Historical information

The Ballarat School of Mines Athletics Team of 1919 were the inaugural winners of the Inter Techncal Athletics Competition known as the Herald Shield. The team is photographed with a repouse shield which was made by the Ballarat Technical Art School (a division of the Ballarat School of Mines)

The 1919 Ballarat School of Mines Students' Magazine reports: "One of the most successful gathering ever witnessed in Ballarat took place on the City Oval on Saturday 9th, when the Technical Schools of Victoria particiapted in their first combined school sports.
This event was the first of its kind ever promoted, and provided an interesting and exciting display of athletics. Last yeat the Junior Technical Schools of Victoria competed for the "Winner Cup" for pepetual competition, in which Swinburne Technical School was the successful winner. This latter competition proved such a success that it was decided to incorporate with the senior Technical Schools, and form an association to encourage sport throughout the Technical Schools of the State.
This was achieved by the generous response of the proprietors of the "Herald," who kindly presented a handsome shield to be known as the "Herald Shield' for pepetual competition for the Senior Technical Schools of Victoria. This, by the way, was designed and executed at our own Art School. ..."

David McGrath later played 0 game and kicked 6 goals for Fitzroy Football Club in the Victorian Football League (later Autralian Football League).

Physical description

A black and white image of the first inter-technical school Champions in Athletics.

Back Row left to right: R.S. Dale, N. Hay, D.G. McGrath, F.M. Larkin
Front Row left to right: R. Fleming, W.P. O'Halloran, D. Miller, W. Shttock
Front: H.G. Wakeling