Almanac Footy: ‘A History of Australian Rules Football in Woomera 1948 to 1992’ – Part 4 1960 – 1961
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.
1960
Before the first ball was bounced in the 1960 season three important events occurred.
The first was that the Association adopted a new constitution and was now known as the Woomera Football League a title it would retain until 1986.
The second was that the Pimple Oval was renamed the Newman Oval in recognition of Captain J B Newman RAN who was the Woomera Superintendent from 1954 to 1959. During this period Captain Newman gave tremendous support to sporting and recreational activities in Woomera.
The third was that Koolymilka re-entered the competition.
The teams in the competition were therefore Centrals, Koolymilka, RAAF, Village, and Works.
Centrals appointed Denny Scott as coach. Denny was a well-known sportsman and as well as his football prowess he had recently won the award for the best basketball player in Woomera. During the year Denny injured his leg playing basketball and became famous for coaching the football side whilst on crutches.
Village had two coaches for the season Des Doran and Bill Sheehan and Works appointed Bert Heffernan who had coached their 1956 premiership side.
In an interleague match, Port Augusta defeated Woomera 8.9 (57) to 8.8. (56).
In the Area and Mail medal count the winner was Barry Dolphin of Koolymilka with 24 votes.
Barry was a rugged centreman who dominated throughout the year.
In 1961 he left Koolymilka and joined Norwood in the SANFL where he played five league games as well as playing in the Norwood seconds grand final team which won the premiership in that year. He then returned to his hometown of Port Augusta where he coached Central Augusta for the period 1962 to 1965.
Points at the end of the minor round were Works 24, Village 22, Centrals 18, RAAF 12, and Koolymilka 10.
In the end, Centrals won their first premiership by defeating the Works team by two points. A young Mike Green who was a reserve for the Centrals side came on and kicked the winning goal. It was a fine effort by Denny Scott and all the Centrals players and broke the domination of Village and Works over the previous 6 years.
| Team | Wins | Byes | Losses | Draws | For | Against | % | Pts |
| Works | 9 | 3 | 3 | 799 | 655 | 54.95 | 24 | |
| Village | 8 | 3 | 4 | 865 | 467 | 64.94 | 22 | |
| Centrals | 6 | 3 | 6 | 785 | 771 | 50.45 | 18 | |
| RAAF | 5 | 3 | 7 | 670 | 702 | 48.83 | 16 | |
| Koolymilka | 2 | 3 | 10 | 488 | 927 | 34.49 | 10 |
| Final | Team | G | B | Pts | Team | G | B | Pts |
| 1st Semi | Centrals | 14 | 10 | 94 | RAAF | 3 | 10 | 28 |
| 2nd Semi | Works | 17 | 19 | 121 | Village | 11 | 13 | 79 |
| Preliminary | Centrals | 10 | 8 | 68 | Village | 8 | 17 | 65 |
| Grand | Centrals | 18 | 14 | 122 | Works | 18 | 12 | 120 |
Grand Final: Centrals defeated Works 18.14 (122) to 18.12 (120).
Premiership Coach: Denny Scott. Premiership Captain: Denny Scott.
Best in Grand Final: Robert “Robbie” Smith – Centrals, Bob Ortmann – Works.
League Best & Fairest – Area & Mail Medals: 1st Barry Dolphin – Koolymilka 24,
2nd Bob Ortmann – Works 20, =3rd Ken Casselton – RAAF 12, =3rd H Porter – RAAF 12.
Leading Goalkickers: 1st Graham Boxshall – Centrals 23, 2nd Fred Brown – Centrals 14, 3rd Richard “Dick” Robinson – Village 13.
Life Membership: Dave Bywaters (RIP), a Works player who was the first player to receive League Life Membership.
League President: Colin van Senden. League Secretary: Rodger Stringer/G Gourley.
1961
Once again Koolymilka were unable to field a team so the competition was down to four teams Centrals, RAAF, Village and Works.
Centrals reappointed premiership coach Denny Scott.
