We would like to extend a warm welcome to everybody here today at the Arkaba Oval. We would especially like to welcome Chris Chardon who is a Life Member of Mt Lofty and who is doing us the honour of tossing the commemorative Life Member coin for this very important match against Nairne-Bremer.
Chris’s football life commenced as a 12 year old with the Stirling Football Club Senior Colts (Under 16 in those days) in 1962 and he remembers well the side competing in a Grand Final and kicking a goal in his first match. Playing in the ruck, success followed with Premierships in 1963, against an undefeated Bridgewater, and 1964 when Stirling went through undefeated.
He was then enticed to play with Sturt Under 17’s in 1965 and 1966 before returning to Stirling in 1967. In 1969 Stirling made the Grand Final against Mt Barker and while Chris kicked 3 goals in the match as a ruck rover and half forward, Mounts went on to win the first of 3 Premierships in a row.
Chris retired from playing at 25 but took up long distance running, going on to complete 6 marathons, 13 City-Bay Runs and numerous other fun runs.
Aside from playing sport, Chris worked for the Education Department for his entire 43 year career and achieved qualifications in accounting and business management. He used those qualifications in many committee positions across so many sporting and community organisations and has always been a passionate advocate for this area.
Achievements during his incredible community service are far too numerous to cover today but include: Life Member of the Stirling Cricket Club, Life Member of the Mount Lofty Districts Historical Society and recipient of the Regional Historian of the year on 2 occasions.
His love of the area and passion for its history has seen Chris author many books including “Stirling: A Personal View” and of great interest to us all “Recreation Reserve No.2” which covers the history, from the late 1800’s, of this reserve on which the Heathfield Oval was built.
We are recognising today though, Chris’s wonderful service to the Mt Lofty Football Club which has seen him carry out roles of Club Secretary, Club Delegate to the Hills Football League, Team Manager, Time Keeper and rewriting the Constitutions for the Football Club and the Community and Sports Club.
We would like to extend a warm welcome to everybody here today at the Arkaba Oval, especially to Richard Melhuish who is doing us the honour of tossing the commemorative Life Member coin for this important Cup game against Bridgewater.
A life time resident of the area, Richard or Mel or Wally as many know him, is a Life Member of both Heathfield Aldgate United (1978) and the Mt Lofty District Football Club (1986) recognising years of distinguished service as both a multi Premiership player and official of both clubs.
Richard started his junior football at Heathfield, went on to play at Sturt and was enticed back to Heathfield Aldgate United in 1969 to play with his mates and go on to be a member of seven A Grade Premierships at Full Back for HAU and multiple Premierships for Mt Lofty, playing until 1987 at A, B and C Grade levels.. Also a very talented athlete who held many Heathfield High School records for decades, he played 345 games and was a member of the HFL team which won the Lovelock Shield for the first time in 1973.
His record as an official and volunteer was as impressive as his playing career – He became Secretary of HAU at the age of 20 and held the position from 1971 to 1978, sat again as Secretary of Mt Lofty from 1980 to 1984, Football Director from 1980 to 1986, Chairman of the Club in 1989 and finally served as A Grade Team Manager from 1984 to 1994.
As we host Bridgewater-Callington Raiders at Arkaba Oval on Saturday, the A Grade will be fighting it out for the honoured Cutting Cup on home soil for the first time in 10 years.
Beginning in 1994 as a friendly Cup between neighbouring clubs, and re-named after the treasured Neil ‘Biggsy’ Cutting, who sadly passed away in 1998 at the young age of 44. Neil had spent time at both Mt Lofty and Bridgwater-Callington. The Cup has been played for now 21 times, having a break between 2014-2020 whilst our clubs played in different divisions.
Bridgewater-Callington having won it 11 times and the Devils 10.
2021 the Raiders took the Cup home by 28 points, while the average winning margin sits at 46 point over the 21 year history.
Head up to the game tomorrow to help make a day at the Devil Dome in 2022 the Cutting Cup year of the Devils to level the tally back out.
Stan Evans is being celebrated today as he does us the honor of tossing the commemorative coin for the A Grade game.
At 91 years of age he is one of our longest serving Life Members and was awarded HAU Life Member status in 1976.
Stan played B Grade for Stirling FC between 1949 and 1955 and then led the formation of the Heathfield Football Club in 1955.
Stan then played for Heathfield, Heathfield Aldgate United and finally Mount Lofty, hanging up his boots at the age of 55.
He has served as president for all three clubs, a devoted man that has spent a lifetime beside his beautiful wife Barb to build these facilities and our great sense of community.
We wish to invite everyone from the era’s to the Club and 1 & 2 Premiership Reunions
1.00pm Saturday 30 July 2022
1961 Heathfield Senior Colts 1971 Heathfield Aldgate United A Grade, Senior Colts, Junior Colts and Mini Colts 1981 Mt Lofty A Grade (SAFA – first club senior premiership) 1952 Stirling A Grade 1972 Heathfield Aldgate United A Grade, B Grade and Junior Colts 2002 Mt Lofty Senior Colts 2012 Mt Lofty C Grade
Cliff Chaplin is being celebrated today as he does us the honor of tossing the coin for the A Grade game against Uraidla.
At 97 years of age he is one of our oldest Life Members and was awarded Life Member status in the 1976.
An original Heathfield Football Club player who spent much of his playing career in the B Grade and coaching our Under 14’s, before moving into extended service as our A Grade Goal Umpire.
