Longevity and Loyalty are  two words that could describe Laurie Parravacini who was inducted into the SWFL Hall of Fame, last Sunday during the SWFL Grand Final.

Laurie was an administrator spanning five decades, and served remarkably under six SWFL Presidents.   Laurie is still a part of Grand Final day, assisting with the set up and is always the first in the ground on the day, this year he arrived at 5.00am to ensure preparations ran smoothly before the gates opened at 7.00am.

Hours later at a function at League Headquarters, Laurie was elevated to Hall of Fame status, an honour so richly deserved.

ADMINISTRATIVE EXPERIENCE

• Has been a delegate or Executive member from 1980 – 2019
• Has served under six Presidents – Bob Black, Bernie Cunningham, John Silcock, John Bray, Kevin Lynn and Barry Tate.
• League Registrar from 1983 – 2019. Duties include registration of and records of all league, reserves and colt’s players.  Records goal kickers in all grades and details of awards.
• Has been a member of the Finance Committee for the past twenty-seven years.
• Has been on the House and Maintenance Committee for 25 years.
• Has been actively involved in fixturing and match committee, Hayward Medal presentation, League presentation night and the grand final programme since 1982.
• Has been the League Team Manager at the Country Football Championships for the past 31 years which has enabled the SEFL to conduct enjoyable, trouble free and successful carnivals.
• Made a Life Member of the SWFL in 2013.

GENERAL CONTRIBUTION TO FOOTBALL

• Played his football in the Lower South West Football League where he was a premiership player with Manjimup Imperials
• During the 1980’s he was on the Fundraising Committee and Social Committee of the Boyanup Capel Dardanup Football Club (livestock agistment)

If loyalty was the only criteria to be become a South West Football League member, then Shaun O’Callaghan would be certainly on the list.

If service to your Club and football then he would be a very strong candidate for the honour.  Carey Park Football and Sporting Club were proud to nominate Shaun O’Callaghan to join the ranks of the SWFL Hall of Fame, an honour bestowed on him, last Sunday during the SWFL Grand Final.

Shaun is well known throughout as the SWFL games record holder. He played 370 League games for Carey Park.

His remarkable games record was with one Club and illustrates his football loyalty over many seasons.  Shaun came to Carey Park from the Marist Juniors to play Colts.  It wasn’t long before the League coach, Errol Barrett saw the potential Shaun showed.  At the tender age of sixteen, he made his League debut for the Panthers after that day first having already played a Colts game.

That day was followed by an illustrious career that earned plaudits from all in the South West football community.  He was to go on to play a further 369 games and indoing so setting a SWFL record number of League games played.  His record number of games were played with an impeccable record that saw him never suspended thus, demonstrating his great sense of fair play.

Shaun’s playing record saw him win the Harris Medal (Club Fairest and Best ) in 1983, 1984, 1985, 1989 and 1993. He turned to coaching and coached the Carey Park league team in 1991, 1992 and 1993.  In addition, he captained the League team on numerous occasions.  During his long career he represented the SWFL many times where he played with distinction.  In 1999 he played an active part in the SWFL’s Governor’s Cup campaign in the WAFL pre-Season competition.  In this competition he worked closely alongside coach Darrel Panizza.

For his contribution to football on and off the field he was awarded Life Membership of the SWFL.  Carey Park made him a Life Member for his impressive playing record, his loyalty and his contribution to the game at many levels.

The term an ornament to the game fits comfortably with Shaun O’Callaghan making him an ideal candidate for the SWFL Hall of Fame, an honour now he so richly deserves.

Last Sunday during the 2021 SWFL Grand Final, a presentation was made to Graham Jeffery who was inducted into the SWFL, Hall .

Although only small in stature Graham was a fierce competitor for HBL, who loved shooting out bullet like hand passes from the bottom of packs.  Not an overly long kick, it was his trademark hand passes that were the hallmark of his game, particularly later on in his career.  It mattered not what size his opponents were, his never say die, and unselfish attitude ensured he gave each contest the utmost effort for the benefit of the team.  Heaping praise on Graham didn’t sit all that comfortably with him and he somewhat shunned the limelight in favour of team success.

Graham only had one season as HBL league coach, in 2007, the season they went through undefeated to win the premiership.  As usual, Graham tried to keep it low key as far as his input was concerned, and instead stood back to let his players bask in the glory of something truly special.  Such is the guy.

Seven club Fairest & Best medals, two Hayward Medals and a host of other awards are testament to the skill and demeanor of this player.

A true champion.

