Up the Mighty Murray! – Episode 21: ‘The MCG of the Bush’

 

Episode 21                                 “The MCG of the Bush”

 

Map of the Murray River

 

 

At Sandy Creek in the Tallangatta League

 

During this episode we will sail up the Mitta Arm of Lake Hume to Tallangatta. From there we head around to Sandy Creek and beyond as our attention switches to the Tallangatta and District League. Spring, September and finals have arrived. We also look at the grand final results in leagues along the Murray that have already had their big day for 2023.

 

Looking up the Mitta Arm of Lake Hume

 

Bonegilla Migrant Camp

 

On the shores of Lake Hume at Bonegilla, just above the dam wall and spillway, a migrant camp ‘welcomed’ displaced people and assisted passage, non-British, immigrants from 30 different nations in the post-war years. The Bonegilla Migrant Reception and Training Centre provided the first Australian ‘home’ for about 310 000 migrants between 1947 and 1971. It was the largest and longest lasting of Australia’s post war migrant camps. The site was previously a World War II army camp and hospital. Some of the residents stayed for weeks, others for several months, even for several years. The early residents, in particular, endured very basic conditions, housed in communal accommodation without private facilities. It was common for families to be separated, which caused social isolation and anxiety.

 

During the 25 years of its use as a migrant camp, Bonegilla experienced two significant flare-ups: the first in 1952 and a second during the economic downturn of 1961. The threatened riot in 1952 was prompted primarily by the long wait for promised jobs by 2000 young Italian men. The food provided and a lack of recreation facilities was also on their list of concerns. They demanded either jobs, the basic wage in lieu of employment, or repatriation to Italy. Many had come to Australia with skills that were ignored and only labouring jobs were offered. Eventually some were given work on the Snowy Mountains Scheme and others on the expansion of the Hume Dam. Many of the migrant camp residents worked in rural industries, while some found employment at the camp as staff workers and chose to remain at Bonegilla for years.

 

Snapshot from the front page of the Border Morning Mail, 18 July 1961

 

The 1961 incident involved Italian and German migrants angry about living conditions, lack of employment and also boredom (“boring–Boney-bloody-gilla” was a common description) for the 3500 residents. “Your barbarian system is only worthy for the Stone-Age” their placard protested. During the short-lived uprising, buildings were damaged by the rioters. The riot quickly drew both local and national media attention, prompting improvements to facilities and a review of resettlement policies. 

 

Despite the conditions at the camp and the long wait for promised employment experienced by some, the former residents of Bonegilla were generally grateful for the opportunity to start a new life and welcomed the peace and security afforded by Australia.

 

Albury-Wodonga benefited considerably from the Bonegilla camp and its residents, both economically and culturally. And many of the migrants eventually settled in the Border area. Today the site is home to the Bonegilla Migrant Experience which allows visitors to explore the former camp and to browse family history records. Block 19 at Bonegilla was included in the National Heritage List in 2007 as “a place with powerful connections for many people in Australia and a symbol of post-war migration which transformed Australia’s economy, society and culture.” (Bonegilla Migrant Experience website)

 

Tallangatta – ‘the town that moved’

 

Tallangatta was originally founded in the 1870s and served as a rail gateway for the Mitta Valley and Upper Murray Valley. In the early 1950s, when it was decided to increase the capacity of the Hume Dam, the 800 residents in the township of Tallangatta were told they would be moved to a new town site. This was the fate of other Australian settlements such as Bonnie Doon in 1956, Adaminaby in 1957 and Jindabyne in the early 1960s.

 

The site chosen was the rail siding of Bolga, 8 km to the west, despite the preference of Tallangatta people for a closer site, ‘Toorak’, which was an elevated site and part of the existing town. The Bolga option was chosen because a potential third enlargement of the Hume Dam could inundate ‘Toorak’. In the end, Dartmouth Dam’s construction avoided the need to further increase the capacity of the Hume Dam. 

 

The transfer of the town commenced in 1954 and was completed in 1956. Many of Old Tallangatta’s  wooden houses were jacked up and transported by truck to the new town site. Whenever the waters of the Hume Reservoir drop to a very low level, as they did in 1997 and 2007, ‘Old Tallangatta’ is revealed. In the 2007 drought, the foundations of the bank were exposed and the path of the Murray Valley Highway was visible. The buildings themselves have long since rotted and washed away after almost 70 years under water.

