Football
23 April, 2024
Stawell Football Netball Club set to celebrate 150 years
Celebrations will be in full swing at Stawell Football Netball Club on Saturday as they celebrate 150 years when they host Minyip Murtoa at Central Park on Saturday.
Official proceedings will kick off at 12pm at Central Park in Stawell and there will be a focus on celebrating the club in it's entirety - both football and netball.
The club's first meeting was held on July 27, 1874 and it was only a month before the first match was played, ending in a draw against Ararat on August 22, 1874.
In 1877, the club decided on colours, but these were changed to black and red in 1883, colours the club have retained.
The club has not only a long, but a proud history, with some of the highlights over the years including:
- Jack Curran and Bill Twomey winning Stawell Gift; Curran in 1923 and Twomey in 1924.
- The club claiming 13 premierships in seniors.
- There have been seven Toohey Medal winners from the club. Tony Beck has claimed five. Medals won by Geoff Steward, the first Stawell player to claim the honour, and Tom Eckel, the most recent player to win the medal, will be on display next Saturday.
Debbie Hart, one of the event organisers, said she was keen to get the event going.
"The buzz is really good; everyone at the club is all talking about it," she said.
A lot of work has gone into the celebration, including from Mark Brilliant, who coordinated the event and Tony Dark, who has spent hours chasing memorabilia, chatting with the historical society and chasing up players, and the committee who have assisted and helped along the way.
"The committee and people are excited," Ms Hart said.
"To see it all put together has been rewarding."
Event planning started in September last year, and after a committee was formed, they have endeavoured to invite many past and present coaches, presidents, life members and sponsors as possible, along with best and fairest and players who played 200 games or more.
Other current and past players, members and supporters were contacted through advertising and online, with about 400 people expected.
Club memorabilia will be displayed upstairs, and this consists mainly items from The History of The Stawell Football Club to 2012 by HJ Melbourne and then from the historical society for the more recent years.
Footballers and netballers, in their games against Minyip Murtoa will acknowledge the occasion with the footballers wearing commemorative jumpers with a new logo, and the netballers wearing commemorative bibs.
All players will don red socks, in a nod to the past - with the club being nicknamed Redlegs until they merged with Warriors.
At half time of the seniors, there will be a Question-and-Answer session with some of the ex AFL players and a canvas of Central Park/Stawell painted by past player Jade Thompson will be unveiled.
Celebrations will continue after the game with food to purchase and music by Dave Nicholson.
There will be a few more speeches before the auction of the game day jumpers.