Rivalry, From the Beginning
It was July 10, 1836 when explorer Major Mitchell stopped to record in his notebook the discovery of an unnamed river.
Standing high on a bank close to where the Avoca golf house is today, Mitchell gazed curiously at what is now known as `The Willows`, an old swimming hole at the junction of Rutherford’s creek and the Avoca River.
One can imagine Mitchell exclaiming to his men, `This could almost be the meeting place of the waters that Thomas Moore wrote about.
`Sweet Vale of Avoca, how calm could I rest
In the bosom of shade with the friends I love best,
Where the storms that we feel in this cold world should cease,
And our hearts like thy waters be mingled in peace.`
Thus, the Avoca River was named.
Six years later, in February 1842, Leslie Foster become the first pioneer to settle on the Avoca River, and very soon a township of the same name emerged.
Rough dirt tracks soon meandered across the continent, with the main highway from Melbourne to Adelaide passing through Avoca.
On June 1, 1853, Daniell Burn and his family stopped at Avoca in search of gold.
Burn, a carpenter by trade, was acknowledged by the Victorian Government as being the discoverer of the Avoca Goldfields and received a reward of 100 pound.
The gold rush was on.
Amongst the families to arrive were the names Farnsworth, Bowen, Harris, Bosanko, Hughes, Evans, Beavis, Holland, Kelly and Harrison. Some settled, others moved on in their quest to strike it rich.
In 1860, after passing through Avoca, gallant explorers Burke and Wills were reported missing in the vastness of the North.
An extensive search proved fruitless.
Whilst returning to Melbourne, the search party stopped at Avoca. The sight of their camels sent local horses into a frenzy, with many bolting into the bush.
Avoca was proclaimed a shire in 1864.
As the gold became scarce, men turned to farming and purchased land for next to nothing.
By 1871 the floating population had shrunk from the 40,000 of the 1850`s to about 2,500, many of them Chinese.
The first football matches in the Avoca District were played between Avoca and Maryborough in 1873.
Reports that year from the Avoca Mail indicate `the home club was never beaten, although if we remember rightly it played several drawn games as running accompaniments to its victories`.
Avoca`s main form of public transport was the horse drawn Cobb and Co Royal Mail Coach. In October 1876 the railway line from Maryborough to Avoca was completed.
However, there was no such luxury for the football team, who relied on horse and drag for transport. A drag being two pieces of wood held together by slats.
By 1897 teams from Talbot, Clunes, Redbank and Homebush were also participating.
Today, these are small communities. But then they were still thriving towns even though the masses that accompanied the gold rush had moved on.
The football games were played on a social basis, and usually resulted from a challenge that was keenly accepted.
Later Natte Yallock, Percydale, Talbot, Clunes, Amphitheatre, Elmhurst, Dunluce, Barkly and Moyreisk fielded teams.
Often as few as four families would make up half a team.
On July 15, 1879, the Avoca Mail reported the district`s first football fatality.
It sparked a bitter row that ended in court. A précis of the article reads:
`It is with very deep regret that we have to chronicle a most disastrous accident in connection with the football match that was played in Talbot on Saturday. It is not too much to say that the catastrophe has caused a widespread feeling of sorrow. The Avoca players started away in high spirits, and from the good feeling that has always existed between the young men in both places an enjoyable games was expected. This anticipation was realised until a member of the Talbot team, a youth named Robert Crooks, received a heavy fall which rendered him insensible, and in that state he had to be carried home. The game was no further proceeded with, and before the Avoca team left they heard that Mr. Crooks was somewhat better.`
`On Sunday, however, a messenger arrived with the news that the youth had died that morning`.
`Several accounts are given on the manner of which the accident occurred, but all agree that no one person is to blame, if blame not be incurred by all who play so rough and dangerous a game. It appears that one of the Avoca team, J.O`Farrell, had possession of the ball, which the deceased tried to get from him by a rush and a spring, and that the deceased then fell heavily upon his head causing concussion of the brain.`
`We also hear that another member of the Talbot Team, named Henderson, also had his collarbone broken during the match.`
However, the Talbot Newspaper was not impressed with its contemporary`s version of the fatal incident, and retaliated;
`Just before the termination of the game, one Avoca player, twice the weight of the Talbot lad, threw the youth, causing brutal violence to his head. The game was marked throughout by a roughness on the part of the visitors that we have not seen equal. The brutal and unnecessary attack on the deceased was the subject of adverse comment around the ground.`
Needless to say, legal action followed.
Eventually, O`Farrell, who suffered enormously by the ordeal, was entirely exonerated from blame after the jury heard favourable evidence from relatives of the deceased and `trustworthy witnesses`.
Incredibly, less than a month after the case was closed, the Maryborough Advertiser added fuel to the fire.
A story promoting a match between Avoca and Maryborough expressed the hope that a good central umpire would be appointed to control the game.
The report also suggested that `a surgeon should be in attendance, and that a few grave diggers and undertaker might be useful!`
Football was also making history in Melbourne. On Wednesday June 20, 1898 the first match against an English team was played at the MCG.
