Ted Rowell: Goldfields champion
Memories of early Kanowna and the stirring sporting days of the nineties of last century are recalled by Mr. E. ("Teddie") Rowell, of Melbourne, in a letter to Mr. Reginald Greenwood, of Albany. The latter has made some interesting notes from the letter available to the Kalgoorlie Miner, as many old-timers still on the fields will well remember this famous sportsman, whose career as a footrunner and footballer was a highlight in the stirring days of which he writes.
Teddie recently penned his views in the Sporting Globe (Melbourne), regarding his claim that the late Jack Donaldson stood out against all-comers as a pedestrian [runner]. Writing to Mr. Greenwood, he states: — "I am glad my article about Jack Donaldson gave you such pleasure. There has been a great deal of controversy in the Globe about the claims of the fastest runner and this still continues. Like yourself, I can also visualise the mighty Bill McManus getting set off the back mark for me of his tremendous efforts on the track. He ran with the gait and stride of an emu and had a 9 ft. stride when flat out. Then, of course, a little later Arthur Postle was a marvellous runner and during his stay in Kalgoorlie the thrilled the crowds with his doings and extreme brilliance.
"I first saw Albany," says Ted, in February of 1894 on my way to Coolgardie, on board the old Cintra. I was then just 16. It was, I recall, a very pretty place and a lovely harbour. They were stirring times, those early days of the gold rushes. The railway had not then been completed to Southern Cross, and we walked from the then head of the line to that town, just one day's walk of 22 miles. Then on to old Coolgardie, 130 miles by the old track. I saw the best of Coolgardie and Kalgoorlie, having nearly seven years there. Things in the early days were not exactly made to order, but on the whole it was a great life and a wonderful experience. They were a great lot of men on the fields then and a grand comradeship existed.
"Kanowna was a great town in the days of the cement leads. The well-known Tom Doyle was then mayor of the town. He was a publican, and an unconscious humourist, and tales were legion of his doings and sayings. I suppose some of the old-timers still recount these. Only recently I received a letter from Tom's son, who lives at Bellevue. He supplied me with interesting information about some of the pioneers of Kanowna still going strong. I would like to say cheerio to any of the people of the West whom I knew, and especially to the footballers and athletes of my day. And there were some fine men among these!
"Coolgardie by 1896 was at its best and the Civil Service football team, captained by the late Jack Leckie, had a number of fine players. The Union team, with which I played, was also good. Some of the best players of both teams I can recall include Charlie and Jack Tyson, who came from St. Arnaud (Victoria), the home of the once famous Lord Nelson Miners' Band; 'Snowy' and Jack Jarvis, both fast, and the former a fine rover; Jim and Harold McCormack, both from Geelong; Ernie Leighton (Geelong); Jack Farrell (Maryborough); 'Darkie' Hammond, a very fast South Australian; Martin Bond, small but clever, George Edwards, from Albany, whose late father had a leading hotel in Coolgardie. He later kept the Freemasons' Hotel at Albany for some years, and his son-in-law, the late J. S. Deykin, then held the licence for many years. Billy Caulfield came from West Melbourne and Burton Clay, and Son Robbins from Bendigo. They were all fine players.
“The Union team was captained by Billy Walton, formerly of Carlton, and captain for many years over here. An exciting match was played between these teams in July of 1896. This was on 'Fly Flat' at the bottom end of Bayley Street, Coolgardie. The going was hard; no grass or turf on the goldfields in those days. Water was then 6d. per gallon, as this was years before the great water scheme was laid. The game ended in a draw, four goals each (no behinds were allowed then).
Shortly afterwards a combined team was picked up to visit Perth and Fremantle, and we played several matches there. John Boileau, the chemist, was our manager. He stood 6 ft. 6 in. and was a great character, being very popular with the boys. He had a rich brogue and could be heard a hundred yards away. Jack met a man in Perth who was just on 7 ft. The former was a bit hard of hearing. They were inseparable and it was funny to see the giants going along Hay Street, with Jack shouting his remarks to his pal. Each wore the goldfields colours and with the rest of the team trooping along behind them all Perth was aware that the men from Coolgardie were in town. John Boileau believed that the best was not too good for his boys and he had novel ideas. At half time we all had a glass of champagne and another at three-quarter time. I don't know whether it had any good effect. We played combined Perth and from memory this game ended in a draw, but combined Fremantle beat us soundly.
