On the eve of Castlemaine Football Club’s 150th birthday celebrations, the town’s “Mr Football” Jack Jefferies makes no apologies about the change in colours from virtually all-black to Collingwood black and white stripes. “The economics of the time demanded it,” he said.
“Basically the jumper I had played in, which was all black with white collars and cuffs and a white CFC monogram on the front had to be specially made. None of the clubs in Melbourne were wearing what we were, whereas you could buy a Magpie jumper off the shelf.
“We were an active committee and we made the decision. It all boiled down to money saved. Simple as that.”
Jefferies, 81, is one of those in line for permanent recognition when the Maine’s initial 25 Greats are named next week at a celebration dinner.
Not only are Castlemaine’s finest players like Steven Oliver and Wally Culpitt being honoured, but those who extended their service off the field, too.
In addition to playing more than 200 games and rucking in the 1952 premiership team, Jefferies was president, treasurer, committeeman, chairman of selectors – “and on Sundays I’d wash out the lavatories”.
One of 12 Bendigo Football League legends – and a life member, too, of the League – Jefferies remains a Magpies committeeman and has been right in the engine room in the planning for the biggest week in the historic club’s existence.
Planned next week is a launch of a new history book, A Day at the Camp by Darren Lewis, as well as on Friday, June 19, the unveiling of a new painting by Cathy Van Ee featuring the club’s favourite sons.
As part of the unveiling, the names of the 25, all of whom have been painted by Van Ee, will be announced to a gathering of more than 300 at Castlemaine Town Hall.
“It’s a big occasion for us all,” said Jefferies, who was a player from 1944-53.
“It’ll be just great, especially for the oldies like me to see so many familiar faces… people we haven’t seen for years.”
Between them, Jefferies and his son John played almost 450 games for Castlemaine and are in line to be among the club’s first 25 Greats. They were in premierships, too: Jack in 1952 and John in 1992.
Jack loves a yarn and says even though he was just over 6ft (183cm) he’d ruck all day from one week to the next.
Asked if he ever had a hankering of going to Melbourne to try out, he said: “Sure, but I don’t know if I would have been good enough”.
“The circumstances were difficult back then. Mum had just been widowed. We’d lost Dad and I’d been asked to come and train by Melbourne footy club. The prospect of playing a practice game at the Melbourne Cricket Ground tipped the scales for me and off I went. But would you believe it, there was the District cricket final being played at the ground and we had a practice match over at Olympic Park.
“Dr Don Cordner was in the ruck, I was at centre half-forward with Norm Smith at full forward so you can imagine it was quite an occasion. But it wasn’t quite the same thrill for me, not having the chance to run around on the MCG.”
Jack is proud that his son John played more games than he did at Castlemaine and was also part of a premiership. He is also chuffed that one of his grandchildren, Robert, is talking about playing again, too, next year while he juggles his dentistry studies at the University of Bendigo.
“Robert had played in the Under 16s and says he only stopped to concentrate on his VCE exams,” Jefferies said.
Like his son, Jefferies is a life member of the football club and describes Castlemaine as “a lovely little town” full of history, art and culture.
“Some people say it’s a bit backward. But I don’t think so. We’re very proud of places like our own Camp Reserve which is famous for being the stronghold of the British soldiers who came to bring discipline to the area after gold was discovered.
“They set up their camp just adjacent to where the boys play now on Saturdays.
“Make sure, too, Ken,” he told me, “that you tell the world that we are second only behind Melbourne Football Club as being the oldest footy club in the country. That’s really something you know.”
Jefferies has been assisting author Lewis and editor Stephanie Holt in the release of Castlemaine’s history and says the committee has “unequivocal evidence” of the club’s formation at the Supreme Court Hotel (then Herons Gallery) on June 13, 1859.
“Melbourne was 1858 and we were 1859,” he said. “You have to remember the circumstances of the gold strike. It was a thriving little metropolis back then.
“The Mt Alexander Mail published a series of public notices (reproduced below). While we don’t know if football was played every year continuously from 1859, we know that a club was formed, an annual subscription decided upon and the first matches played.”
COPIES OF NOTICES: Mt Alexander Mail, June 1859:
Published 13.6.1859 – ‘A meeting of the gentleman for the formation of a football club is called for Wednesday evening next June 15th at 7.30pm at the Supreme Court Hotel’ signed T BUTTERWORTH
Published 20.6.1859 – ‘The first match of this club will be played on Wednesday next June 22nd on the Cricket Ground Barkers Creek. To commence at 2 o’clock pm’ signed D COUNCEL (Hon Sec. & Treas.)
Published 22.6.1859 – ‘In consequence of the non arrival of the football from Melbourne none being there procurable, the match will be postponed until further notice.’ Signed D COUNCEL (Hon Sec.)
Published 29.6.1859 – ‘The match of football originally advertised to be played by members of the Castlemaine Club will come off the day on the Cricket Ground, Barkers Creek. To commence at two p.m. Members are requested to pay their subscriptions at same time.’ Signed D COUNCEL (Hon Sec.)
Jefferies says he’ll be at all of next week’s functions “with bells on”.
“It’s going to be a great week,” he says.
Copies of Castlemaine’s great new history are available at $49.95 from the club.
By Ken Piesse
Article first published 10 June, 2009
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