Golden Rivers: Quambatook thrashes Macorna in final home match

In what will be their last season after 111 years, the Quambatook Saints still have it all to play for: fans, former greats, finals.

It might be their last season, but Quambatook’s footballers and netballers aren’t letting that get them down.

The Mallee club, which has been around for 111 years, earlier this year announced it would fold at the end of the season due to lack of juniors and volunteers.

But rather than run and hide from going under, Quambatook has taken a different approach and made 2022 a season-long celebration.

Hundreds of past players, officials and supporters returned to Quambatook home ground on Saturday for the club’s final home match and the big send off, which club president Rhys Carmichael said had a “grand final feel”.

Quambatook president Rhys Carmichael in action for the Saints in their final match at home on Saturday. Picture: Yuri Kouzmin

The bonus for Quambatook is it remains on track to play in the actual grand final in its last season.

“It’s definitely a sad day for the club and for the history of the town I guess,” Carmichael, who juggles the jobs of president and senior player, said.

Needing to carry out the two roles underlines why Quambatook will be no more.

“We just didn’t have any junior kids playing,” he said.

“Without juniors, you don’t have parents, without parents there are no volunteers.

“We called it early to give everyone a chance to come back and play that one last game or come and watch a few games.”

Quambatook, which was the Swans in the Mid Murray league before becoming the Saints when it moved leagues in the early 1970s, isn’t playing the Covid card for its demise with the club unable to regularly field under 14s and 17s pre pandemic.

The 2017 closure of the town’s primary school, where Molly Meldrum and John Williamson were past students, was a major nail in its coffin.

Less farming families in the area compared to decades ago is another.

“All the farms around here are about 10,000 acres nowadays,” Carmichael said.

“It’s only taking one family to run that farm.

“Back 30 or 40 years ago that could have been 10 farms.”

Lionel "Bull" Ritchie played in four flags for Quambatook. Picture: Yuri Kouzmin

Lionel “Bull” Ritchie played his first senior match, aged 14, and retired at the age of 48 with four flags and four best and fairests.

“I’m a bit disappointed,” he said.

“It’s got to be done eventually because we just can’t get workers, kids.”

Kellie Burmeister has played netball for Quambatook for 30 years. Picture Yuri Kouzmin

Kellie Burmeister is the netball president and still plays B grade in a career that has spanned three decades.

She was left “a sobbing mess” when her team lost its last home match, but like the footballers, she will play in finals.

“It’s been a very emotional day,” she said.

“I think it’s happening everywhere. It’s not just in Quamby.

“It’s so great to see so many people here, so many old faces who I’ve played with for a number of years.

“It’s my 30th year of netball so I’ve played with a few.

“I love the fact that I am a one club player.”

Quambatook schoolteacher Jim Wallis played for St Kilda in the 1960s.

Jim Wallis, who came to Quambatook as a schoolteacher and became the club’s captain-coach at only 21, is universally recognised as its best player.

He played 39 matches for St Kilda between 1963-65 and only signed with the VFL team on the condition he could still live and work in Quambatook and travel to Melbourne for matches at weekends.

Sadly, Wallis died from prostate cancer in May, aged 80.

A medal for the Quambatook’s best player on Saturday was struck in his honour and presented to Tobie Cameron by Wallis’ partner, Jan Free.

“He loved the club and would have loved being here today,” she said.

Quambatook beat Macorna by 83 points, but the result was largely irrelevant.

Quambatook co-coach Gregor Knight is tackled by Macorna’s Toby Whinfield. Picture Yuri Kouzmin

Quambatook co-coach Gregor Knight and his farming family has had a long association with the club.

“We’ve gone to the track of celebrating the history we did have rather than getting too sad about what has happened this year,” he said.

“With farms getting a little bit bigger we’ve lacked juniors.

“When you lose your juniors, the parents don’t come and help volunteer.

“A lot of the work goes on to too few and they’re getting a little bit burnt out.

“It’s quite strange that we’re quite successful or competitive on the field, which isn’t normal for a club folding.”