Many champions from Eastern States were in each team. Some of Perth's outstanding players I recall were: Joe Marmo (Geelong); Barney Grecian, Essendon's champion wingman; Dave De Coit (Footscray); Stan Hussey and Punch Liddlelow (Western Australia). Billy McIntyre (West Australian-born) was a club mate of mine a year later at Kalgoorlie and a champion rover. He was of the Dick Condon (Collingwood) type.
"At Fremantle in these days were the famous late Albert Thurgood, 'Pos' Watson, Bob Byers, Spot Chadwick (Essendon), O'Dea (North Melbourne), 'Jigger' Moorhouse (Carlton), while another player of note who went West from Essendon and played with East Fremantle was 'Florrie' Palmer. He played with Essendon about 1893-95, when that fine team was almost invincible. Their centre line—Grecian, Crebbin and Palmer—was Australia-wide famous. Palmer, in his young days, was a fine-looking athlete and a great runner. I read of his death at Fremantle not so long ago. His mother was the once world famed vocalist of long ago, Minnie Palmer.
I think the Fremantle ground, as an all-weather arena, one of the finest I ever played on. The rain seems to have little effect on it and the turf recovers in a very short time.
"Returning west from Victoria about 1903, I went to Kalgoorlie and played for Railways, captained by that fine player Charlie Tyson. 'Snowy' and Albert Jarvis, Mick Kenny, Langsford, 'Buck' Graves and Jack Condon were then among the 'prominent players. Albert Jarvis was fast and won the first Kalgoorlie Hundred, staged a couple of years later by Rufe Naylor. Jack Condon won two of these big handicaps, and Kenny took another. Railways were premiers that year, beating Boulder City in the final game.
In the 1904 season the first West Australian team visited the Eastern States. Eleven players from the coast association and a similar number from the goldfields were selected. The team played the next best in Perth and had a win. We were entertained that night at a send-off function and left very late by the ill-fated Yongala (later lost at sea off the Queensland coast). A great crowd gathered on the Fremantle wharf and we had a rousing farewell to the West. We arrived at Port Adelaide on the following Thursday and had a sit-up trip on the train to Melbourne. There were then no sleepers, and we had little sleep. At noon on the Friday we attended a reception at Parliament House, and in reply to a toast our manager, Mr. Jack Dwyer, told the assemblage we had come across to teach the Victorians how to play football. We had a training run at the Melbourne Cricket Ground that afternoon and played Victoria—a very hot team— next day.
The teams were as follows:—Victoria: Mick Grace, Ted Kennedy, A. Trimms (Carlton), Charlie Pannam, Jack Monohan (Collingwood), J. Purse, C. Young, N. Coutie (Melbourne), C. Clements (South Melbourne), Gerald Brosnan, Percy Trotter, J. Sharp (Fitzroy), Henry Young (captain), H. Quinton (Geelong), 'Dookie' McKenzie, J. Geggie (Essendon), V. Barwick, W. Outen (St. Kilda). Western Australia: Dolph Heindricks, W. Cooper, 'Nicky' Gilbert, 'Snowy' Jarvis, Ted Rowell, W. Goddard, Jefferis, C. Tyson, W. Plunkett (captain), 'Scotty' Doig, E. Nelson, R. Sweetman, J. Sharp, Harvey Kelly, Mick Kenny, Dick Bliss, Bert Franks, 'Bundy' McNamara. The late Ivo Cramp was umpire. Victoria won by 14 goals to 8.
We were a bit strange to each other and became a very much improved team as we worked together. We played four other games—University Past and Present (a good team); Ballarat Association, captained by Billy Monagle; Stawell Association, and wound up with a great win over South Australia. A press report of the day stated: — 'The West Australian footballers played a combined team of South Australia and gave a great exhibition. The high marking was considered the finest seen in Adelaide for years and at all parts of the game the visitors gave an exhibition superior to that of the local team. They worked with capital system and won by 10 goals 7 behinds (67 points), to 8 goals 10 behinds (58 points).'
In our first match against Victoria Harvey Kelly broke a blood vessel in his arm and had to retire. This was a big handicap. Had we played Victoria at the end of the tour we would have made a great game of it. 'Snowy' Jarvis (roving), opposed to the famous Percy Trotter, was much admired, and Dolph Heindricks was fine at half-forward. Dolph and myself each kicked more than 20 goals in the five games played, mostly place kicks. Dolph and Kelly could kick them from over 60 yards out.' (Teddy could, also, but is too modest to say so— Reg. G.)
Footnotes
Title: Sport of the early days: Teddie Rowell’s early career Author: Kalgoorlie Miner Staff Writer Publisher: Kalgoorlie Miner (Kalgoorlie, WA, 1895-1950) Date: Tuesday 2 March 1943 Web: http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article95192167
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