Film - 'Looking for a game at Lake Tyers', 2007, State Library Victoria

In the ‘30s and the late ‘50s as well Lake Tyres had a very good side, you know, me Uncle played an’ me grand-Uncle. In 1996 was when we affiliated with the Omeo and District Football League. We ‘ad the Seniors an’ the Juniors, we ‘ad the Junior Netball all the way through to the Senior Netball for the girls, we drafted quite a few players from other Clubs around the East Gippie an’ the Omeo League as well…there were Kooris playing in but they wished to play for Lake Tyers. I coached the Juniors in ’96 to the Grand Final. The following year I coached the Seniors to the Grand Final as well. The moral of Lake Tyers lifted through sport, kids were attending school on a regular basis, the health issues at Lake Tyers lifted an’ the Elders had somewhere to go on Saturdays where they could sit there an’ watch the boys and girls play Netball an’ Football. During those two years some of our issues were some of the players we drafted from other areas became angry on the ground. It sort of sounded like as if they wanted to be black versus white. During my coaching of those years I tried to talk to players not to be like that, that it wasn’t a racial issue. The other thing was, there was only probably four to six people running a Football Club, which wasn’t enough numbers to run a Football Club.

Got time…got time…Pass…pass…pass…play on…go…go…go…

When we were asked to leave the Omeo League, the moral of Lake Tyers went backwards. It’s pretty sad, you know when I get up in the morning, or go to work, you know, you see these young players that were playing footy in…some of the Senior players that haven’t played now for five or six years, I mean, they’re walking around with their heads down…um…they’re finding it hard to get out and play Football with other Clubs at the present time. Our kids become bored…there’s nothing to do for ‘em out at Lake Tyers at the moment, so certainly vandalism comes into it…you know, when kids don’t have nothing more to do than break windows or throw stones at street lights. These are sorts of issues that…um…I’d like to see change an’ the only way we can do that is through sport.

Film - Us mob and ACMI Digital Storytelling, 'The Old Man', Koorie Heritage Trust

MAN: I've been playing with the Thornton-Eildon District Football Club since I was 8. By the time I was 15, I was playing at senior level against men twice my age. The old men said that if I was big enough and ugly enough to be playing at this level, then I was big enough to enjoy a beer or two. Two years later, we finally got to junior sides, an under 14s and an under 17s. I was to coach the under 14s side. My old man was to be the coach of the under 17s.

Some of these kids I was playing alongside only a few years ago. My youngest brother was also in the team. We never won a game. He still claims that I was one of the worst coaches that he had ever had. I don't agree, as there's some shockers since. The old man was to coach myself and my three brothers over the next few years, but never all at the same time. There were plenty of highs along the way, winning a few flags, and there was also invites to trials for under 18 teams.

I remember one time he promised all of the boys that if they won the grand final today, that he would sit down and have a beer with them. He had drank for at least 10 years when he had made this promise. The boys won, and he lived up to his word. This was the first and only time that I can ever remember him having a drink. He was to become a huge influence on many young lives throughout his days as a coach, a mentor, and as a mate.

One thing that he always wanted to see was the four of us all playing in the senior side at the one time. This was one of many things that he never got to see, as he passed away. His death had a huge impact on many young lives throughout the community. At the funeral, many of the junior players formed a guard of honor, wearing their jumpers. One mate even threw in his premiership medallion into the grave.

Two years after his death, my brothers and I eventually had the opportunity to run out onto the ground together, with all of our mates beside us. The same mates that shared it all.