Ongoing research by the ‘Friends of Coburg Cemetery’ (FOCC) continues to find famous and interesting sports persons and other characters resting quietly in the cemetery.
One such character with an interesting life story and sporting history is James Charles Cazaly. James may not be the most well known Cazaly of the famous family, but he’s the most well known member of the 13 Cazaly family members at peace in Coburg cemetery.
James Cazaly (image courtesy of FOCC)
James was born in 1840 in England. Following the death of his father he set out for Australia in 1857 with his mother and two of his sisters. Four of his older brothers had already made the journey a year earlier.
James, along with his brothers, etched their name into Victoria’s rowing history as the “First Family of Rowing” with their rowing success. Legend has it that the Cazaly men did not have a cradle as babies but slept in a small replica of an outrigger four and teethed on a miniature oar! Given James’ passion for rowing, who knows if this is true? Believe it if you will!
James’ rowing accomplishments included:
- 1866 Melbourne Regatta: Senior Gig, Stroke – First (Ballarat)
- 1872 Victorian Championship Scull – First
- 1873 Inter-colonial Men’s Four Championship Stroke – First
- 1875 Melbourne Regatta: Senior Four, Stroke – First
Health and sport were ingrained in the Cazaly family, with James maintaining a rigorous program of boxing, swimming, athletics, weight-lifting, and, of course, rowing. James wasn’t just a champion oarsman; he also ran his own business as a physical fitness instructor.
Like many others at the time, James lost his money during the collapse of the Melbourne land boom in the late 1800s. By the time his 10th child, Roy Cazaly (the legendary footballer), was born in Albert Park in 1893, James’ financial challenges saw him resorting to labouring work to keep his family afloat.
Roy also excelled at rowing which pleased his father James immensely. When aged 15, however, Roy debuted with St Kilda in the VFL and dropped rowing as his principal sport. James was so shattered over Roy’s decision he vowed never to watch his son play the game that took him away from rowing! Reportedly, James never saw Roy play football, but it is said that he would often stand outside the football ground gate as his famous son was taking his trademark one-handed marks and ask: “How is the boy doing ?”
Over the course of his famous footballing career, Roy Cazaly spent a lot of time playing in both Victoria and Tasmania and is in both the Australian and Tasmanian Football Halls of Fame.
As a small boy growing up in Tasmania I can remember my grandfather telling me that he had seen Roy Cazaly play in Launceston and in Hobart. I also remember being told that the ‘Great Cazaly’ had lived close to my uncle’s house in Lenah Valley, Hobart.
Every youngster interested in football (arguably the majority) growing up in the Tasmania of the 1950s and1960s knew something of Roy Cazaly. Long after Roy’s death his Cazaly’s gym in Hobart retained the Cazaly name.
James Charles Cazaly is buried with his wife Elizabeth and granddaughter (Roy’s firstborn) Elizabeth in the Presbyterian section of the Coburg cemetery.
Roy died in October, 1963 in Hobart, Tasmania.
Allan Barden
(Note: research undertaken by Kelly Morgan and Steve Pritchard of the Friends of Coburg Cemetery)
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Thanks, Allen, for another trip back in history and a well-written article. Most people don’t give a cemetery any thought and only visit them on the occasion of a sad loss. But cemeteries are a gold mine for historians and a fitting memorial to our extraordinary pioneers, who have moulded our communities and even our country into what we have today. The Geelong cemeteries, where I live, conduct regular historical walks where actors dressed in period costumes speak about the person they are portraying and bring their history alive. It is then that cemeteries go from being sad sites to places where we can be thankful for the lives of those who went before us.