The death of Dick Sweetman
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It will be learnt with regret by many followers of the Australian game of football that Dick Sweetman, the well-known member of the East Fremantle Football Club, died at the Fremantle Hospital at midday. His has been a long, lingering illness, full of pain and suffering, and death may have come as a happy release.
Fifteen months ago he was chosen to play in the ‘Next Best’ eighteen against an eighteen that had been chosen to visit the Adelaide carnival as representative of Western Australia. During the game he sustained an injury to the spine, and in a few days and in a few days had been admitted to the Fremantle Hospital. He never left his bed during the whole of the period from the admittance to the hospital to the time of his death. Deceased leaves a wife and family.
He had been playing senior football since the year 1899, when he first threw in his lot with the East Fremantle team. From that date to the time of his accident he had not missed more than four regular games. Sweetman was perhaps the finest rover the State has ever produced.
The funeral
The funeral of the late Mr. Charles Walter James Sweetman, better known amongst football enthusiasts under the name of 'Dick,' and who died in the Fremantle Hospital on Wednesday last, took place at Fremantle yesterday afternoon.
The cortege, which was headed by members of the Fremantle Lumpers' Union [Dockers], and also members of the East Fremantle Football Club, moved away from the deceased's late residence, Howard Street, Fremantle, shortly after 3.30 o'clock for the Fremantle Cemetery, where the remains were interred in the Church of England portion, the Rev. Mr. Armstrong officiating at the graveside.
Amongst those who attended the funeral were Mr. J. J. Simons (secretory of the W.A. Football League), T. C. Wilson (secretary of the East Fremantle Football Club), TV. Allanson (secretary), and J, T. Power (committee man), of the Subiaco Football Club; J. Toohey (captain, North Fremantle Football Club), and J. Britton (a member of the committee of the South Fremantle Football Club.
The chief mourners were: Mrs. Sweetman (widow), Chas and Reggie (sons), Irene (daughter), Amy, Jessie, and Hilda (sisters), Fred and Frank (brothers), Samuel Gane (father-in-law), Mrs. J. Doyle, Mrs. A. Watt, Mrs. P. Sweetman, Florrie, Ivy and Pearl Gane (sisters-in-law), Messrs. J. Ryan, Otto Kelly, A. Watt, W. Kerr, and J. Doyle (brothers-in-law), Mesdames Wm. Sweetman, Lowden, Rushby, Rickard, Walter Sweetman, Hurlstone, F, Davies, and H. Davies (aunts), Walter, Wm. and B. Sweetman, and Jas. F. H., and John Davies (uncles), Alfred, Franklin, Robert, and Dis. Sweetman (cousins), Jack McGuinness (nephew), and Winnie McGuinness (niece).
The pall-bears were; Messrs James ‘Scotty’ Doig, J. Luff, A. Elsegood and Dave Christy (members of the East Fremantle F.C, J, J. Simons (secretary W.A.F.L.), F. Rowe (secretary Fremantle Lumpers' Union), Tom C. Wilson (secretary East Fremantle F.C.); and W. Nunn (president Lumpers' union). The coffin-bearers were: Messrs. W. Craig, A, Strang, T. Lewis, and James ‘Scotty’ Doig (members of the East Fremantle team).
A large number of wreaths were received from all the metropolitan senior football clubs, and various sporting and other bodies, and the Fremantle Lumpers' Union, and letters and telegrams expressing sympathy for the widow and relatives of the deceased.
The funeral arrangements were carried out by Messrs. Arthur E. Davles and Co., of Fremantle and Claremont.
Footnotes
Title: Death of a footballer
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