Up the Mighty Murray! – Episode 17: The Timbercutters: rising from the ashes

 

 

Episode 17    The Timbercutters: rising from the ashes

 

 

To Mathoura in the Picola and District League

 

Postcard from Mathoura NSW 2710

 

Welcome to Mathoura, gateway to the Murray Valley National Park. In episode 17 we stand alongside the river red gums at the home of the ‘Timbercutters’, a football netball club in the Picola and District League (P&DFNL). We enjoy a day of bush football and netball and get to know a club that is proudly “rising from the ashes” as it battles the same challenges facing scores of other country clubs. It is the last home and away round for 2023 in the P&DFNL when the ‘Timbercutters’ host the ‘Demons’ from Jerilderie. 

 

Mathoura streetscape
(photo by Gary Duggan)

 

The small Riverina town of Mathoura is bordered by waterways, wetlands and forests. The Mighty Murray, the Edward River, Gulpa Creek, and Murray Valley National Park are all just a few kilometres to the east of the town. 

 

(source: Google Maps)

 

Taking the Cobb Highway, which links Echuca-Moama with Hay “and hell and Booligal” and beyond, travellers arrive at Mathoura 40km after leaving the NSW-Victorian border. Stopping here brings its rewards: experiencing the majesty of the largest River Red Gum forest in the world; learning about the pioneering history of the timber cutters; and of course, enjoying  games of local football and netball. 

 

Charles Sturt, in 1838, was the first white man to enter the district. Soon after, overlanders Edward Howe and James McLaurin travelled through the area on their way to South Australia and camped at Gulpa Creek. The first European settlers arrived soon after, but the indigenous occupation of the land by the Yorta Yorta people goes back for thousands of years. In 1842 squatters Henry Lewes and Charles Throsby founded Moira Station in partnership. In the same year another squatter, Peter Stuckey, took up land along Gulpa Creek.

 

Life on the Moira run, located between present-day Moama and Mathoura, was a battle with floods, mosquitos, bushrangers and Aborigines, and later with ‘free selectors’. The Yorta Yorta gave strong resistance at Moira Station in 1843 when large numbers attacked using firebrands of spears and with canoes to retreat into the reedy wetlands. Their purpose was to defend Indigenous territorial rights to the land which had been subjugated by white occupation. Stuckey met similar resistance and was forced to relocate his base away from Gulpa Creek to higher ground near the present site of Mathoura.

 

By 1848 the boundaries of the Moira run were defined and were estimated to contain 100 000 acres (40 000 ha) carrying 3000 cattle and 4000 sheep. In the next phase of the station’s history,  the legal battle between the squatters and free selectors went as high as the Privy Council. The NSW Land Acts of 1861 gave selectors the right to choose up to 320 acres of crown land without restriction. In 1862 the owner of Moira Station, John O’Shanassy, fell into a long and bitter conflict with selector William Joachim ending with a Privy Council ruling in favour of the selector. Closer settlement on ‘Moira’ continued in the 1870s -1890s by pioneers, many of whose descendants remain in the Mathoura area. Today Moira Station has a new function, as a premium accommodation and wedding venue attracting people to experience life, and celebrate events, on an working outback property.

 

The pastoral stations gave Mathoura a new purpose, timber milling. In 1859 the first sawmill at Mathoura was in operation, milling red gum timber for a boundary fence between Moira and Mathoura pastoral leases. In the same year Cobb and Co commenced coach services between Deniliquin and Mathoura (then known as Redbank Inn). As Mathoura grew there was an increased demand for timbers for use in housing, bridge and wharf construction, and for fencing and railway sleepers. When a private railway line was built linking Deniliquin with Moama in 1876, timber milled locally was used for the construction of the railway line and as fuel for the locomotives. Mathoura became an important halfway refueling point on the line. Murray River paddle steamers also used offcuts from the mills at Mathoura. By 1875 sections of the forests were reserved and managed, an early forerunner to the national parks located along this section of the Murray.

