A Struggling football team needed something needed something to help them lift and the source of their inspiration was not an agry blast from a coach but an address from the passionate grandmother who had been there from the beginning.
Who better to tell the story of the clubs history, origins and values than Norma Crathern, who helped establish the club and AFL Cairns itself with late Husband Kevin alsmost 60 years ago.
Never allowed into the changerooms while Kevin was playing, the woman described as the "matriarch or the game" in the Far North relished her moment in the rooms before the Centrals Trinity Beach Bulldogs marched out onto the park that carried her name.
Grandson Baden was in the rooms and agreed that it was a rare event that only his Grandmother could pull off. "She had never been in there before and wasnt sure what to say, but shed been around footy for a long time and knew we were struggling and wanted to do whatever she could", he said, "The guys have been contacting me to say how much she meant to them; it goes to show what sort of mark she's left."
Daughter Carmel Crathern said her Mother was always helping in any way she could and that was just another such occasion. "She rally enjoyed that, because Keving would never let her in there," she recalled. "Telling them about the history of the club and how proud they should be to play for them. There are so many stories; she touched so many lives and brought together a number of different clubs for the common cause in the early days."
Brought up in rugby league mad Cairns, Norma tricked her husband Kevin to attend an Aussie rules training session in the 1950s and soon the pair were leading a charge for the creation of the league. "She told Kevin they should go along for a look but packed his gear bag without telling him," Carmel said, "Mum was always very thoughtful and always pre-emtive like that and she became a very passionate AFL suporter very quickly." Kevin who went on to serve as Mayor of Cairns between 1973-1976, was the man behind the acqusition of some swampland on Mulgrave road. That is now known as Cazalys and hosts an AFL Premiership fixture every season. He served as AFL Cairns President from 1958-73 abd also founded the social comittee , and Norma was never in the shadows. "She wasnt second fiddle she was right there with Kevin and just as prominent in the early days," current AFL Cairns president Gary Young said. "Norma made things happen, was a fantastic patron of the game and a bit of a matriarch really. Her life membership was certainly well deserved". And while Norma was always volunteering as a cook, cleaner, fundraiser and organiser or behind the bar, her influence on the actual football was very real.
A long term timekeeper at Crathern Park, Norma was not to be messed with and never kept her emotions hidden. "I often couldnt sit with her because she got a bit too passionate," Carmel said. "Everyone knew Norma; she was like everyones Grandma." And she wasnt afraid to weigh into club politics. "In my four years at the club I certainly confided in her when making tough decisions." Centrals Trinity Bulldogs president John Burrell said. "She loved the game, was the ultimate supporter of the club and will be sorely missed."
Article Courtesy of Murray Wenzel The Cairns Post
Last Modified on 01/05/2015 16:50