 

Dartmouth Dam 

 

Dartmouth Dam is located downstream of the confluence of the Mitta Mitta and Dart Rivers, The reservoir is the most upstream storage and is the largest capacity storage in the River Murray system. It has the highest embankment of any dam in Australia. Construction of the dam by the State Rivers and Water Supply Commission on behalf of the River Murray Commission was completed in 1979. When full (3,856 GL of water), the dam holds more than 40% of the River Murray system’s total storage capacity. The primary purpose of Dartmouth Dam is the storage of water for irrigation and domestic and stock use in Victoria and New South Wales. At times, it supplements releases from the downstream Hume Dam and increases supplies to the River Murray system, which is particularly important in dry seasons. Dartmouth Dam is operated by Goulburn-Murray Water on behalf of the Murray-Darling Basin Authority.

 

After heavy rains in 2022 Dartmouth Dam overflowed its spillway for the first time since 1996. It was only the fifth time the dam filled to overflowing since it was completed in 1979.

 

Sandy Creek Recreation Reserve – ‘the MCG of the bush’

 

Sandy Creek Recreation Reserve – ‘The MCG of the bush’ 

 

Picture-perfect and primed for finals action every football season in the Tallangatta League is the Sandy Creek Recreation Ground, known colloquially in the district, as ‘the MCG of the bush’. The ground is unique in country football in that it is exclusively used for the finals. No games of footy are played at Sandy Creek throughout the home and away rounds. While the Walbundrie Showgrounds is the venue for all finals in the Hume League, it is the home ground of Rand-Walbundrie-Walla and is a regular venue for matches throughout the season.

 

Surrounded by farmland and with the backdrop of verdant hills, the Sandy Creek ground makes a stunning picture in early spring. One of the biggest attributes of the ground is its excellent drainage. It can rain ‘cats and dogs’ during the week but the ground will be dry to greet the emerging sunshine on match day. It is indeed sandy soil at Sandy Creek. The ground is maintained by a ground committee and with plenty of volunteer help is in tip top condition come the start of September every year.  In the 1970s, league president Doug Williams and his wife Ena were largely responsible for having the Sandy Creek ground the destination for all T&DFL finals and for improving facilities for spectators and players. Doug summed it up:

 

“Now you can water the ground and you don’t have to rely on the Gods, so the ground is always perfect for finals. That’s why they call it the MCG of the bush.” (Border Mail, 26 June 2020)

 

The Williams’ are life members of the league, while Doug was awarded the VCFL Long Service Medal for his dedicated service to the Tallangatta League. 

 

Tallangatta and District League

 

 

 

 

Unofficial football was first played in the Tallangatta district of north eastern Victoria as early as the 1860s. In the mid 1880s Tallangatta, Mitta Mitta, Granya and Allan’s Flat fielded teams but there was no official league or draw in those days. Albury and Albury Federals also played football matches against Tallangatta in 1886 and 1887. Yackandandah played Tallangatta in 1889 and by 1890 teams from Tallangatta, Yackandandah, Hillsborough, Middle Creek/Indigo United, Beechworth, Hurdle Flat, Gundowring, Wooragee, Rutherglen and Chiltern played football matches before an official competition was organised in 1892. The first official games were played in a competition called the Craven Trophy Challenge for clubs within the Benambra electorate. A series of trophy competitions existed until an association was formed in 1899 under the title the Benambra Football Association. The teams competing in this association were Tallangatta, Tallandoon, Mitta Mitta, Eskdale and Sandy Creek. In 1922 the Tallangatta and District Football Association was formed with teams from Tallangatta, Kiewa, Eskdale, Bethanga, Talgarno and Granya competing. 

 

The Tallangatta and District Football League was officially founded in 1945 with six participating clubs Bethanga, Fernvale, Granya, Mitta-Eskdale, Sandy Creek and Tallangatta. The big wet year, 1956, was a watershed year for football in the north east with the folding of the Yackandandah and Chiltern Leagues. A reserves competition was added in 1968. In 1969 Kiewa and Sandy Creek merged and promptly won the premiership that season. In 1988 the Thurgoona Football Club was formed and they were immediately admitted to the league. Bethanga morphed into the Wodonga Saints Football Club, now playing permanently in the border city. The admission of three Ovens and King League clubs, Chiltern, Beechworth and the Rutherglen Cats strengthened the TDFL in 2003 and 2004.

