Max Westwood
Kingsville Primary School honoured five former students in commemoration of the school’s grand final victory 70 years ago.
In 1954, the school was a Victorian metropolitan primary school premiere, beating all other schools in the greater Melbourne area.
The year beforehand, that very same team won the district premiership.
A total of six players in the team went on to play for the then Footscray Bulldogs, now known as the Western Bulldogs, with two players, Mervyn Hobbs and Ian Bryant, playing for the Bulldogs in their 1961 VFL premiership loss to Hawthorn.
The school recently welcomed back the team and asked for the players to give some speeches at an assembly in front of 450 students.
Former student Terry O’Brien, who was among those to return to the school for the event, said he cherished being recognised alongside his former teammates.
“I appreciate it. When you’re talking about 70 years ago it obviously brought back a lot of old memories,” he said.
“It was a very enlightening day for everyone. We enjoyed every minute of it, we appreciate the help of Kingsville Primary School for what they put on for us.”
Mr O’Brien said the bond they formed through sport has been kept since their victory, with the team getting together once a year to keep in touch.
Kingsville Primary School principal Emma Vasilevski said the current students were keen to learn about what school was like for former students in their era and about their accomplishments.
“Hearing the stories from the gentlemen inspired many questions and instilled the sense of lifelong friendship that we really cherish here at Kingsville Primary School,” she said.