Carlton, the premier side of the Colony, thrashed England before an enormous crowd. Carlton 14.19.103 defeated England 3.8.26.
On May 6, 1890 a meeting of Sportsmen at Avoca saw the formation of the Avoca District Football Club.
Members paid two shillings and sixpence to join, and they played in yellow and black skin-tight jumpers, which were laced up the front.
Interestingly, the Avoca ground was then situated north of the railway line near the Bull & Mouth Hotel, now the Avoca Road House.
When games were played away, the players were transported in a drag hired from Mr Chas Wolfe. How the footballers could play after such a bumpy ride is baffling.
On July 22, 1890, 200 people turned up for a match against Maryborough.
The visitors played in the first 15 minutes with 13 men.
When another four footballers arrived and took the field, the game swung in Maryborough`s favour, winning the match 8.12.60 to 2.9.21.
Competition football started in 1895, with the clubs first playing for a trophy in 1896.
It seems a spirited rivalry has always existed between Avoca and Natte Yallock. Records show Avoca beat Natte during a match in 1905. However, the report claims Natte only had 10 players.
Ever since, both clubs have been notorious for excuses when competing against each other.
A bitter controversy followed the 1921 Grand Final. Natte Yallock defeated Avoca by 29 points, but the losers protested on the grounds that player H. Cothwaite lived outside the seven mile radius. The protest was later withdrawn.
Not so amicable was the outcome of a match 14 years earlier on July 9, 1907, when Avoca 4.3.27 defeated arch rivals Elmhurst 2.9.21.
Despite the scoreboard, Elmhurst felt they were the better side because they had 11 scoring shots to Avoca`s seven.
The issue had to be settled.
As a result the secretary and delegates of both clubs met and agreed to play three games over as many weeks.
The rules were carefully drawn. The teams could only be selected from players already registered. Furthermore they had to reside no more than six miles from the centre of each town.
A trophy was to be provided and presented by Doctor Johnson.
After Elmhurst won the first match, the pressure was on Avoca to keep the series alive.
The crucial game was to be played in enemy territory on Wednesday August 14, 1907.
Avoca won the toss and kicked with the wind. Elmhurst did well to hold the visitors and at quarter time the scores were level, with one behind each.
A violent thunderstorm then hit, dashing any hopes of victory for Avoca. Elmhurst were presented with the Doctor`s trophy, but at least the visitors were able to return home with some sort of excuse.
Avoca’s first premiership was won in 1909.
Three teams, Avoca, Redbank and Homebush, played in the Avoca District Association and competed for a trophy donated by E.S. Watts and R.W. Laidlaw.
Avoca won its first premiership be defeating Homebush in the Grand Final.
The following year, 1910, was very significant in the district`s history.
It was the year that the Avoca Reservoir was constructed at a cost of 10,000 pounds. Almost as important, it seemed, was the formation of the Avoca District Football Association, which had now grown to include five teams; Avoca, Amphitheatre, Elmhurst, Homebush and Redbank.
At the end of the season the premiership ladder was:
Team Played Won Lost Points
Avoca 15 12 3 48
Elmhurst 15 10 5 40
Homebush 15 9 6 36
Redbank 15 6 9 24
Amphitheatre 13 0 13 0
Avoca won the Grand Final; Avoca 5.9.39 defeated Elmhurst 5.5.35
The best players for the premiers were; Ahpee, Beavis, Dood, Harrison, Rhode, Studd, McAlister, Yates, Summers and Wiltshire.
Natte Yallock was admitted to the competition in 1912.
Ironically, their colours were Red, White and Blue, the colours worn by Avoca today.
However, in 1925, Avoca wore red and white jumpers, the colours now carried by Natte Bealiba.
At a meeting on May 11, 1915, the Avoca Imperial Football Club was formed with Mr. D.J. (Dan) Larkins elected President and Mr. E.T (Ted) Brown secretary.
The new club was granted permission to play its home games at the Avoca Public Park, which is where the football and Netball teams are based today.
By the end of the 1915 season, players were finding it hard to generate enthusiasm in light of the First World War.
There was growing pressure to halt the game as a mark of respect for the thousands of Australian Servicemen who were losing their lives.
The Avoca Football Club was reformed in 1919, after the war, and in 1920 continued to play in the Avoca & District Football Association.
In 1922 Avoca joined the newly formed Pyrenees & District Association.
However, their black and yellow colours clashed with Lexton, and Avoca agreed to play in red and black jumpers.
Avoca played in the Mountain Creek Association in 1923, the Pyrenees Association in 1924 and the Maryborough & District League in 1925.
The club then returned to the Mountain Creek Association, where they stayed for four years, winning three consecutive premierships, in 1927,1928 and 1929.
In 1930 the 19th man was introduced.