 

Currently the Tallangatta and District Football League consists of twelve clubs: Barnawartha, Beechworth, Chiltern, Dederang-Mt. Beauty, Kiewa-Sandy Creek, Mitta United, Rutherglen, Tallangatta, Thurgoona, Wahgunyah, Wodonga Saints and Yackandandah.

 

Kiewa (the Rovers) and Sandy Creek (Sandy) merged in 1969 to form the Kiewa-Sandy Creek Hawks. Kiewa formed a football club in the Tallangatta & District Football Association in 1908. Sandy Creek joined the T&DFA from the Mitta Mitta FA in the same year, but had an earlier history dating back to1898 when they initially played local games. In 1909 the two clubs merged to form the Dreadnought FC, but separated on the eve of World War I. Sandy Creek played in a series of leagues after the war prior to settling in the T&DFL in 1950. Kiewa resumed after the War and had a similar sequence of league affiliations until joining the T&DFL in 1952. The two clubs have won a total of 19 premierships over the course of their individual and combined histories.

 

Some former VFL/AFL players from the Tallangatta League include: Ben McIvoy from Dederang-Mt. Beauty (St Kilda, Hawthorn), Dawson Simpson from Barnawartha (Geelong, GWS), the Lappin brothers from Chiltern (Nigel – Brisbane, Matthew – St Kilda, Carlton), the Houlihans (Damian – Collingwood, Adam – Geelong, Ryan – Carlton) from Wahgunyah, Michael Gayfer (Collingwood) and Rob Campbell (Hawthorn) from Rutherglen.  Current AFL players from the T&DFL include Taylor Duryea from Wahgunyah (Hawthorn, Western Bulldogs), Kayne Turner from Kiewa-Sandy Creek (North Melbourne) and Ben Paton from Mitta United (St Kilda).

 

Yackandandah (the Kangaroos) established a football club in 1884. In their first twenty years Yackandandah played local games before joining a regular competition, the Murphy Albion Hotel Football Competition, in which they were 1906 premiers. Thereafter Yackandandah played in the Yackandandah, Kiewa, Dederang and Chiltern associations before joining the T&DFL in 1957. Yack won the 1928 and 1940 Y&DFA/L premierships. Only two further flags have been claimed by the Kangaroos – 1964 and 2000. In ‘40 they played sublime wet weather football to defeat Mudgegonga by 51 points. In ‘64 they overcame Lavington to win the grand final by 4 points at the Sandy Creek Recreation Reserve. 

 

Beechworth (the Bushrangers) was one of the first towns in North East Victoria to establish a football club. The Beechworth Football Club was formed in 1861, with only ‘friendly’ matches played until the early 1890s. By the late 1880s Beechworth had two football clubs (Beechworth and Wanderers) playing regular matches against other mining towns in the district such as Chiltern and Rutherglen. The two clubs merged in 1892 and Beechworth became one of the inaugural clubs in the Ovens and Murray FA. which commenced in 1893. Beechworth won the first two premierships in the association. After the turn of the century Beechworth alternated between the Ovens and Murray Association and the Ovens and King Association before settling on a long campaign in the O&KFL between 1946 and 2003. Thereafter Beechworth has been a member of the T&DFL. The club has 18 premierships to its credit (3 in the O&MFA, 14 in the O&KFL and one in the T&DFL [2010]). They have been runners-up on 20 occasions.

 

Chiltern (the Swans), like Beechworth was another of the pioneering football clubs in North East Victoria with its football history dating back to the 1860s. It was an original member of the Ovens and Murray FA in 1893 and competed for the first ten seasons of the association’s existence. In 1912 the Chiltern and District FA was formed and for the next forty years was the home of red and whites. The club’s nickname at that time was the ‘Blood Stained Angels. In 1954 Chiltern joined the Ovens and King League where they enjoyed regular success over the next half century. In 2003 the Swans joined the Tallangatta and District League. Chiltern has won 23 premierships over the course of its history, with the decade after World War II its most successful era. In that period the Swans won seven flags, which should have included an eighth but for a timekeeping/umpiring error in the 1954 Ovens and King League grand final. (see below – A step back in time …)  Chiltern are the reigning T&DFL premiers after winning the 2022 grand final in a low-scoring slog against Kiewa.