 

Third and fourth generation descendants of the early timber mill workers live in Mathoura today, and with that heritage one can appreciate the nickname “Timbercutters” adopted by the town’s football netball club. And what a great nickname! Hats off to clubs who adopt identities that resonate with their surroundings and local history. On our Murray River journey we have encountered very few other examples of locally relevant emblems amid a wash of Magpies, Kangaroos, Demons, Saints and Tigers etc. The Swallows (Irymple), The Road (Congupna), the River Raiders (Koondrook-Barham) and a club we will meet soon, the Mountain Men of Mitta Mitta, come close.

 

 

 

The old and the new at the Mathoura Recreation Reserve
(photos by Gary Duggan)

 

River Red Gums

 

It is easy to see how the dominant tree of the Murray Darling Basin river environments got its common name, but what about its scientific name – Eucalyptus camaldulensis? The species name camaldulensis is derived from the name of an Italian monastery, Camaldoli, near Naples. Apparently, a specimen grown from seed in the Camaldoli Gardens was given the name Eucalyptus camaldulensis in 1832. But how did the seed get there? It is presumed that botanist and explorer Allan Cunningham, who sent seed to the King’s Garden at Kew, London, also shared specimens with an Italian botanist at the Camaldoli Gardens. Cunningham collected River Red Gum seed at Condobolin while on the exploration of the Lachlan and Macquarie rivers with John Oxley in 1817. 

 

River Red Gums trace the watercourses of much of the continent, but have also found a home in other countries where they have been planted for their timber and for soil conservation. This iconic species of Australia’s inland river country can age to between 500 and 1000 years. It has been a valuable resource, food and medicinal source for Indigenous people, more recently a fuel and timber source for European settlers. Ecologically, the trees are a haven for birds, mammals, reptiles and insects. Their hollows provide refuges and nesting sites, their foliage and flowers give food and nectar, while their roots and shade provide habitat for fish and other aquatic organisms.

 

Evening glow
River Red Gum on the banks of the Wakool River

 

The life expectancy of River Red Gums is testimony to their adaptability. The trees can survive drought by shedding up to two thirds of their foliage and by tapping underground water. When rains return, the canopy of the river gums rapidly regrows. They can tolerate at least two years of continuous flooding by having extensive root systems and air filled tissue in their roots which allows for the passage of oxygen. Floods are essential for their survival. They seed after flooding events allowing great numbers of seedlings to germinate. It is here that the management of the flows and flooding regimes of our inland river systems is so critical to their health and survival.

 

A day at the footy and netball in the Picola and District Football Netball League

 

 

Mathoura v Jerilderie

Saturday 5th August 2023

At Mathoura Recreation Reserve

 

 

The Picola and District League was formed in 1905 and was active until 1907. Football was played in the area prior to that in various competitions between 1897 and 1904. In 1908 club delegates voted in favour of forming an association to be called the Western and Moira Ridings FA. That competition ran until the end of the 1933 season. It was decided at the 1934 AGM to change the name to the Picola and District FA with Barmah, Kotupna, Moira, Nathalia Seconds, Picola and Yalca North signing up.

 

Of the current clubs in the P&DFNL, Waaia joined in 1932, Picola United in 1934, Strathmerton in 1936/1994, Katamatite in 1950/1995, Katunga in 1950, Yarroweyah in 1956, Blighty in 1969, Deniliquin Rovers in 1977, Mathoura in 1990, Jerilderie in 2008, Rennie in 2009, Berrigan in 2011 and Tungamah in 2021. In 2009 the league was split into two conferences (North West and South East), an internal division that was abandoned in 2018. Picola United and Waaia remain the most successful clubs with 12 and 11 premierships respectively.

