Centenary of Dreams
Pakenham Football Club’s Centenary of Dreams Night
Venue Cardinia Cultural Centre at Lakeside Pakenham 26th July 2008.
The event was to celebrate the 29 Senior Premierships that the Pakenham Football Club has won in the last 100 years. We had speakers talk about the different eras from 1909.
We had Greg Marshall spoke about the families that have been involved for many years in our club.
The Jackson Family which gave us R.L “Cracker” Jackson, the Prince of Coaches and Norm “Widow” Jackson his brother regarded as our best Player ever. Crackers sons Ian and Laurie both Premiership Players for the club. Ian’s sons have also played in premierships at Beaconsfield.
The Bourke Family, brothers David, Michael, Gavin, Brien, Hugh and Gavin all played in premierships Their Grandfather was patron of our first committee in 1892.
Their father and uncle played in our first premiership in 1909.
The Monckton brothers Doug, Pat, Mo, Mickey and Frank played in 23 premierships together. Mo’s son Danny played in 5 premierships.
The Webster family. Four generations have played in Premierships.
• N.P Webster 1909 and 1914 Premierships
• N.N Webster 1947 and 1948 Premierships
• Chris Webster 1972, 1973 and 1974 Premierships
• Sam Webster 2000 Premiership.
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Also Noel’s grandson Evan Broadbent has played in 2 premierships
Graham Treloar, the Club’s unofficial historian spoke about the period from 1909 to 1950.
John”Jack” Drake regaled us with stories about the 1950’s and 1960’s. He had the audience is stitches with his humorous stories about what he saw in this period.
Mark Paynter spoke about the 1980’s and Joe Lenders his involvement with the 2000 and 2002 premierships.
Evan Broadbent and Derrick Brown conducted an auction of donated goods. Thanks to Domino Upholstery, Hardy’s Retravision, Hawthorn Football Club and Noel Bedford of Cleanquip.
Dan O’Loughlin spoke about the present playing group, coaches and the direction the Club is going.
Then we came to the surprise event of the night of the night.
The Committee had thought it was time to have a Hall of Fame, so we thought this was the perfect opportunity to start it.
Brian Jagoe, President read out the 10 inductees of the Pakenham Football Club’s inaugural Hall of Fame
Ray Leslie “Cracker Jackson. Regarded as the Prince of Coaches.
- First played at Pakenham 1927
- 2 years 1931-32 at North Melbourne (30 games)
- Missed war years on active service overseas in WW2
- Retired as player 1948 but continued as coach till 1957
- Between 1947 and 1957, Pakenham won 7 premierships and twice runners up. An astonishing record.
- Commenced playing at Pakenham 1936 at 14 years of age.
- In that time Norm played in 8 Senior Premierships.
- Club Best and Fairest 1946 and 1948.
- Missed war years on active service overseas in WW2.
- Retired in 1958.
- First played in 1953 at 16 years of age.
- Appointed coach 1960
- Premiers 1961, premier and Champions 1962.
- Only player to win Clancy medal twice in 1958 and 1962.
- Headed league goalkicking twice an Clubs on5 occasions.
- He was in every Inter League side during his career.
- Commenced playing in 1952.
- Won the PFC best and fairest in his first year and his last year of football in 1952 and 1968.
- Also won in 1956, 1959 and 1967.
- 6 times premiership player in 1952, 1955, 1956, 1947, 1961 and 1962.
- 7 times premiership player in 1951, 1952, 1955, 1956, 1957, 1961 and 1962
- Pat is regarded as one of the most fearless players to ever play for Pakenham.
- Captain Coach 1969 to 1975
- 1972 premiership, 1973 premiership and premiers and champions in 1974.
- Mice Breheny medal winner
- 1970 and 1975 Club best and fairest.
- Played 171 games
- Mike Breheny medal winner 1972 and 1973.
- PFC Best and Fairest 1969, 1972, 1973, 1976, 1977 and 1978.
- A wonderful centre man who won 6 PFC best and fairest and 2 league medals.
- 327 games (club record holder)
- 1981 Mike Breheny medal winner
- 7 Premierships 1973, 1974, 1982, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990.
- 1981 PFC best and fairest winner
- Greg is recognized as one of the toughest and fairest players to play for Pakenham.
- 201 games
- 1990 and 1993 Mike Breheny medal winner.
- PFC club best and fairest 6 times winner in 1987, 1990, 1993, 1994, 1995 and 1996.
- Premierships 1982, 1987, 1990 and 1998.
- Wonderful on baller
Cliff “Doc” Smith.
- Cliff was head trainer at the Pakenham Football Club over a period of 3 decades.
- Billy Drake got him to the club in 1960.
- He looked after 7 of his fellow inductees.
- He retired as head trainer in the early 1990’s
- A great and dedicated servant of the Pakenham Football Club.
And the MPNFL reckon none of the above were worthy of a jumper in their side of the century.
Pat Monckton health stopped him from attending, Barry Graham is overseas on holiday and Cliff Smith is in care at Koo Wee Rup.
All of the above inductees are Life Members of the Pakenham Football Club bar one. The Club thought it was time to rectify this and Bill Drake was presented with a Life Membership.
Special mention to the 4 players of the 1947 and 1948 premiership side who attended, Noel Webster, Ron Murphy, Jock Maher and Mick Maher.
Also Mick and Margaret Maher who live in Newcastle flew down from Yeppoon QLD where they were on holiday and flew back to Yeppoon on Sunday to resume their holiday. Well done.
So now we wait and debate who will join the above in the years to come in our Hall of Fame.
