The following article appeared in the magazine issued to commemorate the opening of the club's Melville Reserve premises on July 20th 1980. It sets out the history of the Club to that year and, as historical facts do not change, only human memory, it is reproduced here:
A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE PALMYRA RUGBY UNION CLUB
Palmyra Rugby Union Club has a long and colourful history. Today's opening of the new clubrooms marks the culmination of 40 years of endeavour, hardship and triumphs on the part of those who have put the club where is today.
1934 saw Perth right in the thick of the depression. Cecil 'Soccer" Keseling was the only man who had ever played rugby when the team took the field in its first ever match against Nedlands. He was the club's first captain.
According to club stalwart, Arthur "Beau" Love (64), "Soccer" was Palmyra's first true "professional" because he was the only player with rugby boots.
Along with Ben Siddons and Jack Bleakley, Beau is one of the founding club members still involved with Palmyra. The new clubrooms are fitting tribute to these men for all years of service - and to the many more who have moved away or passed on.
Beau remembers the day a Palmyra Rugby Union Club was first suggested: "My mates and I were grovelling around in the sand playing "keepings-off". That was on the old Fremantle playing track at the corner of Canning Highway and Prinsep Road (where the tennis courts now stand).
I remember well - it was a Sunday - a man stopped his car in Canning Highway and came over to watch us play. After a while he approached us and asked us if we were trying to play rugby. We told him we'd never heard of it. Most of us were interested in Australian Rules.
The man turned out to be Gordon Squires, an official of the Fremantle Rugby Club and an official of the WA Rugby Union. The next thing beau remembers is a meeting of the boys with Squires and another man, Mr. Hudson-Taylor, at the recently demolished Roads board office at the corner of Stock Road and Canning Highway.
From that meeting the Palmyra Rugby Union Club was officially formed in 1934. One D Grade was fielded - most of the players were teenagers. They used the old Fremantle ground, but some years later moved to a field near Stock Road that ran parallel with the highway.
1934 set a great precedent for future years - the team ran out premiers and were promoted to C Grade for the following year. In 1935 the boys took out a minor premiership but in 1936 after being promoted to B Grade they again won a premiership.
A 1936 edition of the Daily News best tells of the club's meteoric rise: "Of the lower grades, Palmyra team is outstanding. In the three seasons since its formation the club has successively played its way from D Grade to B Grade, and has undoubtedly become one of the greatest assets of the rugby union."
Apart from Beau, Ben and Jack many more youngsters became involved. They included the Wade brothers - Martin, Phil and Bill ("Spud). Martin and Spud were killed in the war but Phil is still alive and living in Fremantle.
Ray Lewis was Palmyra's first president. He is now an avid bowler with the Hilton Bowling Club. Alec Oregg, an ex Fremantle player, was a coach in the early years.
The late Harry 'Coota" Miller coached from 1937 to 1939. Coota had the last horse-drawn bakers cart in Palmyra. Frank Keseling, who now lives in Victoria Park, also became a coach in later years. Cecil was Frank's eider brother.
Norm McAIpine, vice captain of the '35 side, worked hard for the club in the early years and still lives in the area.
Phil Guy knew nothing about rugby, according to Beau Love. "He knew nothing about the game but he used to come to all the early matches. He was secretary/treasurer. He did just about everything." Beau said.
The rugby pitch was shifted from the Stock Road side of the reserve back to the Prinsep road side only this time it ran parallel with Prinsep Road instead of the highway.
Current President, Basil Smirk, says the pitch has been gradually shunted back towards Kitchener Road, since he joined the club in 1953. 'The field's centre line used to be in line with bridges Road", Basil said.
Palmyra enjoyed great success in the '30s, '40s and early '50s. They won B grade premierships in 1937 1938 and 1940. A Grade status followed in 1941.
1948, 1949 and 1950 were three great and unforgettable years for Palmyra - they meant three successive A Grade premierships.
Beau Love was the coach of those three sides. For 1948 and 1950 teams it was a double triumph because the club took out minor and major premierships.
In 1952 the club changed to the League code. They won the 1954 League premiership, but in 1956 returned to Union and since then have made many final round appearances.
Although A Grade pennants have eluded Palmyra in recent years, the minor grades have taken out several premierships. The A Grade side has been a finalist in the past four seasons - 1976, 77, 78, 79. In 76 and 79 they were runners-up but the team took out the minor premiership for 1979.
Today's opening brings to fruition a plan that had its beginnings some ton years ago and is the result of the third attempt to have clubrooms, with liquor licensing facilities. Erected on the ground. Following a Melville City Council suggestion, the Rugby Club formed a joint venture with the Melville Football Club, resulting in the formation of the Melville Sporting Association.
The club has come a long way since Beau Love played "keepings-off" in the sand at the Melville Reserve of the early thirties. The club believes the striking new clubrooms and social facilities are a fitting and lasting tribute to men like Beau and the thousands of others who have been associated with the Palmyra Rugby Union Club during its long history.
The first class facilities that are now available for rugby players puts Palmyra at the forefront of W.A. Rugby Union. |
