{"id":2100,"date":"2020-07-05T20:55:17","date_gmt":"2020-07-05T10:25:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mtloftyhistoricalsociety.org.au\/?page_id=2100"},"modified":"2020-07-20T15:54:02","modified_gmt":"2020-07-20T05:24:02","slug":"recollections-of-sport-in-past-times","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/mtloftyhistoricalsociety.org.au\/?page_id=2100","title":{"rendered":"Recollections of Sport in past times"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Text: John McGregor<\/em>
Images: SLSA, MLDHS<\/p>\n\n\n\n

My grandfather, William McGregor, and his two brothers, Jack and Davie, all played cricket for Crafers in the late 19th century. Their home ground was Atkinson\u2019s paddock, behind the butcher\u2018s shop, and which was grandly called the Crafers Oval. To me the term \u201cOval\u201d suggests at least that the area is somewhat flat, but the paddock sloped towards Stirling with a slight depression running down it which no doubt acted as a water course when it rained.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

My father, Don, played football for Crafers before WWII, and their home ground was also the Crafers Oval.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Atkinson’s paddock with the Church of the Epiphany in the background. Hopefully the stumps were removed before it was used for sport!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

As a child, the only function I recall attending on the Oval was a Guy Fawkes night one Nov 5th. A huge bonfire had been made in the middle of the Oval and there was a money-raising fete from late afternoon before the fire was lit. When it had burnt down the fireworks display started \u2014 sky rockets, Roman candles, sparklers, and the like.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When I was a young teenager, I sometimes walked to Stirling on a Saturday afternoon in winter to watch Stirling playing football matches. Their main rivals were Aldgate and Uraidla. The highlight of the afternoon, though, was to go to Bert Dyer\u2019s Fish and Chip shop, about where the Library is now, to spend sixpence buying some chip potatoes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Stirling Oval opening ceremony, 1936<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Lesley Finlayson<\/strong> added the following comments to John’s article:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Mc Gregor men were solid members of the various Crafers men\u2019s cricket teams. My father played cricket for the team in the 1950\u2019s. Yes part of the Crafers Creek ran through the “oval” and there were lovely native ferns and orchids on the banks.
A major event on Atkinson\u2019s paddock was the giant auction in the 1950s to fundraise for the proposed Kindergarten. The fundraising for the CFS occurred later in the form of Giant Bonfire and Fete and Miss Mt Lofty Quest. Stirling Council was in agreement with the Atkinson family to purchase the paddock for sporting events and recreation but was overruled by State Government and the land used for the Freeway which was badly needed.
Football was also played on the oval with Stirling and Crafers being rivals. Physical activity occurred during the game and after at the Crafers Hotel. Frank Chardon was a referee and involved in hearing charges against players.

References: Trove has amusing tales and descriptions of games played. Also see the \u201cCourier\u201d of the time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Do you have memories\/photos of Sporting events or venues, particularly at the Crafers Oval?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Contact us at mldhsgateways@mtloftyhistoricalsociety.org.au<\/a> or drop into the History Centre at the Coventry Library, 63 Mount Barker Road, Stirling.
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Text: John McGregorImages: SLSA, MLDHS My grandfather, William McGregor, and his two brothers, Jack and Davie, all played cricket for Crafers in the late 19th century. Their home ground was Atkinson\u2019s paddock, behind the butcher\u2018s shop, and which was grandly called the Crafers Oval. To me the term \u201cOval\u201d suggests at least that the area … Continue reading “Recollections of Sport in past times”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"spay_email":""},"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/PaNLq6-xS","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":3331,"url":"https:\/\/mtloftyhistoricalsociety.org.au\/?page_id=3331","url_meta":{"origin":2100,"position":0},"title":"Local Road Names","date":"April 2, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"Text: John McGregor Images:SLSA, MLDHS \u00a0 Some local roads were named after people with some connection with the area : i e\u00a0 Hardy Road named after the businessman of fluctuating fortunes who built Mount Lofty House, Arthur\u00a0 Hardy, and Wright Road named after\u00a0 the Wright family who had property along\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mtloftyhistoricalsociety.org.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/B-20825.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":2347,"url":"https:\/\/mtloftyhistoricalsociety.org.au\/?page_id=2347","url_meta":{"origin":2100,"position":1},"title":"Mount Lofty (Crafers Summit) Railway Station","date":"October 8, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Text : Chris Chardon Images: MLDHS and as described THE MOUNT LOFTY RAILWAY STATION The Mount Lofty Railway Station was originally named the Crafers Summit Railway Station. 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