Many of the names on the players list that year have relatives who have been associated with the club in recent years. The players list reads:
John Bowen, George and Hec Harrison, Goldy Drummond, Roy Hellings, Errol Howell, Alan and Bill Hill, Harry and Stan Powers, Ken Gane, Tony Jolly, Frank Egan, Alf Kaye, Jas Johnson, Laurie and Len Harbour, Clem Hill, Malcolm Myers, Jack Coghlan, Ted, Syd and Norm Field, Bill Whitley, Bill Harris, Frank Blair, Norm Gleeson, Keith Astbury, Keith McDonald, Vic and Jack Charlesworth, Bob and George Gordon, Charlie Carlyon, and Roy Romey.
1930 was also the year when Allan Kaye, one of Avoca`s best footballers, turned to foot running.
Although he was favourite for the Stawell Easter Gift that year, Allan was just eliminated in his heat by the eventual winner.
He was a brilliant rover and, remarkably, played 190 games in succession with Avoca during a career spanning 10 years.
Laurie (L.G.) Barker was captain of the Reserves team in 1930 and was later promoted to the seniors where he became a top player.
After the war he helped reform the club before retiring. However, the Barker name did not disappear.
In the late 1940`s, Fred started playing, followed by Murray, a talented forward, in 1951. Lawrence (Lot) Barker played junior football in 1955 and later with the seniors, whilst his brother Ernie played in 1958.
Both Lot and Ernie have been dedicated supporters of the club.
Lot served as President in 1983, followed by Ernie in 1984 and 1985.
The Avoca Football Club disbanded during both World War`s.
In 1945, they reformed in the Lexton Football League again carrying the Red White and Blue stripes, which are the colours proudly worn today.
Protests and disputes are carefully detailed throughout the history of football in the Avoca district. No doubt serious at the time, many now seem quite amusing.
Controversy raged on July 2, 1912, when Homebush refused to play Avoca.
The Association delegates met to discuss the dispute.
It was alleged, that prior to the game, the umpire had told a Homebush player his club would not get a fair go.
The delegates ruled that the clubs were all bound to play under the appointed umpires and awarded the points to Avoca.
A few days later, on July 16, 1912, Homebush were in the headlines again when they issued an official protest against Natte Yallock.
Homebush claimed Natte Yallock had fielded six players who were outside the 12 mile radius.
After three lengthy meetings, the Association delegates decided that all but one of the six players were clear.
Homebush delegates were furious and, as tempers erupted, punches were thrown.
When club delegates met again a week later, Natte Yallock produced a statutory declaration stating that the player charged, a Mr. Fraser, was eligible to play for Natte Yallock.
Homebush refused to accept the evidence and demanded the association`s president, Mr. Amers, intervene; Natte Yallock retaliated and warned they would take the matter to the VFL’s senior administrator, Mr Hickey.
Another meeting was convened and the Mayor of Dunolly, was called to mediate. He ruled there was no basis to the protest by Homebush.
It was not a good year for Homebush, who lost the Grand Final against Redbank by just three points.
Although the protest lodged by Homebush against Natte Yallock in 1912 is the only documented proof of tempers boiling over, many stories have been told of club delegates challenging each other to `come outside`.
More recently, in 1970 Navarre strongly protested after being thrashed by Natte Bealiba in the second semi final. It was alleged talented youngster Tony Smith was ineligible because he had previously played seven games on permit with Carlton reserves.
VFL rules clearly stated that once a footballer had played six games he was automatically cleared to that club.
The issue embroiled the entire district, and feelings were running high, especially in Avoca. One delegate offered to rearrange another delegate’s face. However, the aggressor`s experience in plastic surgery was limited and the operation was not performed!
After further heated meetings, It was established that Carlton secretary, Bert Deacon, had misinformed Natte Bealiba. The delegates found that an `honest mistake` had been made, and ruled that the match be replayed.
The affair seemed to inspire Natte Bealiba who defeated Navarre in the replay, and went on to win the premiership, beating Lexton by 16 points.
Despite many stories of brimstone and fire off the field, newspaper files reveal numerous accounts of dubious frivolity.
It seems when clubs were running short of money the surest way of raising funds was to hold a concert.
Apparently star players who were enticed to parade in fancy dress always proved the big attraction.
Curiously, the beefy footballers appeared to have no aversion to dressing up in women`s clothes. Just as fascinating was the enthusiastic response of the loyal supporters, who flocked to marvel at the entertainment.
The first record of this strange behaviour occurred 78 years ago, when Avoca footballers paraded through the township in `fancy dress`, before participating in an `exhibition match`.
The Avoca Free Press reports, `A big crowd attended, raising a lot of money, and a good time was had by all`.
Apparently the strange practice of men performing in women`s finery has not diminished over the years.
As recently as 1991 a mock debutante ball was held by the Avoca Football Club. Interestingly, the sexiest deb award was won by Miss Tina Tit Bits, who may well have been a twin of Avoca footballer, Ian Fraser.
The winner`s sash was presented by the Queen, who bore a striking resemblance to Bruce Field, a local councillor and member of the Lexton Football tribunal.
