In touch with the past
Three hundred former touch footballers will gather in Cairns for the 35th anniversary of the Cairns Touch Football Association.
THREE hundred former touch footballers will gather in Cairns at Queen’s Birthday next month for the 35th anniversary of the Cairns Touch Football Association.
Former secretary Garry Williams says the reunion has attracted interest from Brisbane, Sydney and Mt Isa and will include a free day at the races, fixtures at the Aeroglen fields, reminiscing in old clubrooms and watching the NRL grand final on big screen TVs.
“The reunion will be coinciding with 35 years under lights at the Aeroglen grounds,” Garry says.
He said the association was started by a group of former league players who loved the game, the camaraderie and wanted to stay fit, but were over the rough and tumble side of it.
In 1974, they met in the former National Hotel (Cape York Hotel) in Bunda St, formed a committee and began playing games with eight teams at Trinity Bay High School.
“The no-tackle rule was the most difficult for some of the more exuberant players,” Garry says.
By the following year they had outgrown the school and so then moved to Lyons St sports fields.
“Most players remember thirst-quenching beers or soft beverages in the shadows of the raintrees following games,” Garry says.
By 1976, there were 30 men’s teams in Cairns, the sport was growing nationally and women were preparing to compete.
But when the Lyons St fields were bought for the construction of Westcourt Shopping Centre (now DFO), touch moved to Mann St – the third move in four years.
The association finally got its own home when it agreed to join Cairns Vigoro Association under the banner of Cairns Multi-Sports Association and redevelop a former rubbish tip at Aeroglen.
Cairns locals George Chapman, George Watkins and Thomas Covacevich each loaned $8000 interest-free to build change rooms, a toilet block, cold room and refreshment area, while the State Government granted $33,000 to develop the grounds.
The timber clubhouse was rescued from Edge Hill Bowls Club and the seven sports fields are now under lights with about 100 teams playing.
The reunion includes free entry to Cannon Park on September 30 and the official reunion on October 1. For more details, call Garry on 0412 159 599 or visit www.touch reunion.com