South Sydney Rabbitohs Centenary 1908-2008
17th January 2008
100 years ago today the South Sydney District Rugby League Football Club was formed. A number of events have been staged to celebrate the occassion across the globe. The South Sydney Football Club has unveil a plaque to mark its 100th birthday at the same place where it was founded on January 17, 1908. Rabbitohs legend Bob McCarthy, Joyce Churchill, the widow of South Sydney great Clive Churchill, and Rabbitohs Executive Chairman Peter Holmes à Court unveiled the plaque at Redfern Town Hall, 79 Pitt St Redfern at 12.30pm. South Sydney are the first NRL club to unveil their Centenary plaque in rugby league's 100th year.
The South Sydney Rabbitohs today celebrated their 100th birthday with a cake cutting and the unveiling of a Centenary Plaque at Redfern Town Hall, the same venue where the Club was founded on January 17, 1908. Rabbitohs legend Bobby McCarthy, Joyce Churchill, the widow of Rabbitohs great Clive Churchill, South Sydney Executive Chairman Peter Holmes à Court and South Sydney Member Co. Chairman Nicholas Pappas were on hand to unveil the Centenary Plaque. There was also the cutting of a celebration birthday cake for Rabbitohs Members.
A member of Rabbitohs premiership winning sides in 1967, 1968, 1970 and 1971, Mr McCarthy said he was honoured to be part of the Club?s Centenary Season celebrations. "I'm really proud to be involved with all this," the former international said. "I've followed the Rabbitohs for 50 years and was lucky enough to play for them. And given all the great players that have played under the South Sydney name it is humbling to be involved in unveiling this plaque. It's hard to comprehend that we have been around for 100 years and it's something that I never really thought about as a player. It seems to have all gone so quickly but there have been a lot of good memories along the way."
Mr Pappas said he hoped all Rabbitohs fans would join the Club in celebrating 100 years. "This is a great occasion for everyone who has ever been associated with the Rabbitohs," he said. "Today is a day for all of us to be proud of our Club and all its achievements. There have been some very good times for this Club, and some occasional dark times, but through it all we have always come out on top. This is a day to honour the pioneers of the Rabbitohs and to acknowledge the thousands who fought so hard when we were excluded from the NRL competition. It is a privilege to be here today at the very same venue where the Club was founded 100 years ago, and I can assure our supporters that we will be doing everything to ensure it is it still going strong for another 100 years."
To mark the occassion, a 100 year birthday cake was cut by Joyce Churchill and legend Bob McCarthy to also honour the occasion, members were able to enjoy their slice of history and sign a commerative birthday card.
Later that evening, direct descendants of those who helped found the South Sydney Football Club took part in a 100 year enactment of the creation of the Club at its birthplace the Redfern Town Hall. Victor Trumper’s grandson Victor Trumper III, JJ Giltinan’s great grand nephew James Giltinan and the grand nephew of Henry Clement Hoyle, Austin Hoyle were in attendance. Victor Trumper, JJ Giltinan and Henry Clement Hoyle were on the podium at Redfern Town Hall when the South Sydney District Football Club was formed on January 17, 1908. The evening, hosted by South Sydney Football Club Director Ray Martin, was attended by a host of luminaries and South Sydney greats including Jack Rayner, Clem Kennedy, Jack Lawrence, Bob McCarthy, Ken Stewart, Ian Roberts, Sean Garlick and Joyce Churchill, the widow of Rabbitohs great Clive Churchill. A video presentation and ode to South Sydney’s inaugural team of 1908 from the 2008 Rabbitohs squad was shown. Classic South Sydney memorabilia was also on display, some never before seen. Mr Hennessy said he was proud to continue his family’s association with South Sydney Football Club. “With the family history that I have there is an immense feeling of pride that I have for the Club,” he said. “It is hard to explain but I couldn’t wait to get here tonight. The Club has such strong and deep roots and I think that it is a wonderful thing that it is undergoing a rebirth at this time. I can’t see why it won’t still be going strong in another 100 years.” Mr Hoyle said he was “thrilled” to be part of the 100th birthday celebrations. “It’s a return to rugby league for me and for HC (Harold Clement Hoyle) and the family and for that I’m thrilled,” said the long serving rugby league administrator. “I’ve been involved with rugby league for a number of year and it’s been great catching up with some of those who I have had so much to do with other the years. It has been a great night for rugby league and the Rabbitohs.” Former Rabbitohs captain Ken Stewart said the evening was a tribute to the 100 years of the South Sydney Football Club. “I think this is something very special,” Mr Stewart said. “I wasn’t around for the first meeting but I’m glad to be around for this one. I still take a big interest in the Club and it is good to see so many players from so many different eras here. This night has made me very proud to be associated with this great Club.”
South Sydney Rabbitohs players and coaching staff have celebrated the Foundation Club’s 100th birthday with a cake-cutting ceremony at the MaliVai Washington Kids Foundation in Jacksonville, Florida. The full squad of 32 players played basketball and fielded questions about Rugby League, sport and Australia from the 150 children in attendance, before Rabbitohs captains Roy Asotasi and David Kidwell cut the celebratory birthday cake to commemorate the Club’s 100th birthday. “To be a part of a Club that is celebrating its 100th birthday, especially one with such a history as rich as the Rabbitohs, is something very special,” Rabbitohs Head Coach Jason Taylor said today.
Read about how it all began.