 

Finals week 2

at the Sandy Creek Recreation Reserve

 

Saturday 2 September

Qualifying Final 

Kiewa-Sandy Creek v Yackandandah

 

         

Hawks           v           Roos

Sunday 3 September

First Semi-final

Beechworth v Chiltern

 

               

Bushrangers       v         Swans

 

Previews

The last time the finalists met: round 9 2023 Kiewa-Sandy Creek 10.11 (71) defeated Yackandandah 7.9 (51); and in round 12 2023 Beechworth 7.6 (48) defeated Chiltern 4.3 (27).

 

Kiewa-Sandy Creek are strongly favoured to defeat Yackandandah and qualify for the grand final in a fortnight’s time. Yack were impressive in their win over Beechworth last week, but the mid-field strength of the minor premiers, led by Jack Haugen, should see them home.

 

The wide open spaces of Sandy Creek should favour Chiltern who have the leg speed to worry Beechworth in the first semi-final. The Bushrangers have lost their last three finals at the venue and a 10 goal spanking by Yackandandah in the first round of the finals will not help their cause. In a major blow to Beechworth’s finals campaign, co-coach Tom Cartledge was suspended for three matches and they also have several injury concerns. The key to their chances is the inspiration and leadership of league medallist, team captain Cam Fendyk. The all round class and midfield depth of Chiltern should see them comfortably home despite the fact they have lost both previous encounters with Beechworth this season.

 

Matches

One-sided blowouts continued in the second week of the T&DFL finals. Red-hot Kiewa-Sandy Creek qualified for the grand final after easily accounting for Yackandandah. After dominating but not converting in the first quarter, the Hawks put the foot down and built a match-winning 42 point lead early in the third term. The Hawks will make their sixth grand final appearance from eight of the past premiership deciders.

 

Chiltern stormed into the elimination final with a 55 point thrashing of an injury depleted Beechworth. It was all one-way traffic after quarter time as the reigning premiers booted nine goals to two sending a strong reminder to the remaining finalists. The familiar Chiltern name, Lappin, was represented by Fin Lappin, judged best on ground.

 

Action from the first-semi final at Sandy Creek

(source: Beechworth FNC on Facebook)

 

But the outlook for the preliminary final next week is for a much closer tussle between two evenly matches sides – Chiltern pushing for their second successive flag and Yackandandah still not out of the running to be playing at the “MCG of the bush” on grand final day.

 

Scores

 

Qualifying Final

 

Kiewa-Sandy Creek 13.16 (96) defeated Yackandandah 6.8 (44)

 

Best – Kiewa-Sandy Creek: Jack Haugen (b.o.g), Joshua Hicks, Dillon Blaszczyk, Nic Carney, Zak Collins, Mitchell Paton

Yackandandah: Josh Garland, Angus Lingham, Connor Marshall, Jim Lawson, Harry McBurnie, Ben McIntosh

 

Goals – K-SC: Jake Hicks 3, Haugen 2, Blaszczyk 2, S. Bartel, Paton, Newnham, Booth, Mona, Joshua Hicks

Yack: Leitch 2, Lawson 2, Jarratt, Donaghey, 

 

First Semi-final

 

Chiltern 13.15 (93) defeated Beechworth 5.8 (38)

 

Best – Chiltern: Fin Lappin (b.o.g), A. Brookes, M. McLean, C. Garside, C. Bertram, J. Cooper, 

Beechworth: T. Stead, K. Scott, B. Carey, E. Cartledge, B. Surrey, J. Middleton

 

Goals – Chiltern: M. Doolan 5, K. Cooper 3, J. Cooper 2, M. Hemming 2, B. Hibbertson

Beechworth: K. Surrey 2, C. Stone, A. Belci, C. Stephens

 

 

 

In the Ovens and Murray League qualifying final Albury 16.8 (104) defeated Wangaratta 12.8 (80). In the elimination final Wodonga 13.9 (87) defeated Wangaratta Rovers 6.11 (47). Next Saturday minor premiers Yarrawonga take on Albury in the second semi-final and on Sunday Wangaratta and Wodonga will fight it out to determine who proceeds and whose season is over.

 

Welcome to September

 

To footy fans September is a month to savour. So over the next few episodes we will look back at the leagues we have visited on our Murray adventure to check on their grand final results.

 

Three leagues have already played their grand finals for 2023. In the Millewa League Bambill 12.12 (84) defeated Gol Gol 11.5 (71), while in the Riverland League Barmera-Monash 5.5 (35) defeated Renmark 3.8 (26). For news of the Upper Murray League grand Final, wait for Episode 22 next week to find the result.

