Old Colleagues News August 2024
Dear Colleague
The Long Lunch 2024 photos
are finally up on the clubs website
you can view them here https://www.colleaguesrugby.com.au/gallery/long-lunch-2024/
Last home game before the semis this Saturday 17th August. It is also Ladies Day which always hold interest from many “Old Boys” Last chance to see a decent game of rugby against old rivals Lindfield on the balcony at headquarters.
“Go the Colleagues”
Boothie
“From the Archives”
A special historical note of interest from Vance Lowry
(author of Colleagues 80 year book “Sky Blue Winters”)
The Colleagues’ Uniform through the Years.
From the foundation of the club in 1933, the Colleagues jersey has remained the sky blue colour,the shorts navy, and, from the 1950s until the present day, the socks a standard hooped sky blue and navy.
The sky blue colour of the jersey is the same as it was when the club was founded in 1933. It has symbolised the club for 91 years.
One of the early founders of the club, Ewan Pizzey, elaborated on genesis of the jersey in his memoirs: “The club uniform was simple. Epping wore light blue sweaters and Harry Kershaw, also one of the original founders of Colleagues, and originally a player with Epping, had bought a new
one in 1932. The NSW Rugby Union were happy for us to wear light blue as we would be in Eastern Division whilst Epping was in the Northern Division. You must understand, a sweater cost about 7/6d (about 75 cents in today’s money) and Harry, like the rest of us was lucky to have a weekly
income of over one pound (or one dollar). The rest of the uniform was navy blue shorts, navy socks with light blue turndowns or your old school football socks.”
At this time, Australia was enduring a global depression. Money was hard to earn, unemployment was rife and the economic prospects for the future bleak. Harry’s frugality and circumstances had provided a standard uniform code which would resiliently endure for the Blue Giants.
It was not until the 1950s that a club emblem, a shield with the letter C inside the shield, would appear on the jersey. Historical team photos of this era verify this. An unusual set of circumstances prevailed to launch the club emblem that we know today – the rugby ball with the C superimposed on it. Former player, coach, club icon and luminary John Corlis (RIP) related this story to me.
Legend has it that a club member was finding a rather tedious
Colleagues Committee Meeting in 1960 a real test of mental endurance. As his concentration strayed he started to doodle on the Club Report. Low and behold – our club emblem. Motto of the story
“lightbulb moments can germinate from adversity.”
During the 90s a navy blue collar replaced the previous white collar jersey.
The style and texture of the jersey material has also advanced. For many years the jersey consisted of cotton which absorbed sweat. Players purchased their own standard long sleeved jerseys from
the club and could modify them. Using their own sharply honed tailoring techniques, they severing the hot long sleeves. During the 60s and 70s and 80s the “builders labourer look” became very fashionable – jagged edges on the shortened sleeves.
More recently, polyester material has evolved. This is lighter and supposedly cooler for the player. Polyester wicks moisture and keeps body temperature more constant, is quick drying and durable for high impact sports.
Naturally, sponsorships are also now an integral part of grass roots rugby. These logos on player clothing represent the club’s recognition of financial support. They remain a valuable economic resource for Colleagues.
Vance Lowry
(author of “Sky Blue Winters: 80 Years of the Woollahra Colleagues Rugby Union Football Club,
1933 to 2012”).
August 2024