On Sat 26th April We Have It All
Our Traditional Anzac Luncheon in Conjunction with the Beauy RSL
A Blockbuster Local Derby Against a Flag Favourite
The 60th Anniversary of the ’65 Undefeated Premiers
Playing Parkdale for the Macgeorge Cup
Launching the BFC Dedicated Anzac Guernsey
The Inaugural Frank Reade “Spirit Of Mateship” Medallions
When the Beauy Sharks F. C. was launched in 1963 with four teams – U/13s, U/15s, U/17s & Seniors – it was unique in that all four Inaugural Coaches: Bill Kinnane, Ted ‘E.J.’ King, Frank Sherrard & Major Frank Reade were all Returned WW2 Servicemen and the bulk of the Inaugural Club & Team Officials were Returned Servicemen & Women (and War Widows). The Beauy RSL had been integral to the founding of the Sharks, and we now honour that collaboration by holding a joint Beauy F. C. & Beauy RSL luncheon around Anzac Day each year with a Flag Raising Ceremony involving both clubs at 2.00pm.
This year we have the bonus of including the first ever 60th Anniversary Reunion for a Beauy Premiership team as the eleven surviving members of the ’65 Undefeated Senior Premiership team, coached by the late Frank Reade, have been invited to join us at this function. This was the club’s first ever flag of any sort and helped set the standard for the BFC’s successful journey that has followed. They are also unique in that three of these remaining ’65 Premiership Players – Geoff Skinner, Mal McLaughlin & Richard Murphy - also served in the Australian Military under the National Service program while several other young Beauy Sharks of that era also served as Nasho’s, and four of them – Peter Rahilly, Barrie Taylor, Gary Forster & Daryl Neal - saw overseas action in Vietnam and Bougainville. Frank Reade was a Japanese Prisoner Of War held in the notorious Changi Prison Camp and later on in a POW Camp in Thailand where he was the Ranking Australian Officer when the atom bombs were dropped on Japan. His inaugural trainer, Jim Kirkby, was a POW, held in Japan itself, and our first President, Peter Eldred, was on an Australian warship that entered Tokyo Harbour with the occupying forces.
The third interesting facet of the day will involve the launching of a new BFC Anzac Guernsey to be worn annually for this match as well as the awarding of a new - Frank Reade: “Spirit of Mateship” - Medallion to a player from each of the various teams. The yellow sash on our guernsey will bear the names of all Australian Military personnel who have been involved with the Beauy F. C. over the years from the beginning to the present. All of the above-mentioned people and their families are being invited to the luncheon but there will be some seats left after the 60 reserved for RSL Members, BFC Veterans & ’65 Premiership players and their families. There will be members of Frank Reade’s extended family in attendance.
Booking details are on the above flyer but if you have any queries, please feel free to call Ron Nicholson on 0416 133 655 or email ronnicho@bigpond.com
