By sports editor Russell Bennett
Just what is ‘heritage’, when it comes to a football netball club?
It’s so much more than just its history – a timeline of events that outlines its past.
A club’s heritage is what sets it apart from the rest – its culture, the very fibre of its being. It’s the traditions, the defining moments that make that club what it is.
On Saturday at Taplins Road, one of Gippsland’s most storied football netball clubs – Catani – held its Heritage and Past Players Day.
It marked a chance for anyone who’s played a part in the formation of the Blues’ heritage to return to where it all began for them at the club – to return home.
From the establishment of the Catani township with the sale of 18 blocks in the ‘main street’ of Taplins road on 1 November, 1922; to the establishment of the Catani Football Club the following year; to losing to Pakenham in the West Gippsland Football League grand final in 1927; to joining forces with Cora Lynn to defeat Garfield for the 1944 flag; to the formation of the ‘basketball’ (now netball) club in 1947; to Catani’s official admission to the ‘West Gippsland Football League & Basketball Association’ in 1948; and the decades of heritage that have been formed since – it was all celebrated on Saturday.
The vote that changed Catani’s history in 1976 – when a special meeting was held in January of that year (33 votes for, and just two against) to move into the Ellinbank league from West Gippsland – still looms as arguably its most defining chapter.
Again, that was remembered and celebrated on Saturday – by the likes of Catani father-figure Ron Banbury who, for the record, was one of the two to vote against the defining move.
That 1976 season was also the year in which Catani changed from its formative royal blue and yellow colours, to the navy blue and CFC logo that has since become synonymous with the club.
A look back through time, at the club’s minutes books, explores some truly incredible moments.
There’s an entry that detailed an annual ball held at the Soldiers Hall, with raffle articles consisting of ‘100 cigarettes and two bottles of beer’.
And there are other moments in time that give a real insight as to just how the club became what it is today – such as the clubrooms burning down on 11 November 1970 from what was described as “a freakish bolt of lightning” striking the old pavilion; and going up in flames once more in an arson attack in 2001.
That year, ‘The Footy Show’ – which this season wrapped up after a remarkable 25-year run in football entertainment – headed to Taplins Road, with Angela Banbury spinning ‘Billy’s Wheel’ to net the club a Holden ute, and accept a $10,000 cheque on its behalf.
The club, as it’s known today, was officially established in 1947, and with its first season after that in 1948 in West Gippsland.
Catani’s first opponent in that season? Nyora.
The two clubs faced off again on Saturday in Round 5, with the reigning premiers, the Saints, emerging victorious in the seniors by 46 points – 14.17 (101) to 8.7 (55).
When the clubs first faced off against each other, Catani was known as ‘the Cats’ in their royal blue and yellow.
On Saturday, the Blues recognised and paid respect to their heritage in a specially designed guernsey – with the same diagonal slash design worn in the 1930s, but with the twist of today’s colour scheme.
The concept was the brainchild of senior player Dylan Williams – an incredible initiative from someone who, despite his young age, has bought into the club’s heritage hook, line, and sinker. That’s the effect that Catani has – as evidenced by Williams’ team mate in the seniors, Tanny Rodda, serving as the club’s current president.
Williams didn’t begin his footballing journey at Catani – and Rodda’s has taken him elsewhere, before his return – but both of their stories have led them home, to Taplins Road.
Saturday’s jumper was a nod to the Catani team led by Allen JF Lineham Sr – who, as ‘the grandfather’ of the Catani Football Club – is a permanent thread in its heritage.
He was the father of Nancye McDonald, who won the West Gippsland Netball Association A Grade best and fairest in 1963, and became intertwined with the club in the decades since.
The same goes for her son – Brad ‘Snags’ McDonald – who played over 400 games for the club and became another thread in its fabric.
Williams just happens to be the partner of McDonald’s daughter, Selby.
These sorts of stories are echoed throughout the generations at Catani – families with stories forever intertwined with the club they’ve called home.
Their connections to the club aren’t by sheer chance or fluke. They’re soul-deep.
Shane ‘Ralphy’ Warren is another of the Blues’ favourite sons. He maintains a vital involvement with the running of the club, and spoke about just what Saturday’s event meant to him.
“It was awesome,” he said, while paying tribute to the work undertaken at the club by those of the current generation including Rodda and Williams.
“It was so great to see all the work everyone’s put in come good on the day, and the day, itself, was fantastic.
“There were a lot of people there who I’ve played with over the past 20 years, and we’re hoping to make it an annual event – to put the word out for other former players to come back to the club and get involved again.”
For them, it’s time. Time to come home.
