CARILLA S.S.L. BOYS CLUB  

Researched & Compiled by Gordon Freegard   November 2020

A proposal emanated from Western Australia to form the Sons of Sailors’ and Soldiers’ League, to be known as the S.S.L. Mr. F. Bateson was the founder of the idea and the first branch opened in Australia, was Midland Junction.

The idea behind the new formation is to hand on the traditions of the A.I.F. to the sons of those who fought, and when the time comes for the R.S.L. to put into effect one of the last rules in its constitution, the Sons of Sailors’ and Soldiers’ League will no doubt be ready and willing to take over all that the R.S.L. stands for today, and any assets it may possess when the winding-up process takes place years hence.

In April 1931 at the Annual Conference of the R.S.L., a Committee appointed by the Executive Congress recommended that there be formed an association to be known as the Sons of Sailors’ and Soldiers’ League of Australia. They also submitted a draft of a Constitution, which was laid on the table.

RARE IMAGE OF BADGE OF
THE SONS OF SAILORS’ AND SOLDIERS’ LEAGUE OF AUSTRALIA     #1

The Federal Congress of the R.S.L. met in Adelaide in November 1931, and adopted the proposal to form Sons of Sailors’ and Soldiers’ Leagues across Australia, and telegraphed each State Branch informing them of such.

Shown below is a copy of the Constitution for the Sons of Sailors’ and Soldiers’ Leagues as presented and accepted in November 1931.

Midland Junction, possessed the honour of having formed the first branch of the Sons of Sailors’ and Soldiers’ League in Australia, was accorded the privilege of receiving the first 30 badges struck for allotment. The branch, as a mark of esteem and gratitude, presented badges Nos. 1 and 2 to Mr. A. Morcome (President) and Mr. A. Muir (Secretary), respectively, who had conducted the affairs for the first year.
 

Branches of the Sailors’ and Soldiers’ League were formed all over Australia. Known ones formed in Western Australia were: Albany, Bullfinch, Bunbury, Canning Districts, Carilla, Carlisle, Claremont, Collie, Cottesloe, Dowerin, Fremantle, Goomalling, Kulin, Maylands, Midland Junction, Morine Rocks, Morley Park, Mosman Park, Mount Hawthorn, Nedlands, Northam, North Perth, Osborne Park, Perth, Press, Queens Park, Riverton, Serpentine, South Perth, West Leederville and Yealering.

Membership in 1934 was 500 but a year later it had climbed to 900. However by 1951 only two branches still existed, Cannington and Mount Hawthorn.

Rabbi David Isaac Freedman became the first State Warden. He unfortunately died in 1939.

RABBI DAVID ISAAC FREEDMAN        #2 

A Boy’s Club was formed by Mr. Percy Pickering and had been operating at Carilla for a number of years and in 1948 on 7th August at a meeting by the Carilla R.S.L. Sub-Branch, permission was given for them to use their War Memorial Room at the rear of the Carilla Hall. This given on the understanding that a Member of the Sub-Branch present and that any breakages or damages be paid for by the Boy’s Club.
 

CARILLA HALL WHICH CONTAINED R.S.L. MEETING ROOM AT THE REAR         #3
 

In December 1948, the Secretary of the Carilla R.S.L. Sub-Branch suggested that the Boy’s Club be affiliated with the Sub-branch as the S.S.L. This was freely discussed and some useful information was given by Jeff Copeland who had been connected with the S.S.L. for some time. After members had agreed to sponsor the boys, it was decided to defer the discussion until the opinion of the Boy’s Club had been obtained.

After members of the Boy’s Club had shown their willingness to join the S.S.L. in February 1949, the following members of the Sub Branch were elected as Wardens: - Jeff Copeland & Harry Godbold.  And a motioned was moved that the S.S.L. elect their own officers and arrange their own meetings.

The R.S.L. and the new S.S.L. Boys Club worked together and organised many sporting events including cricket matches. Eventually a Sports Committee was formed and it was agreed the S.S.L. be paid by the Sports Committee, when funds permit, for the cricket gear which the S.S.L. had kindly lent to the Sports Committee.

The Sports Committee ultimately merged and became the Pickering Brook Sports Committee, which later became the Pickering Brook Sports Club.

The recently formed Pickering Brook Sports Committee held their first Soccer match in May 1949. The game was marked by the energy and enthusiasm of the players that gave encouragement to this section of the sports committee.

Over the next few years things really gathered momentum. A permanent BBQ was built at the Sports Ground, the Pickering Brook Tennis Club held a number of fund raising dances at the Carilla Hall and many competition matches were held with neighbouring cricket and soccer clubs.

As sporting activities were on the move again after a few quite years, in December 1949 at the Pickering Brook Sports Club a group of local enthusiasts, led by Charlie Spriggs, built the first weather-board and asbestos club house on the Pickering Brook Reserve, having received some funding from the Darling Range Road Board. The completed cost was 50 dollars ($100). By the end of December they were underway building a bowling alley. So Tennis, Cricket, Soccer and Bowls were now being played regularly.

Whatever happened to the Carilla Sons of Sailors’ and Soldiers’ League and how long it went for, is not known.

Every endeavour has been made to accurately record the details however if you would like to provide additional images and/or newer information we are pleased to update the details on this site. Please use CONTACT at the top of this page to email us. We appreciate your involvement in recording the history of our area.

References:           Article:     Gordon Freegard
                                          Carilla R.S.L. Sub-Branch Minutes Book

                            Images:  1, 2    Internet
                                          3.       Kalamunda & Districts Historical Society

Copyright : Gordon Freegard   2008-2020