tim McLeod – Roxby Districts 10, =2nd Paul Niekel – Roxby Districts 8, =2nd Jeff Page – Centrals 8.
Life Membership: Wally Lewis.
League President: Geoff Steer. League Secretary: Di Steer.
Stuart Football League
The Stuart League continued to arrange matches with other leagues and received strong support from the West Torrens Football Club in the SANFL however funds and sponsorship continued to be a problem.
The Stuart League was charged by the SANFL to make arrangements for a match to be held in Woomera in March 1989 between West Torrens and Sturt.
1989
In February 1989 it was obvious that if football was to survive in Woomera a united front was required. With numbers declining a meeting between Geoff Steer, president of the W&DFL and the 4 sports clubs Centrals, Koolymilka, Village and Works met to discuss the future of football in Woomera.
Considering past rivalries between Centrals, Kooly, Village and Works it was highly unlikely that an agreement could be reached on anything, let alone football. In the end, common sense prevailed and it was unanimously agreed to support a united football team to represent Woomera in 1989.
A few weeks later following a public meeting the Woomera Football Club was formed, to be known as the Rockets and it would wear the traditional Woomera colours of maroon and gold.
Its first president was Bert Jordan and in April all 4 sporting clubs contributed $1,000 each to help establish the club. The Community Store donated the guernseys and suitable sponsorship was received from Ernest Giles Autoport, Woomera Sight & Sound, Blue Streak Meats, Eldo Hotel, and Pimba Hotel.
The first Rockets coach appointed was Phil Turner with Mick McDonald elected captain and Billy Jayne elected vice-captain.
The Woomera Rockets registered with the W&DFL along with another newcomer Andamooka.
Clubs competing in 1989 were: Andamooka, Olympic Dam, Roxby Districts, and Woomera Rockets.
In an interleague match, Woomera defeated Leigh Creek 21.16 (142) to 13.6 (84).
During the season one Rocket’s game was abandoned after the lights at Newman Oval shorted out during heavy rain and a week later another game scheduled to be played at Roxby Downs was cancelled as the road to Roxby Downs was closed due to flooding.
The Area & Mail medals were won by Stephen “Bunny” Dryburgh of Roxby Districts and Gary Bush of the Woomera Rockets; the runner-up was Michael Foulds of Roxby Districts.
The Rockets Best & Fairest award saw a win for Gary Bush, second was Trevor Staines and the equal third were Tom Blackie and Bob Evans. A Searle won the Under-21 award for best player.
At the end of the minor round, Roxby Districts were undefeated, with Woomera Rockets second, followed by Andamooka and Olympic Dam. Roxby Districts went on to win the grand final as undefeated premiers. Details are not available.
| Team | Wins | Byes | Losses | Draws | For | Against | % | Pts |
| Roxby Districts | ||||||||
| Woomera Rockets | ||||||||
| Andamooka | ||||||||
| Olympic Dam |
| Final | Team | G | B | Pts | Team | G | B | Pts |
| 1st Semi | Andamooka | Def | Olympic Dam | |||||
| 2nd Semi | Roxby Districts | Def | Woomera Rockets | |||||
| Preliminary | Andamooka | 25 | 22 | 172 | Woomera Rockets | 4 | 10 | 34 |
| Grand | Roxby Districts | 13 | 17 | 95 | Andamooka | 12 | 12 | 84 |
Grand Final: Roxby Districts defeated Andamooka 13.17 (95) to 12.12. (84).
Premiership Coach: Stephen “Bunny” Dryburgh. Premiership Captain: Stephen “Bunny” Dryburgh.
Best in Grand Final: Unknown – Roxby Districts, Unknown – Andamooka.
League Best & Fairest – Area & Mail Medals: =1st Stephen “Bunny” Dryburgh – Roxby Districts 14, =1st Gary Bush – Woomera Rockets 14, 3rd Michael Foulds – Roxby Districts 11.
Leading Goalkickers: 1st Paul Niekel – Roxby Districts 48.
League President: Geoff Steer. League Secretary: G Clarke/J McLeod.
Stuart Football League
In March 1989, the league arranged a Foundation Cup march in the SANFL between Sturt and West Torrens.
Preceding this match, was an under-13 game between the Stuart League and Central Augusta which Stuart won 5.8 (38) to 5.5 (35); an under-15 game the Stuart League and Central Augusta which Stuart won 12.19 (91) to 5.13 (43); and an under-18 between the same teams which Central Augusta won 16.10 (106) to 13.12 (90).
In the main game, West Torrens defeated Sturt 16.7 (103) to 14.10 (94).
THE MORTLOCK SHIELD
The Mortlock Shield is an annual football competition based in Port Lincoln. The competition takes place every year at Centenary Oval and it consists of teams from Eyre Peninsula and beyond. The W&DFL has entered a team in the competition on several occasions.
Eastern Eyre defeated Woomera & Districts 14.16 (100) to 3.5 (23).
Mid-West defeated Woomera & Districts 10.5 (65) to 9.5 (59).
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My dad Godfrey Castieau is in the photo of the works and housing premiership side of 1950.
He claimed that he was the second best player in the league to Neil Kerley who was a truck driver in Woomera at the time. Dad had offers to play for Glenelg and South Adelaide but had to decline for family reasons.
Steve Castieau – Thanks for your comments, now I know your dad’s first name. He ran 3rd to Neil Kerley in the 1953 Mail Medal so he must have been a good player. Regards David Turpin