The death of Bill Bateman
Long Association with Fremantle
Mr William Augustus Bateman, who was born in Fremantle in 1866, and was for many years a prominent figure in sporting and business life there, died at his home at Bull's Creek, near Canning Bridge, early on Saturday morning. The late Mr Bateman had lived at Bull's Creek for over 20 years. He leaves a widow, three sons and two daughters.
A son of Mr John Bateman, who founded the firm of J. and W. Bateman at Fremantle in 1860, the late Mr William Bateman was for many years employed in his father's business. He was educated at Adelaide, and when he returned to Fremantle he became an active advocate of the Australian code of football, which he helped to establish here. He was founder of the Fremantle Football Club and also of the Fremantle Cricket Club.
In 1896 he became a director of the Union Stores, Fremantle, and soon after the harbour was opened became managing director of the concern which owned the tugs Awhina and Gannet. With the late Mr Charles Tuckey, he established a fish-canning industry oh the Murray River, at Mandurah.
Following is an appreciation by Mr W. R. 'Billy' Orr in a broadcast talk last night of the late Mr W. A. Bateman:
The passing of Mr W.A. Bateman on Saturday morning last, removed from our midst one who was primarily responsible for the introduction of Australian football into this State. Many old-timers in all parts of this State will remember the highly respected Bill Bateman, in his day the recognised champion footballer and cricketer of Western Australia.
Mr Bateman was a product of Fremantle, sent by his parents to Adelaide for his schooling. It was during his sojourn in Adelaide that he developed a keenness for Australian football, a natural desire, for he was a fine all-round athlete. On his return to his home State he found that the national code was still unknown, the English games of Rugby and soccer being the only football played.
And so we find in football history that Mr Bateman interested some of his friends in Fremantle, with the result that away back in 1883, 51 years ago, a meeting was held at Flindell's Hotel, Fremantle, when a new football club was formed to play under Victorian rules. The Australian game was then called the Victorian game. The leader in that movement was Mr Bateman, who had Mr Harry Herbert closely associated with him.
Mr Bateman was elected captain of the club, which was called the 'Swans.' As far as can be gathered they played in no competition; just played whatever matches could be arranged. That club was formed on March 30, 1883, and that movement was the genesis of the establishment of the national game in this State. The formation of the Swans Football Club in those far away times was the result of the interest and activities of Mr Bateman.
Two years later, on April 27, 1885, the Fremantle Rugby Football Club held a meeting, at which it is recorded, after an animated discussion on the subject of what rules they should play under — Rugby or Victorian— it was ultimately decided to change over to Victorian.
It can be seen that the personality of Mr Bateman, combined with his natural athletic ability, was a considerable factor. He was elected captain, the captain of the first Fremantle football team. And the Fremantle Football Club was the first club formed of what is now the West Australian National Football League. The other two original clubs, the Rovers and the Victorians, were formed a little later in the same year.
And so it will be seen that Mr W. A. Bateman played a big part, the biggest part, in planting the acorn which was to grow into the mighty oak of Australian football in his own home State.
A fine footballer and cricketer and a fine West Australian one of the rapidly diminishing type of pioneer that made the State, the type that we respect and honour.
Footnotes
Title: Death of Mr. W. A. Bateman Author: West Australian Staff Writer Publisher: The West Australian (Perth, WA: 1879 - 1954) Date: Monday, 29 July 1935, p.15 (Article) Web: http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article32862964
Title: The late Mr Bateman: An appreciation of his work. Author: W.R. Orr Publisher: The West Australian (Perth, WA: 1879 - 1954) Date: Friday, 2 August 1935, p 11 (Article) Web: http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article32869751
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