Village appointed Gil Smith as coach. Gil was a West Australian with a deep knowledge of the game and was a member of several Village premiership teams.
Works appointed Ken Smith as coach. Ken was also a West Australian who had played 48 games of league football for the Perth Football Club in the mid-50s. He was one of the rovers to the great West Australian and All-Australian ruckman Merv McIntosh. When interviewed for a Perth newspaper in 2018 Ken boasted that at the age of eighty-four, he could do fifty push-ups in quick succession and barely raise a sweat. Fitter than in his playing days he reckons.
In the Area and Mail medal count, Central’s centreman Ken Rau won with 25 votes from a newcomer to Woomera Colin “Bluey” Waller with 19 votes.
Points at the end of the minor round were Village 24, Works 18, Centrals 12, and RAAF 6.
| Team | Wins | Byes | Losses | Draws | For | Against | % | Pts |
| Village | 12 | 3 | 1218 | 742 | 62.14 | 24 | ||
| Works | 9 | 6 | 1053 | 916 | 53.48 | 18 | ||
| Centrals | 6 | 9 | 939 | 919 | 50.54 | 12 | ||
| RAAF | 3 | 12 | 641 | 1212 | 34.56 | 6 |
| Final | Team | G | B | Pts | Team | G | B | Pts |
| 1st Semi | Centrals | 10 | 9 | 69 | RAAF | 6 | 14 | 50 |
| 2nd Semi | Village | 11 | 15 | 81 | Works | 8 | 16 | 64 |
| Preliminary | Works | 14 | 19 | 103 | Centrals | 12 | 10 | 82 |
| Grand | Village | 14 | 21 | 105 | Works | 6 | 9 | 45 |
Grand Final: Village defeated Works 14.21 (105) to 6.9 (45).
Premiership Coach: Gil Smith. Premiership Captain: Brian Flanegan.
Best in Grand Final: Colin “Bluey” Waller – Village, Ron Weser – Works.
League Best & Fairest – Area & Mail Medals: 1st Ken Rau – Centrals 25,
2nd Colin “Bluey” Waller – Village 19, 3rd Colin Bourne – RAAF 12.
Leading Goalkickers: 1st Des Doran – Village 44, 2nd Robert “Bob” Ortmann – Works 26, 3rd R Smith – Centrals 21.
Life Membership: Brian Flanegan, a Village player and captain of their 1961 premiership side.
League President: Colin van Senden. League Secretary: H R “Dick” Zehender.
Figure 8 RAAF Membership Badge 1961
1961 Woomera Junior Football League (WJFL)
In 1961 the League decided that it would sponsor a Junior Football league and provide jumpers, socks, and footballs. This would prove a decisive move by the league in the coming years.
At the first public meeting, enough boys turned up to form two teams, Demons and Roosters. This arrangement only lasted a few weeks and with more and more boys wanting to play, a third team, the Magpies was formed.
Teams in this first year were:
Demons: Coach Dallas Zeliff, Captain John Henderson.
Roosters: Coach Graham “Dasher” Smart, Captain Ian Roberts.
Magpies: Coach Bill McFarlane, Captain Terry Read.
At the end of the six minor rounds, the table was as follows:
| Team | Played | Wins | Losses | Draws | For | Against | % | Pts |
| Demons | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 108 | 89 | 54.8 | 7 |
| Magpies | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 129 | 120 | 51.8 | 7 |
| Roosters | 6 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 134 | 162 | 45.3 | 4 |
In the elimination final the Magpies defeated the Roosters by a point.
In the grand final the Demons easily defeated the Magpies 6.14 (50) to 2.4 (16).
Part 1 can be read Here, Part 2 Here, Part 3 Here
To return to the www.footyalmanac.com.au home page click HERE
Our writers are independent contributors. The opinions expressed in their articles are their own. They are not the views, nor do they reflect the views, of Malarkey Publications.
Do you enjoy the Almanac concept?
And want to ensure it continues in its current form, and better? To help keep things ticking over please consider making your own contribution.
Become an Almanac (annual) member – CLICK HERE
About Almanac Admin
Leave a Comment