 

In 2023 the P&DFNL made the decision to disaffiliate from AFL Victoria. For the second occasion in recent years the league took the bold move out of dissatisfaction with the returns from the AFL to the league and its “one size fits all” style of decision making. Many clubs felt they were not receiving the assistance they required to be competitive under the player points system. Mathoura head coach Tim McCormick said “they [AFL] just take the fees and give little back” (The Guardian 9 June 2023). He pointed out that clubs can now appeal to the P&DFNL directly to gain more player points, enabling the possibility of recruiting more experienced players. Not all P&DFNL clubs agreed with the go-it-alone decision. Tocumwal were dissenters, citing the league’s disaffiliation as one of the reasons for their move to the Murray League in 2023.  Many other leagues will be watching how the Picola League’s disaffiliation pans out with the view to following suit in the future.

 

Mathoura first played football in the early years of the 20th C. when a competition between ‘Town’ and ‘Country’ was conducted.  The Town side wore Collingwood colours while the Country men wore the blue and red,  which later became the official colours of the Mathoura FC. In 1910 football moved to the Recreation Reserve, then unfenced and without any amenities. When the local competition was abandoned Mathoura joined the Deniliquin FA and played games on the Wednesday half-holiday.  The journey to and from Deniliquin by players and supporters, made by a special train,  provided a great rallying point for the local football community.

 

The period 1920-23 was the club’s most successful era when the Timbercutters won four flags in succession in the Deniliquin competition. At that time the club was led by former Essendon player Cyril Gove who provided great leadership for the club. In 1929 Mathoura were runners up to Kyabram in the Northern Goulburn FA. After a stint in the Deniliquin District FA, Mathoura joined the Echuca FL in 1932 where they participated with great success (3 flags – 1936,37,38) until their next move to the Edwards River League in 1949. Mathoura usually had several Indigenous players from the Cummeragunja Mission, who helped the team with their clever ball handling. One of the top players from Cummeragunja was Eddie Walker. Other names included Cooper, Briggs and Atkinson – family football names that have had a big impact in Australian Football across the broader Echuca and Goulburn Valley districts (see Episodes 15 and 16).

 

After returning to the Echuca FL, the Timbercutters had immediate success winning the flag in 1952 and again in 1961. Under the popular coaching of Kerry Podmore the club rose to the top again and won  premierships in 1973 and 1976. Mathoura remained affiliated with the EFL until joining the P&DFL in 1990. Mathoura formed a second eighteen team in the 1960s, enjoying great success in the mid 1970s. Four seasons after joining the Picola League, in 1993, Mathoura took the big prize, defeating Waaia in the grand final by 64 points. That remains the club’s one and only premiership in the P&DFNL, although 2009, 2010 and 2011 were good seasons for the club, when it reached the finals of the North West division.

 

One Timbercutter has the prestige of winning the P&DFNL best and fairest award (the Pearce Medal), club ‘legend’ Chris Duggan in 1990. He followed in the footsteps of four Timbercutters who won the best and fairest award during the club’s time in the EFL – ‘Buddy’ Coppinger (twice), Jeff Cooper, Des Watts and Carey McCormick (1968).

 

On the netball courts the A Grade team won back-to-back premierships in 2008-2009. In 2009 it was a very special time for Mathoura netballers, with five out of nine teams winning premierships.

 

 Lean years then set in for the football club, culminating in near-recession in 2022, which was to be avoided at all costs by a proud club with a long history and fifteen premierships to its credit. The football club’s struggles were experienced both on-field and with the loss of committee members and volunteers. A fresh committee was formed in 2022 with a mission to recruit players from Deniliquin and Echuca, given that two thirds of the playing group had departed over the summer. It was a tough season, as Mathoura lost five games by more than 200 points.

 

A new head coach (former MFNC premiership player Tim McCormick) and a new president, Melyssa Banks, have led the way in the club’s “rise from the ashes”. This season started promisingly, but after two big losses things looked bleak, until the ‘Cutters came out firing against Blighty in round six and won their first of four games for the year . A one game,  marquee appearance by ex-Collingwood star Dane Swan on Easter Saturday against Picola United was very productive for the home game gate, canteen and bar takings, but a win deserted the ‘Cutters. To the credit of the Mathoura women and girls, it has been a netball-led recovery for the “family club”, with seven teams competing and four likely to go through to the finals in 2023. 

