GOLDEN JUBILEE

Chronicle (Levin), 9 June 1949, Page 3

GOLDEN JUBILEE

Shannon Football Club's Celebrations Jt , Marking 50 years, of aotivity during which time hundreds of players have passed through its ranks, the Shannon, Footbai'i Club celebrated its golden Jubijee over the weekend. Although the weather was cold and wet, io was considered typical football weather and the many visitors who wero p.fe^erit from all parts of New . 2jealand were in high spirits. The celeorations opened on Friday evening, when "'the, club cq= operated with the school jubilee committee in holding a oombined ba'l, this being an outstandihg sue« cess with the Druids' Hali fllied fo capacity. On Saturday afternoon the visitors sweiled the crowd at the domain for the senior competition fixture between the home club and Otaki. It is not known whether it was the moral support of so many old players and supporters present, and the familiar cry "Pack round, Red!" or just the performance of the local team, which caused. the 9—0 victory. It was an interesting game and an ideal fixture for the jubilee weekend. The club again co-operated with the school by requesting that as many as pqgsible of its past and present members attend the combined church service held in the Renown Theatre, Monday was the club's big , day for celebralion and the programme commenced at about 1.30 p,m. when players, offlcials and . supporters assembled 'at- the Albion Hotel corner to join the proeession tb the domain. The proeession was headed by the Horowhenua Pipe Band and halts were made at the South African 'War Memorial and ihe Cenotaph, where wreaths were placed as a mark of respect to footballers who had given their livqs in the two World ■ Wars. The feature attraction at the domain was the annual Maori-Pakeha match.. Several local players were members of the teams and their performances were in keeping with the high standard of sportsmanship insisted upon by the Shannon club. Reunion The Highlight. The highlight of the ceMbrations was the reunion and smoke concert held in the Druids' Hall on Monday evening, for it was here that many old acqua'intances were renewed and matches of 50 years ago were re-played with renewed vigor. Seating of the 300 visitors presented some 'difficu'ties, but , the committee responsible handled arrangements very efficiently and a most successful function was the result of much hard work by the witing band of workers. The duties of toastmaster were in the capable hands of Mr. A. Gillespie, a past president of the club and the Horowhenua Rugby Union. After extending a we'come to the visitors and expressing plessure at the large gathering, Mr. Gillespie asked those present to stand in silence in memory of deceased comrades. He then made mention of the wonderful co-

opsration bqtween 'the football q ub and the school Jubilee eomrnittee in conducting the ha1"', and sppke of the good work done by all thqee wha had helpsd to make the, fUhctioh such a success. Mr, R. J, Law, ehairman of the school jubilee committee, epngratulated the club on itn 50 years bf progress in the interests of sport and endorsed the remarks of Mr. Gillespie regarding the success of the qdmbined ball.' In intro'ducing the Mavor nf Shannon (Mr, D. A Fitzgerald), Mr. Gillespie made mention of the fact that Mr. Filzgerald was the first member of the club to hold the high offlce of Mayor. He also stated that Mr. Fitzgerald was an outstanding fqotballer, having represented bo'h Horowhenua and Mapa whenua on the football field 'during the time he was a member of the iocal senior team. Mr. Fitzgerald complimented the club on attaining its half-century. and wished it every success in the years to come. He also made mention of the club's record of soortsmanship and the benefit its activities v/ere to- the town, especially to the younger people. The Mayor went on to say that the club was held in very high esteem among the people of Shannon and district. At this stage; Mr. GiTespie called UPOn those oresent to honour the tqast of ,(The King." "Absent Fricnds" was then proposed by Mr. -H. D. Aitchisqn, after which Mr. W. Moynihan proposed the toast of "The Horowhenua Rugby Union." He said that the Horowhenua union was plaeed in a differe-nt position to city unions in that the teams 'had to travel considerable dis^ tances to play matches, Likewise. the union offlcials had to travel to meetings and for this reason he was of the opinion that the Horowhenua union was doing much to keep the game going over such a scattered area, Mr, Moynihan expressed thanks to those members who had served their ^ubs over the past years, He said he was sure the union was on the upgrade and the individual clubs were looking to it for guidance and were expecting big things for the future. c In reply, Mr. R. L. Robinson, president of the union, said that the Shannon club had a7ways been highly thought of throughout the union's area, and was one of the foundation members, having first joined when it was founded in 1893, Sinee that time the club had made a big contribution to the success of rugby football in the Horowhenua, both by supplying represeptativt players and with representative players and with reconcluded by extending the union's congratulations and wished the club every su&eess for the future. Other toasts honoured were: — "The Shannon Club," proposed by Mr. H. Jacobs and replied to by Mr. F. J. Lucinsky (president) ; '"The O'd Timers," Mr. Colin Mortimer — Messrs Merwood, W. Roddick. R. Hook and L. Robinson; "Sister Clubs," Mr. Takarei Kohika — Messrs G. Clunie- (Paraparaumu) , M. Hakaraia (Otaki-Rahui) , D. Mercer (Atlfietic), R. Cochrane (Awahau), K. Osman (Tokomaru) and A. Short (Wanderers) : "The Referees," Mr. A. Wood — Mr. C. E. Wiselev; "Kindred Clubs," Mr. A. Richards — Mr. V. J. Bateman; "The

— — X. Ladies," Mr. H. McDonald; "The Press," Mr. R. Sands— Mr. H. McDonald; "The St. John Ambulance," Mr. F. J. Lucinsky— Mr. F. Hobbs. Items were rendered during the evening by Messrs H. -McDonald and Merwood.