A celebration 150 years in the making is about to get underway as the Goulburn Rugby Club celebrates the 150th anniversary of the founding of the club.
A host of activities have been put in place to recognise the creation of Australia’s oldest country rugby club, including a golf day, get together dinner, a match day and gala Anniversary Reunion Ball.
The club was founded on 22 July 1872 at what was then Payten’s Commercial Hotel in Market Street.
Club president Jackson Reardon explained that the reunion weekend has been deferred until after the season had finished to allow the focus to remain on the reunion.
“We’ve got people coming from across Australia, many who rarely get back to see their old club, so it’s going to be a great opportunity for people to reconnect, reflect on the past and celebrate a significant milestone that very few Australian sporting teams have reached,” he said.
“There’s a lot of history in this club and it’s important to celebrate that.
“In our earliest days, the club was one of the founding members of the original Southern Rugby Union, played Sydney premiership teams and even played touring British Lions sides. We’ve had stops and starts, played in a number of different competitions and had eight Wallabies grace the Dirty Red jumper.
“In the last few decades, we’ve had more success on the paddock than any other time, welcomed a women’s team to the club, added a second oval and upgraded the club house. So the anniversary isn’t just about celebrating the history of long ago but also the history we’re still making and yet to make.”
The reunion was to begin with a Golf Day on Friday 21 October at the Goulburn Golf Club, however recent flooding has put paid to that.
The weekend now starts with a get-together dinner on the Friday night that’s open to all at the Club’s major sponsor, the Hibo.
On Saturday 22 October activities move up to Rugby Park where four matches will be played on Poidevin Oval. The Reunion Match Day will kick off at 9am with a match between the Goulburn U12s and the Crookwell U12s, followed by a golden oldies match at 10.30am with Wallabies Simon Poidevin and Peter Lucas coaching the two sides.
At midday, the premiership-winning Goulburn women’s team will take on the Bungendore Mudchicks and from 1pm there’ll be a special unveiling and naming of three of the hills at Rugby Park followed by a photo session on the hill in front of the clubhouse for groups including all previous coaches, presidents, rep players, Life Members and so on.
The Match Day portion of the Anniversary Reunion will finish with a match between a President’s XV side and an Invitational XV. The two sides will be wearing replica jumpers from the 1957 and 1958 sides and these along with the Women’s 2020 replica jumpers are available to bid on at the club’s online auction site.
The weekend then concludes with the 150th Anniversary Reunion Ball at Veolia Arena, emceed by Robert Sheekey.
Highlights of the night will include presentation of special ties to new Life Members and a Life member group photo, a video of messages to the club on this occasion and reminders when the auction is about to come to a close.
Attendees will be treated to a three-course meal, music from in-demand Canberra band Something Like This, door prizes and most of all, a great opportunity to gather together and take a walk down Amnesia Lane.
“It’s a pretty busy weekend and there’s a lot going on,” said Reardon said.
“I’d particularly like to thank all of our sponsors over all of those years, including those who have come on to make the Ball a success. Like any amateur sports club, the whole thing just comes to a complete stop without sponsors.
“The Ball is shaping up to be amazing so if you are coming, tickets for the ball close on Friday 14 October so please get in as early as you can to help organise catering and so on.
“If you can’t get to the Ball, you can join in any part of the weekend, or you might just want to pick up some of the reunion merchandise online.
“If you can be part of it in any way, it’s a great opportunity to reflect on how lucky we are to be part of this great club.”
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