REVELLING in the Riverina
The vintage years
Episode 3
The Crooked Mile
West Wyalong, NSW (WW-Girral, the ‘Bulldogs’ – Northern Riverina Football Netball League)
Stage 3: Cootamundra to West Wyalong
The 120 km drive from Cootamundra to our next waypoint, West Wyalong, follows the rail line to Stockinbingal and from there the Burley Griffin Way to Temora, then swings north north-westwards through Barmedman before reaching the territory of the Northern Riverina League.
Stockinbingal, with its Federation era buildings, makes an interesting stop along the way. The name of the village is interesting enough in itself. Like many places whose names are derived from Aboriginal words, the translation can be lost. However, there is little doubt in local mythology that the name Stockinbingal is linked to the local watercourse – known by European settlers as Bland Creek (more about bland things later). ‘Stock’, as the locals refer to the village, has a history as a service centre for wheat/sheep farmers, a Cobb and Co stopover between Harden and Temora, and a railhead on the Lake Cargelligo branch line.
Readers of my 2023 Footy Almanac series, Up the Mighty Murray, might recall an indulgence I made in Episode 11 at Tooleybuc. An excerpt from my journal (‘a thin school exercise book’) recounted my arrival at the small riverside settlement in August 1977. Taking a step back in time once more, I now include an excerpt from earlier in 1977 when I made the trip from Canberra to Temora as a newly-appointed, first year out teacher. Stockinbingal features prominently in my depiction of the drive.
Canberra to Temora January 1977
When the telegram arrived in early January … “commence on duty at Temora High School 1st February” … it felt like winning the lottery, as that was exactly where I wanted to start my teaching career. I had uni mates who came from Temora and it was out in the Riverina wheat country, which suited me just fine.
Ten days later I set off on a reconnaissance drive to Temora. Steering the HR Holden off the Hume Highway beyond Yass onto Burley Griffin Way, the journey really commenced. First Bowning, then Binalong (been-a-long time I thought), Harden and Murrumburrah, where the main street is as wide as a paddock, cruise on past Cunningar (what a name!), cross the Olympic Way at Wallendbeen and on through the hills towards Stockinbingal (big names out this way!).
The weathered granite tors on the hills around Wallendbeen signalled new and interesting country. In coming months I would witness farmers on tractors ploughing the chocolate soil for the winter crops, circling around the granite outcrops leaving a scene like a huge, raked Japanese garden. By late May, I would see green wheat shoots recolouring the landscape.
‘Stock’, with its evocative all-things-rural name, was welcome as it promised arrival in Temora within half an hour. The assembly of buildings lining the road in the village, mostly empty shops and commercial premises, is straight out of yesterday. After making a dog-leg turn and crossing the rail line, ‘Stock’ was quickly in the rear vision mirror and I set my sights on arrival at Temora. Springdale negotiated easily, Temora soon approached. Turning expectantly into Hoskins Street, with its typical Riverina country town streetscape, I discovered a chain of pubs, but they all had one thing in common … an exclusivity of Reschs on tap. Not my preferred drop! My first lodgings were booked at ‘The Shamrock’, but my first port of call would be ‘The Temora’. And it was with shock and sadness that I sat at the bar and watched scenes of the Granville train disaster on TV.
(another extract from the journal of an old Riverina chalkie)
As we push on towards West Wyalong (there’s something frontier-like about that name) a musical tribute is called for. Turn up the car radio for a satirical revelation of West Wyalong’s streets and a tongue-in-cheek poke at the Shire of Bland by Canberra band Jason Recliner in their West Wyalong Song:
See the map of West Wyalong below and find the streets that get a mention in Jason Recliner’s West Wyalong Song … Main Street, Court Street … etc.
West Wyalong town map
(Source: FreeCountryMaps.com)
Main Street (aka the Newell Highway) is known as ‘The Crooked Mile’ because of its meandering path which traces an original bullock track through gold diggings.
And the home of Australian Football at McAlister Oval (West Wyalong Recreation Reserve) can be found on … you guessed it … Park Street.
As West Wyalong’s welcome sign declares, it is the “town of goldfields, wheat fields and wool.” Squatters came to Wiradjuri country for the expansive land and in the 1890s thousands of fortune hunters arrived for the gold, establishing an unofficial settlement they called ‘White Tank’ (later named West Wyalong). So named because the village of Wyalong was a few miles away to the east. The miners were soon replaced by settlers who took to growing wheat crops in a big way. And this was when Australian Football also started to germinate in the Northern Riverina.
In this episode we are informed by inaugural NSW Australian Football Hall of Fame inductees, the late Keith Rees and his wife Paula Rees. Keith did it all in Northern Riverina football – over 300 games as a player, coach, umpire, umpires’ mentor, league treasurer and president, and topped that off by writing the history of the NRFNL. Paula is recognised for her efforts as a club official and a league administrator, together with her recent work in updating the history of the league. It is also timely to congratulate West Wyalong-born Paul Kelly on his elevation to legend status in the NSW Australian Football Hall of Fame. Kelly played his country football with the Wagga Tigers before joining the Sydney Swans in 1990.
West Wyalong’s Aussie Rules football journey has been a long, stop-start ride. The town fathered a football club in 1913 with enough numbers for two teams, the ‘Rovers’ and the ‘Globes’. They had dabbled with the Australian game a decade or so earlier, but the introduction of rugby saw the southern code die out locally. It was revived when a large number of Victorian farmers settled in the district in the early years of the 20th Century. In 1910 West Wyalong played a game against Barmedman, heralding the return of the code to the northern parts of the Riverina. West Wyalong’s rugby league club, the ‘Mallee Men’, had to start making room for the new code in town.