GRAHAM JEFFERY – History

• 245 league games (1977 – 1992);
• Fairest & Best 1981, 82, 85, 88, 89, 90, 91;
• Captain 1982, 83;
• Coach 2007 (undefeated champions);
• HBL Life Member;
• Hayward Medal 1988, 1991;
• Colts Fairest & Best 1977;
• Rural Press Medal (Colts) 1977;
• SWFL All-stars team 1982, 83, 86;
• SWFL vice-captain 1986;
• Sunday Times Medal 1988;
• R/U Humes Player of the Year 1988;
• R/U Myles Player of the Year 1989;
• Myles Player or the Year 1991;
• Pike Medal 1991;
• SWFL Team of 50 Years 2007.

A perfect day, ended in the same manner for Augusta Margaret River , who won the 2021 Dale Alcock Homes South West, SWFL League Grand Final on Sunday afternoon at Hands Memorial Oval, before one of the biggest crowds to a Grand Final in many years.

As perfect a day as it was, the game itself didn’t reach the same heights with a dour affair resulting, with neither team kicking a goal in the first or third quarters, with plenty of ball-ups and throw-ins.  The Hawks would kick five goals to one in the second quarter to lead by twenty one points, with the Magpies, having just one goal on the board at the main break.

Busselton still only had a goal leading into the last and desperately needed to kick the first goal to have any chance, but when the Hawks kicked the first Busseltons fate was sealed.  Busselton did kick two goals in the last term, including one to Aidan Fraser deep in the pocket but that was immediately matched at the other end as the Hawks kicked five goals to storm to victory by forty points. The two late Busselton goals saved them from the lowest score in grand final history (HBL 2.6-18 in 2017), but it was the second lowest score of all time.

A couple of late scuffles livened the crowd up momentarily, but the win was imminent, and when the final siren sounded, it was pure joy for the Hawks who finished on top of the ladder and were too good for Busselton on the day.

Simon Moore again played a great game, winning the Pike Medal.

MATCH CENTRE

Augusta Margaret River  0.1-1  5.3-33  5.5-35  10.6-66
Busselton 0.4-4  1.6-12  1.7-13  3.8-26

Goals:  Augusta Margaret River – Harry Taylor 2, Beau Morgan 2, Benjamin Smith 1, Tab Hunter 1, Kael Coleman 1, Samuel Lewis 1, Seve Grantis 1, Jacob Payne 1.  Busselton – Aidan Fraser 2, Jaxon East 1.
Best: Augusta Margaret River – Regan Smith, Simon Moore, Laine Rasmussen, Beau Morgan, Seve Grantis, Jacob Payne.  Busselton –  Mitchell Fraser, Cody Cox, Zac Pethybridge, Joseph Budiselik, Ethan Bowman
Ground:  JE Hands Memorial Oval
Umpires:  Scott Jones, Greg Rolfe, Michael Hearne
Reports: Nil
Pike Medal:  Simon Moore (AMR)
Crowd: 4378

The Bunbury Bulldogs have broken a sixteen year hiatus from premiership glory in the Reserves competition, when they defeated Busselton in the Grand Final on Sunday afternoon.

In a see-sawing match, with numerous momentum swings, Busselton started much the better in the opening term, kicking the only two goals to lead by thirteen points at the opening break.

Busselton would then be kept scoreless in the second quarter, with Bunbury charging back into contention, kicking three goals to the scoreboard end to lead by eight points at the main break.

The third quarter would be an enthralling battle, with seven goals kicked, including five lead changes and scores were also level at one point, as the Bulldogs took a solitary point lead into the last break.

Unlike the third quarter, a tough tight battle returned in the last quarter, with Bunbury kicking the only goal late in the match to win by ten points, to claim their first Reserves Premiership since 2005.

Cameron Hay was the only multiple goal scorer on the ground, kicking three goals, with Dylan Partidge and Hamish Hall also amongst the best players.

MATCH CENTRE

Bunbury   0.3-3  3.6-24  6.8-44  7.12-54
Busselton 2.4-16  2.4-16  6.7-43  6.8-44

Goals:  Bunbury – Cameron Hay 3, Tobi Horton, Baiden Parsons, Dylan Wicksteed, Hamish Hall.  Busselton – Troyden Thorp, Beau Chinnery, Mason Hislop, Jed Kemp, William Mackay, Leo Malavisi
Best:   Bunbury – Dylan Partridge, Hamish Hall, Cameron Hay, Jared Lines, Aaron Mills, Jordan Teune.  Busselton – Mathew Harbeck, Reece Towers, Jack Kennedy, Troyden Thorp, Brock Carpenter, Thomas Begley
Ground:  Hands Memorial Oval
Umpires:  Vance Burton, Kevin Hutchins, Matthew Stewart
Reports:  Nil
Don Punch Trophy:  Cameron Hay (Bunbury)
Crowd:  4378