Football Disaster 100 year ceremony 21.5.1992
Football Disaster 100 year ceremony 21.5.1992
DATE1992
MEDIAImage
COLLECTIONMornington and District Historical Society
REG NO.1467.2
HISTORYOn the night of May 21st 1892 fifteen members of the Mornington Football Club were drowned whilst on their way home from a match at Mordialloc. There were no survivors and only four bodies were recovered. The 15 young men had elected to sail to Mordialloc on the boat Process owned and skippered by Charles Hooper. The remainder of the team travelled by train. Process was fishing vessel, built in 1887. She was 28 feet long, by 8 feet beam. Mr Hooper had rigged the boat with racing sails which he used when racing in regattas. After the drawn match, Process set off for home, expecting to arrive between 8 and 9pm. The alarm was raised by Mr Short, the manager of the Commercial Bank in Main Street, a member of the team who had travelled home by train. He went to see Joseph Grover whose seventeen year old son, and 25 year old brother both named William were on board. Joseph set off in his buggy to Mordialloc, to see if the team had left. Meantime, Mr Short and Mr Hutchins went to the pier to keep watch, when Joseph Grover returned saying the boat had sailed ass expected. They went to Reverent Caldwell’s house to inform him. He had 3 sons who had sailed on the boat that day.
The following morning two fishing boats found the partially submerged Process. No one can be certain of what happened, but it is thought a sudden squall occurred close to Pelican Reef and had upset the boat. The large yacht Wanderer helped bring Process to the surface. The body of Alfred Lawrence was in the boat, trapped by a rope twisted around his thigh. 3 more bodies were found over the following two weeks. James Firth and John Kenna were found on the beach at Mt Eliza and Charles Hooper Jnr was found at Rosebud. All but John Kenna were buried in the Mornington Cemetery. Hardly a family in the area was unaffected. The Rev. Caldwell lost 3 sons. Seventy five pounds were set aside for a memorial.
1. This is a picture of a floral tribute from the Mornington Historical Society. It is a wreath of red berries and green leaves, with a card and a red bow.
2. Mrs Brenda Samuel laying a wreath, related to George C Milne. On the right of the photo is Neal Taylor on the microphone. On the J. O Connor, B. Grice & J. Downard.
3. The Football Disaster Memorial is in the centre of the photo.
4. Neal Taylor at the microphone, with the Football Disaster Memorial on the left of the photo.
5.This image shows a group of people after the memorial service. In the background is the Court House and the Police Station.
6. This shows the Football Disaster Memorial in the centre of the photo.
7. This shows Mr N. Taylor reading at the Memorial Service on the microphone. He is standing to the right of the Obelisk.
8. This is a photo of Vera Mills at the Memorial service. She is wearing a mauve knitted cardigan and matching hat. Some others are in the background.
9. This shows a group of people at the memorial service. They are in an arc shaped group. Vera Miles is on the right. One man in the centre is sitting the rest are standing.
10. This is an image of the Football Disaster Memorial from the road.
11. This shows Brenda Samuels laying a wreath at the Football Memorial in honour of her Uncle. Mr N. Taylor is on the right, and there are several people watching on, on the left. These include: J. Downward, B. Grice, and J. O’Connor.
12. This is a photo of Vera Mills after she has laid a wreath from the Historical Society.
13. This shows a floral tribute with a card from the Downward family.
14. This is an image of a floral tribute.
15. This shows two small children, a boy and girl. The Downward grand children.
16. This photo shows two small children, a boy and a girl. The girl is carrying a bouquet. She is wearing a pink jacket.
17. This is a photo of the Football Disaster Memorial taken from the road. There are a group of people in the foreground facing toward the Obelisk.
18. This image shows Vera Miles laying a wreath at the Football Disaster Memorial.
19. This is a photo of the Football Disaster Memorial in the foreground, and the people are behind it.
20. This image shows a floral tribute of white and yellow flowers, it shows a card from George Milne’s grandson.
Boats, Disasters, Memorial services, Trains
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