 

Dane Swan (far left in the back row) with his Mathoura team mates

(source: Mathoura FNC on Facebook)

 

Like many small town footy clubs, one of the big challenges going forward will be to build junior numbers, particularly in the Under 17’s. The ‘Cutters also need to gain some more experienced senior players to lead the way for the core of young players and to help the off-field coaches Tim McCormick and Nick Ferrari.

 

Jerilderie formed a football club in 1891 playing friendly matches against other Southern Riverina clubs. In 1905 Jerilderie joined the Southern Riverina Football Association where they competed until 1931. Jerilderie then joined the Murray Valley (Second Eighteen) Football Association where they won five premierships between 1932 and 1956. In 1957 the club commenced its first stint in the Coreen and District Football League (1957-63), adopting the ‘Demons’ nickname and winning the 1963 flag. In 1964 the Demons joined the stronger Murray Football League, with their greatest success coming in the 1980s when they won premierships in 1983, 1987 and 1989. After returning to the Coreen League in 1994, Jerilderie enjoyed further premiership success in 1999, 2000 and 2003. When the C&DFL folded in 2007 the Demons joined the Picola and District League (NW Division) and claimed flags in 2009, 2012, 2013 and 2014.

 

A Jerilderie player who became a very successful and widely known VFL/AFL player was Billy Brownless (Geelong). Two other Jerilderie footballers, Mick Dowdle (North Melbourne) and Peter Stephens (Geelong), also played VFL football.

 

Preview

 

The last time they met: round 3 2023 Jerilderie 15.12 (102) defeated Mathoura 3.10 (28) at Jerilderie.

 

Mathoura will be looking to turn the tables on Jerilderie who defeated them by a big margin back in April. While Mathoura are out of the race for the finals, finishing the season on a high note will be a priority for the ‘Cutters, while the Demons will be desperate for a win to keep their finals chances alive. For the visitors the equation for making the eight is simple: win against Mathoura and hope that Tungamah can defeat Picola United.

 

In the lead up to the game, Mathoura co-coach Tim McCormick said: “Being the final game we just want our lads to crack in and have some fun. We can still shape the top eight by winning on Saturday.” (Deniliquin Pastoral Times, 4 August 2023)

 

 

On the netball courts: A Grade

 

The Timbercutters have an outside chance of making the finals but will require a percentage boosting win over the Demons and the result in the Tungamah v Picola United match to go their way, to claim eighth place in front of eighth-placed Tungamah.

 

The match

 

The ‘Cutters made a promising start to the match and trailed by only 10 points at quarter time. The second term was a dour goalless affair for both sides, followed by a low scoring third term. At three quarter time the home team were 21 points down but a five goal to nil final quarter by Jerilderie sealed the ‘Cutter’s fate and helped elevate the Demons into the final ‘eight’. Jerilderie’s finals hopes were realised by gaining the win and with the result of the Tungamah v Picola United match going their way. 

 

For the 11th placed Timbercutters, the season ended with a return of four wins. The mood is positive at Mathoura, with optimism for the future and confidence that the rise from the ashes has begun. Co-coach Tim McCormick pointed to the highlight of the season for the senior team when it pushed Strathmerton to the wire in round 12, going down by a slender margin of seven points. Strathmerton, who finished the home and away season in second position, were the only team to defeat Waaia all year. McCormick added: “That was probably one of the prouder moments, the way (the players) stuck at the task.” (Riverine Herald, 6 August 2023)

 

Scores

 

Scoreboard at the “Timberyard”
(photo by Gary Duggan)

 

Jerilderie 4.2 4.6 6.8 11.11 (77)

Mathoura 2.4 2.4 3.5 3.5 (23)

