Good afternoon, my name is Leith Dawes and I would like to extend a warm welcome to everybody here today for the last round of the HFL season at the Heathfield Oval.
We would especially like to welcome Lofty Legend Roger Brooks who is doing us the honour of tossing the commemorative Life Member coin for today’s match against Lobethal. Today he is joined by his wife Hella.
Roger, or “Chook”, grew up in Longwood where his parents who were dedicated Hills people with his dad working for the Council and helping many others to clear this land we play on for the Heathfield Oval. He married his wife Hella and they moved to Coromandel Valley. Their married life took quite the journey up through the riverland and ended in Kynton Victoria close to his daughter and her family farm.
Attending Scotts Creek and Heathfield Primary Schools and then Oakabank High School, upon leaving education he furthered himself with a course in motor mechanics and worked at United Holden in Pirie Street.
Rogers football prowess is long and has a lot of depth and history that we are very proud to honour at Mt Lofty Football Club.
Beginning at Aldgate Football Club he quickly saw the light and moved to Heathfield and later Heathfield/Aldgate United where he became instant great mates with Johnny Coventry and many others. He was a 1961 and 1962 premiership player and between 1962 and 1964 he represented the Sturt District Rep Team. Roger captained this team in 1964 and won Association Goal Kicking as well as Best and Fairest.
In 1965, played for Heathfield in metro league and in 1966 for U17s with East Torrens Association team. He also captained the association team in a curtain raiser for Sturt vs Collingwood at Adelaide oval.
1967 to 1977 saw the incredible achievements of our Heritage Club era which we refer to as “The Golden Years”. Heathfield Aldgate United set an Australian football record back then of playing 87 unbeaten matches. This equates to a massive 9 premierships and Chook alongside Johnny Coventry and the late Herman de Roos. Within that period, he won Best and Fairest and leading goal kicker.
Football skills staying in the Brooks genes, Rogers granddaughter now plays AFL for Hawthorn. Before hanging up the boots in 1992, Roger played a few seasons for Kenilworth with his late son Jason.
Roger, on behalf of everybody at Mt Lofty, we sincerely thank you for your history which is forever woven into the heritage fabric of our club that makes it what it is today.
1967 A Grade Premiers
1977 HAU A Grade
1977 HAU A Grade Premiers
HAU – Mark Radbone, Roger Brooks, Geoff Hampton, Warren Foster (Coach)
– Over the last few days on our Socials we have been ‘Stepping Back In Time’ reminiscing of past years. Here are some of the articles that were posted. –
Don’t forget the Reunion this weekend. Get in early as it is looking like standing room only.
1950 Womens unofficial team Who do you know! Our Lofty Legends team has found all the names bar one! Third from left, back row! If you know who this is, please email legends@mtloftydevils.com.au to help keep our historical records up to date!
Back row, L to R: John Hampton, Joyce Hampton, (name unknown), Mrs Sillett, Silvia Chaplin, Mrs Cocker, Mrs Meyer, Klari Chillingsworth, Pat Williams, Maxine Chillingsworth and Barb Coventry
Young girl in front of Klari Chillingsworth is Wendy Roberts
Front row L to R: Dora Fuller, Nell Blackmore, Thelma Coventry, Cliff Chaplin, Ray Williams, Bob Longmire and Janet White
1966 Opening of Heathfield Oval
What an event for the community! A lot of red tape and dedication by many community members, eventually the Heathfield Oval was opened!
Fun Fact – Heathfield High School was originally a speedway before it was a school, then an oval. And in 1962 locals gained approval from the government to clear the site of the Heathfield oval and locals literally calved out the Heathfield Oval by hand! 1966 our oval was officially opened and the first footy match played on it’s turf! So while you’re playing, remember the hard work that went into you even having an oval to begin with!
Pics in order: Chairman of Heathfield Community Club Stan Evans (in HAU guernsey) with SANFL Chairman Mr A Kenny officially opening the oval, Foundation Stone 1966 | trial match view from current clubrooms balcony | trial match view from top end goals
1986 A and B Grade Premierships
What a day for Mt Lofty! Nothing could be darker that day for Mt Barker!
We have searched high and low but are unable to locate an official sitting of the B Grade! If you have one, please email legends@mtloftydevils.com.au
Email legends@mtloftydevils.com.au if you wish to contribute your own stories, photos and to stay connected with your clubs heritage
Devils, please find below the details of the amazing Stan and Barb’s funeral to be held this Friday, 9th January, 1pm, Heathfield Oval.
The Evans family would like to pass on the following information:
All past and current players of Mt Lofty and heritage clubs are encouraged to wear something that identifies their club (eg; gurnsey, polo, hat, beanie, scarf etc).
When the hearse leaves the oval it will journey towards the clubroom wing, follow the boundary past the top goals and exit through the gate opposite the clubrooms. During this time, all past and current members of all sports clubs, will be invited to form a guard of honour at the exit gate. More information will be provided at the conclusion of the service.
