THE impact of football on Meredith and surrounds is set to be explored as part of a showcase from the Merdith History Interest Group.<\/p>\n
The group’s Footy \u2013 A Different Ball Game event will kick off tomorrow and into Sunday, showcasing 100 years of the sport in the region.<\/p>\n
“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.<\/p>\n
“Now we have the Crocs, or Moorabool Valley Masters. It was virtually 100 years in Meredith.”<\/p>\n
Three poems centred around home matches will feature as well as about 50 photos depicting the local club as well as Lethbridge and Elaine.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Ms Cooper said a key aim behind the event is to showcase the interconnectedness that was fostered between football and the community.<\/p>\n
“It was really prominent in Meredith and district and really the focus of everyone in the community,” she said.<\/p>\n
“Nearly everyone in the community was involved and connected to football. We’ve highlighted a few people involved in the game.<\/p>\n
“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.<\/p>\n
“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.”<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Entry is via a gold coin donation.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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 \u2013 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 […]<\/p>\n