S.F.C. into G.S.F.L.
Obviously some discontent with the Hills Central Association existed within the SFC for some time.
At the SFC AGM held on 19th February 1957, it was noted that a letter from the Great Southern Football Association inviting Strathalbyn to join had been received.
The subsequent motion to accept this offer was defeated.
At the conclusion of the 1957 season the HCA advised the SFC that the substandard conditions and facilities they provided for hosting the 1957 final series had determined that no more finals matches would be conducted there.
The SFC forwarded this notification on to the Strathalbyn Show Society with no obvious outcome.
At the SFC AGM held on the 17th February 1958 an invitation to join the River Murray Association was received and rejected.
Following a most unsuccessful 1962 season in the Hills Central Association, the often discussed possibility of the Strathalbyn Football Club joining the Great Southern Association again became topical.
At the SFC Committee meeting held on the 14th October 1962 the following minute is recorded.
“Another discussion took place with regards to possible amalgamations of clubs and further to the meeting of club representatives of Strathalbyn, Langhorne Creek and Milang, it was moved that a meeting of members be called for 25th October in the RSL Hall and also to discuss the invitation of Great Southern League to associate with them. Members to be all sent an invitation.
Moved R. Willis Sec.R. Rayson Carried”.
This would indicate that a meeting of the Strathalbyn, Langhorne Creek and Milang clubs had already occurred, however no record of this is minuted nor is the receipt of the invitation from the Great Southern League minuted.
The Extra Ordinary Meeting was held at the RSL Hall on the appointed date with 30 members in attendance and 6 apologies tendered.
” Business
1. The possible amalgamation of Strathalbyn, Langhorne Creek and Milang was discussed at length. It was finally moved by
A. Richardson Sec. E. Peddy that Strathalbyn remain the same for season 1963 and that the matter be bought up again in 12 months time.
2. A letter had been received about a month prior to this meeting from the Great Southern League inviting us to consider joining up in that league. Again a lengthy discussion took place on the matter and it did appear that the decision may be made to go to the Great Southern.
However on the voting of the following proposals the motion succeeded by 1 vote.
Motion Moved by W. Nisbett Sec. E. Haddow that we reject the offer to play in the GSL.
Amendment Moved H. Moyle Sec. N. Wirth that we accept the offer to join GSL.
The amendment was defeated by one vote and the Motion was carried.”
At the subsequent committee meeting held on the 18th November 1962 it was moved H. Weckert Sec. L. Holdsworth “That the Secretary write to GSL rejecting their offer to us to become members of their league”.
Whether this letter was ever written and sent is not recorded.
At the SFC AGM held on the 25th February 1963 with 48 members present, the following is minuted.
” ASSOCIATION Moved W. Nisbett Sec. S. Fairweather that we affiliate with the Hills Central Football Association.
Amendment. Moved R. Willis Sec. T. Scheutze that we affiliate with the Great Southern Football League.”
” Almost every person spoke on the above subject and many good and bad points were put in both cases. It was decided to have the decision made by means of a Secret Ballot on a motion Moved R. Kerslake Sec. D. Wenham.
The amendment became the motion by 21 votes to 20 hence we would affiliate with the GSFL.”
Obviously 7 members chose not to cast a vote, it is also unclear whether the President utilised a casting vote and, whether it was Constitutional to accept an Amendment that is in direct opposition to the Motion, is extremely debatable.
At the subsequent Committee meeting held on 3rd March 1963 the following is minuted.
1. ” Moved R. Langley Sec. D. Rankine that the Delegates attend the HCA AGM and hand in a letter of resignation
2. Moved D. Rankine Sec. R. Westley that C. Fairweather and R. Willis be the SFC Delegates to the GSFL and that R. Langley and R. Westley be Proxy Delegates.”
No further mention of the change of League / Association is minuted and the Strathalbyn Football Club commenced their affiliation with the GSFL in 1963.
There is no doubt that this affiliation has had enormous influence in the transformation of the GSFL from the Cinderella league of then into the powerful entity that it is today
G.S.F.L. HISTORY
Australian Rules Football commenced being played in the Fleurieu Peninsula area of South Australia in the 1870’s.
As in other country areas, matches were played as Challenges to neighbouring teams and usually arranged weeks in advance mainly because of transportation issues.
It was not until 1923, that the Great Southern Football Association was formed, with the founding clubs being Encounter Bay, Goolwa, Hindmarsh Valley, Port Elliott and Victor Harbour.
The association name was later changed to become the Great Southern Football League.
Strathalbyn joined the GSFA for season 1930 as the Hills Association went into recession but reverted to the Hills Central Association the following year.
Yankalilla joined the GSFA in 1935 and continued there until 1955. They played in the Southern Football Association / League from 1956 to 1967 but rejoined the GSFL in 1968.
In 1954 Encounter Bay amalgamated with the Valley club to become the Bay Valley Rovers but in 1957 reverted to being known again as Encounter Bay Football Club.
The Mount Compass Football Club, which had played in the Southern Football Association from 1946 to 1952, affiliated with the GSFL in 1953.
Strathalbyn joined the GSFL in 1963 from the Hills Central Association.
Myponga Football Club joined the GSFL in 1967 and, in 2003, to incorporate the growing population of Sellicks Beach, changed its name to become Myponga / Sellicks Football Club.
Langhorne Creek joined the GSFL from the Hills League in 1978, but had to change their colours to Brown and Gold to avoid a clash with Yankalilla, whose colours are Black and Gold.
Milang joined the GSFL in 1979 but reverted to the Hills League in 1986.
During the 1976 season, Willunga made an approach to join the GSFL and offered to sell their current guernseys to SFC.
Their approach was accepted by the GSFL, however the Southern League altered their constitution making it necessary for a club to give twelve months notice of their intent to depart the Southern League.
Willunga appealed to the SANFL over this matter but it was dismissed and they were to remain in the Southern League until 1985.
Willunga joined the GSFL in 1986, and after much debate, were permitted to retain their colours of Red and White which clashes with Strathalbyn, and to this day, causes considerable confusion.
McLaren Flat and McLaren Vale amalgamated to form the McLaren Football Club in 1998 and continued playing in the Southern Football League until 2000.
They affiliated with the GSFL in 2001.
Goolwa and Port Elliott merged clubs in 2001 to become the Saints Football Club utilising the joint colours of red, black and white.
In 2009 the club reverted to the name Goolwa / Pt Elliot Football Club utilising the old Goolwa colours of black and white.
Port Elliott Football Club fell away alarmingly after their big spending days in the early 1970’s and, for a number of years, were unable to field junior teams.
The Great Southern Football League today is one of the strongest and most competitive and well administered leagues in South Australian country football.
In a remarkable achievement, Mr. Kevin Curran has fulfilled the role of GSFL Secretary from 1978 until 2017, representing some 40 years of service.