Marking a century of footy

THE impact of football on Meredith and surrounds is set to be explored as part of a showcase from the Merdith History Interest Group.

The group’s Footy – A Different Ball Game event will kick off tomorrow and into Sunday, showcasing 100 years of the sport in the region.

“From about the 1880s is the first reference we can find of football matches in Meredith and it finished in 1980,” said group president Margaret Cooper.

“Now we have the Crocs, or Moorabool Valley Masters. It was virtually 100 years in Meredith.”

Three poems centred around home matches will feature as well as about 50 photos depicting the local club as well as Lethbridge and Elaine.

Five VFL/AFL will be showcased including 1890s-era local star Peter “The Great” Burns, the first player to play 300 games, who later joined Geelong and South Melbourne.

Ms Cooper said a key aim behind the event is to showcase the interconnectedness that was fostered between football and the community.

“It was really prominent in Meredith and district and really the focus of everyone in the community,” she said.

“Nearly everyone in the community was involved and connected to football. We’ve highlighted a few people involved in the game.

“For examples, there’s the local bootmaker, the clergyman who was umpire, the grazier who donated cups and was briefly president, the ladies of course who did a lot of fundraising, hoteliers and their functions, and a publican who was like the games’ doctor.

“We’ve written out a bit about those people and more. Like with the bootmaker there’ll be a photo of his shop, and a pair of boots to go with it.”

The event is being put on as part of the National Trust Heritage Festival and will be open from 10am to 4pm over the weekend at the Meredith Memorial Hall.

Entry is via a gold coin donation.