There will be a drop off point near the top side of the change-rooms which has a ramp (disability) to access down to the oval, Berry Funeral will direct from there for drop off.
Planning for the forecasted weather, there will be a large marquee for shelter on the oval for the service, misting fans and plenty of water.
A reminder that the service will be on the oval, so please ensure you are comfortable in your footwear for the approximate 2 hour duration. Afternoon tea will also be provided.
FOR LIVE-STREAMING DETAILS AND MESSAGES OF CONDOLENCE PLEASE VISIT : BERRYFUNERALS.COM.AU
We would thank Geoff Hampton, a Life Member of both Mt Lofty and Heathfield Aldgate United, did us the honour of tossing the commemorative Life Member coin for the important match against Mt Barker for R6 on 24 May 2025.
Growing up in the local area, Geoff was a very gifted footballer who played in 15 Grand Finals at Junior and Senior Levels, becoming a member of 13 Premierships, including 7 in Heathfield Aldgate United’s A Grade and in the first Mt Lofty A Grade’s Premiership in 1981. His achievements show that he was one of the best footballers to have played in the Hills Football League. From the Captain of United Junior Premierships to the winner of 3 A Grade Best and Fairest Awards, the first of which was in 1969 at just 17 years of age, Geoff had also shown outstanding form in lowering the colours of two champion SANFL players when he played in trial games for Sturt.
While he would probably have gone on to be a very good player at South Australia’s top level, he instead decided to remain with his United mates where they went on to achieve the Australian record of 87 wins without loss, that record only beaten 3 years ago after 44 years.
Geoff was a very consistent player who rose to another level in the big occasions as illustrated by the fact that at just 18 he was named best afield after kicking 5 goals from the wing in United’s 1971 Premiership and then, 10 years later, repeat that effort in Mt Lofty’s inaugural A Grade Premiership win when he was again best afield and again kicked 5 goals.
Throughout his career Geoff also carried out a lot of voluntary work, using his building skills in projects for United and Mt Lofty. An incredible level of courage and determination was a hallmark of his football life and his life as a builder after early years as a carpenter. Those same qualities have been a key to Geoff’s inspirational battle against ill health in recent years.
The Hampton family was a huge part of United where all 4 brothers played for the club, with Geoff, Ian “Doug” and Darryl (also a Mt Lofty Life Member) playing in a total of 17 United A Grade Premierships and many Junior Premierships along with youngest brother Phillip. Geoff, Doug and Darryl also played in a total of 5 Mt Lofty A Grade Premierships between them.
Geoff’s dedication to football continued after his playing days when he coached his son Peter’s junior teams for quite a few years, played some B Grade matches in his 40’s and also volunteering for Hahndorf Football Club where the family has lived for over 40 years.
We thank you sincerely on behalf of everybody at Mt Lofty for all that you do for our club.
Geoff, third from left, training on Heathfield Oval with Mark Radbone, Roger Brooks and Coach Warren Foster.Geoff, top left back row in the 1981 Mt Lofty A Grade Premiership side. 10 years after the United Premiership, he was again best on ground and again kicked 5 goals.Geoff, third from the right in the front row, was just 18 when he was best afield and kicked 5 goals in the 1971 United A Grade PremiershipGeoff and Kerry Hampton at the 2016 club reunion. Geoff, centre, with brothers Phillip on the left and Daryl on the right at the 2021 Club Reunion.Geoff with brother Doug at the 2021 Club Reunion.
Sadly Allan Gill, a long term Heathfield Aldgate United volunteer Trainer and past Aldgate Football Club player, passed away last Thursday 19 December. He and his wife Rhonda were passionate United people and both were hard working members of the Club’s social committee.
Living in Goolwa for the past 13 years, they attended the Annual Reunion days when they could and in 2018 got to relive the glory of the 1968 HAU A Grade Premiership and Harry Dean’s winning goal. At the 1968 Presentation Night, Allan had presented Harry with his right boot, with which he kicked the winning goal, and which Allan had painted gold and displayed in a glass case. Allan is pictured in a photo below on the right reenacting the gold boot presentation with Harry at the reunion day.
They were wonderful days and Allan and Rhonda were two people who really added to the vibrancy of the amazing HAU.
Allan will be privately cremated as per his wish.
On behalf of Mt Lofty and the past players and officials of Heathfield Aldgate United we would like to pass on our sincere condolences to Rhonda and sons Jason and Garth and their families on this sad occasion.
Mt Lofty District Football Club On behalf of The Lofty Legends Group and United Golden Years.
Allan Gill on the RHS re-presenting Harry Deans with his Golden Boot at the 2018 reunion.The original Golden Boot and article from 1968 still in our cabinetry at MLDFC
