Preamble: For Waratahs the 1st XV season commenced on 12 April and concluded on the 16 August after 15 Rounds. Nine clubs fielded a 1st XV: Army, Cootamundra, Griffith, Junee, Narrandera, Riverina College of Advanced Education (RCAE), Wagga Wagga Agricultural College (WAC), Wagga City and Wagga Waratahs. Seven clubs fielded a 2nd XV: Army, Cootamundra, Griffith, R.A.A.F., Tumut, WAC, Wagga City and Waratahs. Griffith were the Byrnes Cup 1st XV premiers and R.C.A.E. were premiers in the David Jones Shield. The McMullen Cup was introduced for 3rd grade. WAC were the inaugural premiers.
The Best & Fairest for the 1st XV was awarded to Hugh McKinnon. Jim Ross was also a formidable player with several tries, goals and penalty goals, accumulating 31 points. Coach, Dave Paton was the recipient of the Rex Burne Best Club Man Award. The Burne family donated this award in memory of Rex who died in a motor vehicle accident in 1967. According to records previous recipients were Rick Martin (1972), Bob Neich (1973) and David Pyke (1974).
The featured image of Pam Martin, Rick Martin and Penny Bull was taken at the 2008 50th Golden Jubilee celebrations.

This year saw the arrival of new players such as Steve Blackburn, Bill McKeirnon, Steve Palmer and Jim Ross. Jim started the year playing five games and scoring a total of 31 points in those five games. We had discovered a new out-of-town talent from Holbrook, and most of the girls were pretty happy with this as well. 

Unfortunately, even with this year’s depth of talent, we couldn’t manage any decent scores. Our first game of the season against Ag College was a loss 0-28 and our final game against RCAE was a loss of 0-42. David Paton attempted all sorts of variables to improve our playing performance but the ’75 disaster was a forerunner of better years to come. Rick Martin clocked up 80 games this year.

Our struggling 2nd XV side managed a couple of wins. However, two forfeits and many losses were not conducive to club success. A number of players doubled up for 1st XV. 

Our performance off the rugby field was considerably different. On the cricket field our achievements against Narrandera the notable performance of the day in a win to Waratahs was a hat trick to Vern Kurrle – three wides in a row.

Team members included Naish Storman, Milton Kennedy, Les Young, Kim Harrison (Tumut teacher), Paul Samuelson, Phillip Tome, Hugh McKinnon, David Pyke, Steve Donelan, John McClure, Jim Ross, Austin Kurrle, Greg Laughton, Graeme Munro (Tarcutta) and Steve Palmer.

Other players with the highest number of points scored in 1975: Paul Samuelson. Phil Tome, Bill McKeiran, Steve Blackburn, Rick Martin and Bill Hayes.

1st XV: Played 15: Won 5, lost 10. 

EXCERPTS FROM THE MINUTE BOOK 1975

Waratahs v Riverine Club cricket match was held on 23rd February. Ian Kendall’s bucks’ night was held at “Kolora”, Yerong Creek on 31st January. lan’s method of cleaning up after the night was to put a match into the old homestead! He then buried the remnants with his frontend loader. 2nd-14th March 1975: A trip to New Zealand was organised for club members. Fixtures were arranged against Morrinsville, Napier and Levin. A group comprising 25 players, officials and supporters were touring. Cost was $250 per member.

Warwick Grant and Austin Kurrle were involved in a car accident after one particular BBQ, as a result of which it took 26 stitches to sew Warwick’s nose back on! It was a bit of a wakeup call to all of us in the pre-drink driving era.

Waratahs Social Outings

Source: A History of Wagga Wagga Waratahs Rugby Club 1959 – 2015

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