Initially, West Wyalong played in a local ‘cup’ competition against Blow Clear and Hiawatha. After WWI, the Bolagamy District FA was formed with West Wyalong initially participating. The Northern Riverina Football Association was founded in 1924 when the Ungarie FA amalgamated with the Lake Cargelligo FA. Five clubs participated, among them Girral, but not West Wyalong. It would be a quarter of a century before West Wyalong reformed an Australian Rules club when it joined the NRFL in 1949.
West Wyalong then left for the Ariah Park Association in 1950 but returned in 1952 for a three season stint before winding-up again in 1956. A further period in the football wilderness followed. Girral started up again in 1977 after a 41 year lay-off, before joining with a re-formed West Wyalong in 1984. And with that joint venture came a promise of long term security, The amalgamated club had to wait a while for their own turf, playing all home games initially at nearby Ungarie. But success was just around the corner.
Vintage years don’t come much tastier than West Wyalong-Girral’s six flags in seven seasons (1987-1993). In 1987, the Bulldogs were opposed to Four Corners in the Grand Final played up on the Lachlan at Condobolin. Led by Riverina legend Jim Prentice, Girral-West Wyalong (G-WW) as they were then known, defeated the Redlegs by 41 points. The following year, G-WW met Tullibigeal in the Grand Final at Ungarie and, with a come-from-behind three points win, achieved back to back flags. Making it three flags in a row, G-WW, under the leadership of Pat Daniher, enjoyed a comfortable 31 point victory over Condobolin-Milby in the 1989 Grand Final at Tullibigeal. That achievement is regarded as one of the club’s proudest, climbing from near the bottom of the ladder early in the season to win the premiership with a young squad after being decimated by the loss of over half the team from the year before.
After missing the Grand Final in 1990, G-WW bounced back in 1991 to win their fourth flag in five seasons with a 28 point victory over Lake Cargelligo at Ungarie. Newcomers to the NRFL, Parkes from the Central West, were Girral-West Wyalong’s opponent in the 1992 premiership-decider at Lake Cargelligo. A 20-point win to the Bulldogs saw them claim five from six. The vintage years continued in 1993 when G-WW raced away to a thumping 95-point victory over Tullibigeal at Condobolin. A quiet period ensued until 2005 when the club won its next flag under the new banner – West Wyalong-Girral.
West Wyalong-Girral has always suffered from a high turnover of players due to variations in employment opportunities. Despite winning the premiership in 2022, rural decline and demographic change delivers an ever present threat to West Wyalong-Girral and the other four Northern Riverina clubs. In 2024, the Northern Riverina Football League (NRFL) celebrates its centenary, with festivities including the ‘Red and Black Ball’ in August.
West Wyalong-Girral in 2024
Round 3: Hillston 19.13 (127) defeated West Wyalong 1.5 (11) on 4 May at McAlister Oval, West Wyalong.
Reigning premiers Hillston dominated the game from start to finish. The Bulldogs are without a win after four rounds and face a long hard season ahead.
Riverina Spotto
Mark one off each episode.
| the last post | Irish pub | a slice of pizza |
| faithful canine | sheep and dog | the family club |
| 22 yards | two felines | 31.12.74 |
| truckie’s stop | submarine | a shearing team |
| all among the wool | one pub town | Sherrin |
| three bees | square | footy hub |
Episode 2 – dog-gone faithful canine and now there are 16 to go
Next episode: Stage 4 – to Ungarie
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About Peter Clark
is a lifetime Geelong supporter. Hailing from the Riverina, he is now entrenched on the NSW South Coast. His passion for footy was ignited by attending Ovens and Murray League matches in the 1960's with his father. After years of watching, playing and coaching, now it is time for some serious writing about his favourite subjects… footy, especially country footy, and cricket.
I’m learning so much from this series Peter. Carn the Dogs!!!
Hillston hey Peter, never been there. All going to plan we’re there in September.
It sounds like Hillston gave West Wyalong a good towelling. We went through West Wyalong a few months back down the ‘Crooked Mile’. Getting into the heart of Ben Hall country.
I never knew Paul Kelly was born in West Wyalong: thanks for that information.
Glen!
There is some terrific prose and research here Peter well done
Another great read, Peter.
Thanks.
On ya Peter for honouring Keith & Paula Reeves on their induction into the inaugural AFL NSW Hall of Fame!
West Wyalong have been fortunate to be led by some great men, namely Jimmy Prentice & Pat Paniher – both very different types of footballers! Jimmy was so hard and tough and so very, very good.
Jim also opened the batting for NSW Country against India in Griffith n 1977. He made 55 centuries in local cricket. He was even better known as a poll Dorset sheep breeder!
My snouts tell me that the West Wyalong-Girral footy team is now on a par in town with rugby league rivals the Mallee Men. But as you note the Northern Riverina league is down to five clubs – but determined to keep going!
Jimmy Prentice – what a player!
Jimmy Prentice was a handy contributor for South Melbourne in the early 1970’s.
I remember he kicked 5 against Geelong at the Lakeside Oval in R 14, 1973. This being South Melbourne’s first victory since a win over North Melbourne in R 6, 1972. It’d been a while between drinks.
Glen!