 

Goal kickers – Jerilderie: Lawton 2, Stonnill 2, deOleveira 2, Conlan, Marshall, Robertson, Hawkins, Sleigh

 

Mathoura: Burns 2, Creighton

 

Best –  Jerilderie: T. Sleigh, C. Marshall, M. Conlan, K. Hawkins, L. Leeds, D. Trethowan

 

Mathoura: S. McHale, L. Simpson, J. Simpson, L. Carmody, T. Creighton, E. Handy

 

Around the Picola League grounds

 

It was a series of one-sided matches to conclude the home and away season.

Berrigan 20.13 (133) defeated Yarroweyah 5.8 (38)

Tungamah 20.18 (138) defeated Picola United 10.8 (68)

Katandra 21.15 (141) defeated Deniliquin Rovers 7.9 (51)

Strathmerton 19.12 (126) defeated Katunga 6.6 (42)

Waaia 30.32 (212) defeated Blighty 1.0 (6)

Katamatite 19.6 (120) defeated Rennie 12.7 (79)

 

The P&DFNL Seniors – Final ‘eight’

 

1. Waaia
2. Strathmerton
3. Tungamah
4. Katunga
5. Katandra
6. Katamatite
7. Jerilderie
8. Deniliquin Rovers

 

Finals – week 1

Elimination final #1 – 5 v 8 Katandra v Deniliquin Rovers at Berrigan 

Elimination final #2 – 6 v 7 Katamatite v Jerilderie at Tungamah

 

Netball results

Mathoura’s A Grade team ended the season with a 50-54 loss to Jerilderie and just missed out on the finals, finishing ninth. However, the B Grade side enjoyed a 23 goal win over the Demons which helped them to narrowly secure eighth position. The club will have two other teams in the finals, with the C Reserve and Under 13 teams both finishing in fourth place.

 

A step back in time ….

 

Football grand finals produce great emotions, which occasionally spill over into ugly acts of violence between players… sometimes between spectators …  although rarely between spectators and players. But that was the case in the 1931 Grand Final of the Deniliquin District Football Association between Mathoura and East End (Deniliquin). The Daily Telegraph (Sydney) picked up the widely publicised events.

 

The Fighting Final

How Police stopped football riot

HIT-RUN IDEA

DENILIQUIN, Sunday – Unique in country football history were the disgraceful scenes that attended the attempted final between Mathoura and East End yesterday. The “fight” was stopped by Police before half-time! SERIOUS fights among both players and spectators started with the opening whistle. Sergeant Hyde stopped several fights, and when the fighting was renewed, he stopped the game. 

An elderly spectator from Mathoura, rushed up at the East End captain, James Wharton, and struck him on the eye. It was amusing to see the elderly man scrambling over the high fence to get away. Wharton engaged a car and gave chase, and Inspector Bisley followed in another car.

 

SEIZED THE CUP

The Peter Dawson Cup, on view at the ground, was seized by Mathoura players, and held until East End players wrested it from them. Players and spectators marched around the town in excited groups, looking for the elderly man, who was in hiding.  Only ten days previously, two players were before the court for fighting, but the cases were dismissed. East End claims the cup.

(The Daily Telegraph, 28 September 1931)   

 

The Sun (Sydney) also covered the story, adding:

 

NOW FOR THE DANCE

“The teams were pretty good cobbers – the spectators were responsible for much of the ill feeling.” James Wharton, the captain of the East End footballers, summed up the cup final (Australian Rules) that was played against Mathoura at Deniliquin on Saturday.

 

“Will there be any fights at the dance?” “I don’t think so. We’ve asked Mathoura along, but we don’t think they’ll accept.”

(The Sun, 28 September 1931)

 

 Next episode: To Howlong in the Hume League

 

All images by the author unless otherwise acknowledged.

 

 

Read all episodes of ‘Up The Mighty Murray’ and Peter Clark’s previous series Here.

 

 

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