John McMahon is doing everything he can to keep the inner-west’s very own sport of trugo alive in Yarraville, his home of more than 80 years. He speaks with Benjamin Millar
What is your connection with Yarraville?
I have lived in Yarraville for 85 of my 87 years. I was born in Sale and my family came to Yarraville when I was about two. I bought a block of land in Yarraville in 1952, then bought a book on how to build a house. I built my own home and raised six children and I still live here. I have seen all the growth and change.
What are your early memories of the area?
My father used to work at the railway crossing on Somerville Road. He was a railway man and I would sometimes go down and help out.
We would ride our bikes down to the beach. There were some big quarries near here, down at Cruickshank Park. I still go for a walk down in the park and find a happy spot to be.
What can you tell us about the sport of trugo, often compared to croquet?
The game starts at midday and it takes an hour and a half to play a full game. One of the ladies said you must have a sense of humour to play. We have a lot of good fun, it’s like a little family. It’s an outdoor game.
We go down there and have a game and a coffee and a sandwich. When it was just the men, everybody had raisin bread after the game. When the women started, they brought about a change in our thinking and now all the clubs have sandwiches.
Our season runs from September to April. Whoever has the highest average score at the end of the year is the world champion. I won it in the year 2000.
How did the sport come about?
The game was invented in the Newport railway workshops in 1925. The inner-west of Melbourne is the only place where it’s played and now there are only eight teams left.
We have the oldest club in the area. We were established in 1937 – before that they were playing in public parks.
How did you become involved?
My father used to play trugo for the Yarraville Trugo Club. I had just retired in 1991, so I said I would come down. I’ve been there ever since. When I first joined, you had to be 65 or over or retired. Over the years, we had to alter the age and as the separate men’s and women’s teams died out, the women joined in the men’s teams.
It’s the competition, but also the social side of things – the friends you meet and the socialisation you have with everyone there.
I have been playing this game for 26 years now – it’s a great form of pleasure and leisure. I think it’s added an enormous number of years to my life.
For further information on the Yarraville Trugo Club, phone John on 0421 791 071 or visit trugo.org.au.
