A dozen former Rushworth footballers gathered on Saturday to recall a remarkable 60 years since the celebration of premierships for the Tigers’ senior and reserves teams in Heathcote District Football League in 1965.

The club, which had not tasted Goulburn Valley League success since 1935, only one lone first semi-final appearance in 1958, made the move to the Heathcote league in 1965.

With spirits lifting as the 1965 season unfolded, the club capped it off with two historic victories.

The 60-year reunion, rare for any sporting club, included a short light-hearted interview with each player, followed by an invitation to share a special recollection of footy in 1965.

Senior vice-captain and full-forward Murray Hitchcock, 85, and now of Tongala, recalled the fitness demanded by captain-coach Bill Cruz.

“Billy was tough, led by example and everyone respected him,” Hitchcock said on Saturday.

Hitchcock’s son Garry was a mascot in the team photo in 1965, when aged two, and joined Saturday’s celebration.

Wes Risstrom, 78, from a famous Rushworth footballing family, recalled how excited the whole town was on the night of the premiership success.

“It had been 30 years since Rushworth had won a flag in 1935 and the players marched up the main street behind the town band, for a big night in the Shire Hall,” Risstrom said, before conceding that he was “not too good for work on Monday and probably a few days after that’’.

Risstrom’s father Ron and grandfather George Risstrom, were awarded life membership for service to the GVL.

Ivan Baldwin, now of Kyabram and a star rover in earlier GVL years, renowned for his speed and his use of the now extinct stab pass, surprised his old teammates by telling them that his favourite was the equally-lost drop kick.

Robbie Betson, 1965 senior team centre half-forward, now of Shepparton, was one of two “babies” of the team.

‘“Billy Heath and I were the youngest at 17, so it was a very big day for us,” Betson said.

“A few years later I came back as playing coach, but I never got another big prize here. After a drawn grand final in 1974, the Tigers finished runners-up to a Tooborac team comprised mainly of players from Melbourne’s northern suburbs.”

Club stalwart and life member Ross Williams was “a skinny kid of 17” in the reserves premiership team in 1965.

He had prepared and displayed the team sheets from round 1 of that year, together with team sheets and goal-kickers from the big day.

Others to join the celebrations were former Rushworth High School teacher Jim Strain, brothers Ralph and Bill Barlow, their cousin Michael Barlow, Les Hoyling, Ross Coyle and Lyle Parker.

The luncheon event included a few moments of silent reflection after the reading out of names of former teammates and club officials who have passed since the 1965 successes.

The veterans were joined by current coach Mark Wheatley and senior players preparing to line up for what proved to be a big win over Girgarre, sealing a place in KDFL finals. Just two years ago the club was on the brink of closure, unable to field a senior team.

As the old players watched on and enjoyed the match, there was early talk of the next club reunion, just two years away. 2027 will mark 50 years since another season of two Tiger flags, under dynamic playing coach Bernie McCarthy in 1977.

– Alan McLean

Kyabram Free Press Google News Panels

Thursday, 25th May 2023

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