THE CENTENARY OF THE BONNIE DOON FOOTBALL CLUB 1906-2006
By Dawn Kipping and Glenda Chisholm
1885
Bonnie Doon’s first game was held at Mansfield in 1885. Play commenced at 4pm owing to a misunderstanding among the Mansfield players who were Dolling, Walace, Brown, Mathieson, Keirnan, Jeffrey, Wolf, Mackrall, Martin, Donaldson, Woolbridge, Almond, Maxwell, Arbuthnott. The game ended in a draw.
1891
Bonnie Doon Football Club formed with President J.Wolf (sec), P.A. Wolf (treas). Team Colours were blue jersey and red stockings and they were to compete for the Mansfield Cup against Mt Battery and Tolmie Clubs. They also played in 1893, 1894, 1896. In 1898 the Bonnie Doon and Maindample Clubs amalgamated, and they called THE COMBINED ROVERS
P.A. Wolf (President), J.P. Cummins (secretary), C Jury (Treasurer)
1901
Mansfield District Football Association formed the Mansfield, Bonnie Doon, Jamieson and the trappers. Bonnie Doon won the premiership trophy and were premiers.
1904
Bonnie Doon supporters were in full force. A lady drives her buggy onto the ground but for a self- possessed gentleman complained there could have been a catastrophe. The umpire threatened to have one player escorted off the ground for foul language by the man in blue
1905
Bonnie Doon played a Mansfield
game the ladies were in strong force hooligans went onto the ground and it was not until Constables Martin gently stroked several of them with a lump of tree that they left the ground.
1925
Bonnie Doon and Merton joined forces and joined the Mansfield/Swanpool District Football Association teams being where Bonnie Doon, Mansfield, Maindample, Swanpool and Delatite Association
1928
Bonnie Doon defeated Mansfield in the Grand Final in Mansfield and Swanpool Football Association.
1929
Mansfield Football Association formed with Bonnie Doon, Mt Battery, Delatite, Merton, Mansfield and Yarck
1932
Mansfield, Sawmill District Football Association reformed with Mansfield, Swanpool, Mt Battery and Bonnie Doon
1934
Mansfield and Alexandra District Football Association formed with eight teams they included; Bonnie Doon, Marysville, Thornton, Yarck, Alexandra, Mansfield Delatite and Mt Battery
1937
Bonnie Doon joined Euroa District Football Association. With Euroa, Miepoll, Strathbogie and Longwood. As Longwood were unable to field a team, they withdraw.
1945
After the war ended, Yea, Alexandra Association was formed, and Bonnie Doon played in the seconds with Mansfield, Swanpool and Tatong.
1946
Upper Goulburn League was formed with nine teams; Mansfield, Delatite, Bonnie Doon, Yea, Alexandra, Merton, Thornton, Acheron Valley and Marysville.
1949
Maroondah Highway Football League formed with clubs from Mansfield, Alexandra, Yarck, Merton and Bonnie Doon
1951
Bonnie Doon played Hume Highway Football League with teams from Tallarook, Longwood, Strathbogie, St Marys, Yarck and Goulburn United
1953
Waranga - North East League (2nds) teams: Bonnie Doon, Alexandra, Seymour, Yea, Eurora, Broadford, Thornton and Mansfield
1956
Best and Fairest went to W J Lockhart
Bonnie Doon Premiers
1958
Bonnie Doon Premiers
1959
Bonnie Doon Premiers
1960
Waranga-North East League (2nds) teams: Broadford, Avenel, Thornton, Mansfield, Yea, Euroa, Alexandra, Seymour, Bonnie Doon and Strathbogie. Willian (NED) Lockhart from Bonnie Doon received Best and Fairest award for Waranga-North East seconds VX111’s
1962
Bonnie Doon won the Grand Final by defeating Seymour Seconds.
1965
Bonnie Doon joined Benalla and District Football League.
Goorambat defeated Bonnie Doon
1966
Grand Final: Bonnie Doon defeated All Blacks
1994
Bonnie Doon played Thornton/Eildon twice this season and has not been able to the beat the shinboners. First game ended in disaster when we lost Darren Barry and Geoff Lockhart at half time and Marcus Faulton during the third quarter.
1967
Grand Final: All Blacks defeated Bonnie Doon
1968
G Johnson and R Bainbridge won the Best and Fairest
1995
Bonnie Doon Juniors joined Alexandra District League the younger player had an up and down season buy enjoyed their games.
1984 Premiers vs 1994 Reserve Team
On Saturday 13th August, some of the ‘OLD BOYS’ from the 1984 premiership side made a magnanimous return to the field and came out victors on the day against Doon’s present seconds team. The ‘Boys’ came into the field with gusto and after winning the toss (much disputed) they started the game kicking downhill-to their advantage. Second quarter the ‘Old Boys” found the up hill run a bit tough and the ‘Young Brigade” were starting to run away from the,
Half time the mostly toothless team were signs of pressure but a quick nip of steam (for medicinal purposes only) saw them return to fight on for another half – quite a few disputed marks occurred according to the opposition players but the ‘oldies’ battles through and came out winners (all hoping the siren would sound a lit earlier than it did)
The umpire Mick Grimes was of high standard-opinion for some only!. Final score ‘Old Boys: 10.8.68 Seconds 7.10.522.
In my opinion all the “oldies’ were B.O.G, and award were given after the match.
“OLD BOYS TEAM”
Seth (Stud) Trenfield, Paul (Digger) Franklin, Alby (Plugger) Lockhart, Mick (Big Mick) Lockhart, Geoff (Fonzie) Lockhart, Steve (Weasel) Cooksey, Peter (Swinz) Swinzer, Craig (Pugden) Nichols, Eric (Knuckles) Notley, Darren (Fu-man-chu) Bell, Phillip (Parrot) Heath, Terry (Boss) Dale, Ken (Dicko) Dickson, Ken (Boxhead) Howes, Norm (Panda) Peers, (later hospitalised for his efforts)
A great fun game with thanks to the opposition side and very well supported by players and supporters. Special thanks to the ‘water-boys’ and the ‘can-carriers’ without whose help they would never made it to the end.