 

A step back in time …

 

In 1954

“We had, Greta in the morning, Greta in the evening, Greta at suppertime …”

 

In the 1954 Ovens and King League Grand Final between Chiltern and Greta at Tarrawingee a controversy over time keeping occurred which is still remembered today.

Chiltern were four goals in front at three-quarter time and still ahead by four points 43 minutes into the final quarter. In the next minute and a half Greta kicked two goals and hit the front when the final siren eventually blew. What happened in the seemingly never ending last quarter? During the last term umpire Arvidson decided for some reason to blow his whistle to stop the clock every time a mark was taken, consequently the quarter dragged on for forty-four and a half minutes. The 1954 Grand Final is remembered as one of the most protracted games in football history. Chiltern and Greta maintained an intense rivalry from that controversial day onwards until Chiltern moved to the Tallangatta and District League in 2003.

(source Malcolm McKinnon, Football Stories from Country Victoria: Time on for Chiltern, 2007 – an interview with Don Stephenson and Kevin Mayhew)

 

In 1959

Wedding bells calling …

 

One Grand Final day incident that certainly has not been forgotten occurred in the Tallangatta and District League back in 1959 when two players from one of the grand final teams went to a wedding at half time.

 

Mitta United enjoyed a perfect season in 1959 achieving the acclaim of undefeated premiers. The ‘Mountain Men’ won the Grand Final against Kiewa by 21 points, scoring 9.14.68 to Kiewa-6.11.47. Kiewa were coached by Bob Wise at the time. At the half-time break Kiewa’s two wingmen came into the sheds at Lavington, showered, dressed and took off to a wedding. Wise was on the bench with hamstring problems and couldn’t play so with two players short it probably cost them the game. It is said that he remained bitter about the incident and never forgave the two players involved.

(source: TDFL History)

 

Next episode: to the Upper Murray

 

All photos 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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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.

Comments

  1. Peter
    I knew of Mac Paton who played for Mitts United.
    He was good enough to play VFL.

    Tallangatta is where Stephen Gough comes from..

    Many New Australians passed through Bonegilla who have made significant contributions to Australian society & culture.

    It’s a beautiful area the Mitta and Kiewa valley.

    Many thanks again for your outstanding contributions

  2. Riverina Rocket says

    More good work PC!

    Maybe its the Tallangatta league where Corowa land IF they come back?

    A re-merger with Rutherglen would just upset the equibibrium.

  3. Thanks once again, Peter.

    Another absorbing history lesson for me!

  4. Ta Peter.

    Tarrawingee, known for its famous old Plough Inn.

    Beechworth is an amazing town. Maps of Victoria in the 1860’s had five towns marked: Melbourne, Ballarat, Beechworth, Bendigo & Geelong. Four of those remain prominent, Beechworth’s heyday is so long ago. Their football club appearing in 38 Grand Finals, saluting 18 times is something to be proud of. Off the top of my head I’m struggling to recall any AFL/VFL players from there.

    Further into the hills next week. Do we get up to Khancoban, Tumbarrumba? I look forward to where the journey takes us.

    Glen!

  5. Good morning Peter. I did some home work after my comment yesterday, something I should have done before the comment. I honestly forgot former Geelong player Ivan Russell was from Beechworth.

    I remember him from his brief period at Geelong, in 1972-73. I’m pretty sure he was a half bank flanker. Actually I have a better recollection of his time with Geelong West in which he played in defence also in the pivot. He was a member of the 1975 First Division Premiership side, coached by Billy Goggin.

    In the Corowa-Rutherglen less, Ovens and Murray league, I notice last years runner ups Yarrawonga beat Albury yesterday taking them further into the finals.

    Reigning premiers Wangaratta take on Wodonga today. Let’s see how that goes.

    Glen!

  6. Thanks for your contributions to the story Glen.

    I don’t recall Ivan Russell, but looking at his playing record in the Ovens and King League as a 16 year old, he must have a been a very promising recruit for the Cats and later the Roosters.

    Yarrawonga look the goods for the 2023 flag, although Wangaratta will be keen to overcome the disappointment of having the premiership taken off them last year.

    We don’t go as far as Tumbarumba, but 12 months ago we would not have been able to pass up a chance to make an excursion up into the hill country. The reigning UMFL premiers were knocked out in this year’s semi finals by Bullioh.

    Khancoban is on the radar.

  7. Peter Fuller says

    Peter, Belated appreciation for this episode. You have again excelled yourself with the social history of the areas which serve as a splendid accompaniment to your match reports.

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