HALL OF FAME AND CENTENARY MEDALS GALA PRESENTATION DINNER 2009

"It is not the critic that counts, not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly... who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, who spends himself in a worthy cause, who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who have never known neither victory nor defeat."

Once again Wests Ashfield presented a wonderful night that will long be remembered by all who attended. The occasion was the Gala Presentation Dinner, which included the presentation of a Special Medal and certificate to all graded players(or family) who played one first grade game from 1908-1999.

* the numbers in brackets after the person name is their Medal Number

for a full list click here www.westsmagpies.net

I was fortunate to be invited along to share the night with Mr Ken Locke and his family.

Kens dad Ken Lock Snr (347) played first grade for Wests between 1937-1941 he played in 57 games. Ken Snr was a very good hooker during that pre-war and war era.

Deb and Greg Locke and Ken and Marg Locke

Bill Keato (359) standing in front of a photo of the 1948 Premiers

Sitting together in 1948 and below 61 years later.

Jack Lackey (452) with his 1948 team mate Bill Keato (359)

Three of the younger players

Big Bob Cooper (726)  and Geoff Smith (707) with Wayne Smith (716)

Ben Fisher and Harry "Dealer" Wells (546)

Harry in his playing days at the old SSG.

Flying winger Jack Thompson outside of Harry

Reg Gasiner and Harry Wells in 1959.

Kevin Smith and Geoff Henry (654)

Noel  Trevena (535) with Max Godfrey (524)

Noel played 12 first grade games with Wests between 1955 and 1962

Trent Foster  with his dad Geoff Foster (686)

Geoff came from Griffith he had played for Country in 1970 before playing at Wests.

In 1979 Geoff returned home as captain coach and played once again for Country.

Geoff is proudly wearing his 1983 Country blazier. 

Geoff in 1977

Big Bob Cooper (726) and Don Moseley (722)

John Coates, Roy Masters and Peter Dimond (562)

Gentlemen Jim Cody (602)

Jim in his playing days.

Ken Gentle, George Downie(578), Kevin Bryson (804) and Trevor Cogger (767)

The late John Maxwell (642)

Thats John sitting between Tommy and Ned in the front row.

Some time in 1969.

John played for Wests between 1968 and 1971 before going to Penrith for a couple of years.

Gary Weston with ball and John Maxwell in back ground.

  Wests V Balmain  1969

John playing half back ........Tommy five - eight 1970.

John in the Rugby League Week

(Thanks Magpie Mal for the loan of this image)

Craig Woodley Archivist of the Wests archives

Craig is standing in front of a touch screen in the Sports Bar  at Wests Ashfeild .

Craig has loaded a large number of Wests games from the past into this great device so you can have a beer and watch Wests play from the good old days.

Next time your at Wests have a look.

(yes thats Sexy Rexy on the big screen) 

Two players from the Fibro days Les Boyd (715)  and his captain Warren Boland (741)

Noel Kelly (595) signing a bottle for Paul Dillon

Peter Dimond (562) and his beautiful wife Val

Ken Hey (711) holding his dads Viv Hey (296) Hall of Fame Deed of Induction.

Ken and his lovely wife were seated at the same table as us.

(for those without a calculator ....theres 415 players between father and son)

Mike Bailey doing the hard sell on a signed Wests jumper.

Joe Cool (702) on the right with his son Dane Dorahy (1052).

Three generations in the one photo.

Grandson and son looking at Ken Lock Snr in the Reserve premiership winning team of 1936

The 1936 Western Suburbs Reserve grade premiers.

To everyone concerned with this great night THANK YOU.

To name a few......Kevin Hammond, Ron Powell, Dennis Burgess, Andy Timbs, 

Ben Fisher, Ray Bernasconi, Mike Bailey, Tracey Roberts.

But most of all thanks to all the men who have worn the famous Black and White jumper.

Photo taken inside the scoreboard at Pratten Park.