Bonnie Doon Netball Club
The 1993 football season saw the introduction of netball to the Benalla and District Football League. Each league club fielded one side. Lesley Howes and Kerry Taranto assisted in the formation of the Netball Club in Bonnie Doon. One side completed each week with 20 girls keen to play.
Results and Awards
1993
Bonnie Doon lost to Devenish in Semi-Final.
Best & Fairest: Debbie Brown (also Runner-up in League Best & Fairest)
1994
Bonnie Doon lost to Tatong in Preliminary Final.
Best & Fairest: Barbara Stevenson
1999
B Reserve Team introduced. A Grade lost to Tatong in Preliminary Final
Iris Hill Runner Up in League Best and Fairest
Therese Stein League Goal Shooting
B Grade played a thrilling Grand Final against Swanpool and won the clubs first Netball Premiership in the last minute of the match. 39 goals to 38 goals.
Team: Laura Walsh (Captain), Leonie Hill (Vice-Captain), Sharon Lockhart, Danni Hutchins, Emma Lockhart, Breanna Cameron, Louise Clarke, Mary Ann Panozzo, Lesley Howes & Cathy Cooper.
Coach: Iris Hill
Leonie Hill: League Goal Shooting
B Reserves lost to Tatong in the Preliminary Final
Jayme Hamilton League Best and Fairest. Peta Martin Runner-Up. Bree Howes League Goal Shooting.
Best and Fairest A Grade: Iris Hill. Goal Shotting, Therese Stein – 555
Best and Fairest B Grade: Mary Ann Panozzo, Goal Shooting, Leonie Hill – 329
Best and Fairest B Reserve: Peta Martin. Goal Shooting, Bree Howes – 45
2000
League changed from B Reserve to C Grade
Leonie Hill played 100 games for Bonnie Doon. The first to achieve this in the league with player from Tatong
Best and Fairest A Grade: Rachelle Michelini. Goal Shooting, Jenny Arnold
Best and Fairest B Grade: Leonie Hill. Goal Shooting, Louise Clarke
Best and Fairest C Grade: Kate Marshall. Goal Shooting-79
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2003
Leonie Hill presented with a life membership of the Bonnie Doon Football/Netball Club, the first netballer to achieve this honour. Leonie commenced playing in 1993 and continues to do so. Ten Years later she has played 143 games
Best and Fairest A Grade: Stacey Parker & Hollie Fraser. Goal Shooting, Hollie Fraser
Best and Fairest B Grade: Danni Hutchins. Goal Shooting, Sommer Vennells
Best and Fairest C Grade: Lucy Lindsay. Goal Shooting, Courtney Scanlon
2006 Committee
Terry Dale, Joy Hill, Roy Friday, Billy Lines, Chris Mitchell, Alister Wheeler, Ken Dickson, Dawn Kipping, Stuart Fox, Alan Fox, Glenda Chisholm, Brooke O’Neil, Lynda Langlands and all the coaches, player and netballers coming together as a club there would not be Bonnie Doon Club.
For over 100 years Bonnie Doon has been a family club where all are welcome to come and play.
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THE YEAR OF THE DOG – 1982
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We have Backman, forwards, centres and wings
Who in their day do incredible things
Plus, ruckmen, rovers, interchanges and more
All play their hearts out, to advance Doon’s score
Our coach is called Sethy, but we named him ‘The Chook’
If you’re off your game, by Christ he goes crook
Both he and Alby are in charge of our training
It’s a really tough program, with not too many complaining
Our recruiting this year was like a royal flush
We started with Williams and finished with plush
And at the start of the season, just as handy,
Gerrans’s, Notley and Kennedy, and finally young Andy
Yes, all of these at little or no cost
Lindsay Maddison to boot and finally Jack Frost
Now what about Rosco, who owns all of those dogs
And Robbie Stevenson, was has muscles like logs
To Bruce McInnes, whose real name I wombat
He just loves to run and join in the combat
And our mountain man Heatley, answers to Emu or Crinkle
Loves birds, beers and fun, with the occasional twinkle.
We have some brothers of course in Howards and Gio
Plus Redda and Mick whose being wooed by Cleo
Tony Storer we know, is simply called Jacko
And is postie mate Parrot has got to be whacko
Big Daley is back and he’s the boss-hog
Whilst Melbas returned , now does he hate the grog
Old Mumbles Purcell and his brother Beau
Got a ton of kicks, you should see them go
From Merrijig to Doon, they run to practice
When they hit the track, they’re bloody near cactus
Ans what about our trio, from the club call Ashburton
All mean and tough of that we are certain
Yes, its Robbie, Brendan and Bomber Franky
They leave opponents bewildered, ball-less and cranky
Now into the ruck, slips the big frame of Payne
Gets off the ground like a bloody great crane
With fist to the ball, he punches it clear
Raising applause from Lambsy, standing quite near
Stick to us one, stick to us all
The whole Doon side is on the ball
We’ll win all out matches with one clean sweep
And take the premiership flag – it’ll be ours to keep
Disclaimer:
This report doesn’t purport to be the full history of the difficulty of early century research, the doubt of what would be organised competition etc it is a reasonable attempt to produce something fort the 100 years + centenary
Special thanks to the following people:
Steve & Pat Arbuthnot, Margaret Forest, Dawn & Graeme Friday, Norma & Roy Friday, Bernadette Franklin and the Lockhart Family