This Trove Tuesday, we are off to my hometown Hamilton.
Take two rival football clubs, the Hamilton Football Club and the Hamilton Imperials Football Club, merge them and what do you get? The beginning of a new chapter in the town’s sporting history when the Hamilton Kangaroos make their debut in Round 1 of the 2013 season this Saturday 13 April. Also, the new club will be entering a different league, the Hampden League, after both were founding members of the Western Border Football League in 1964.
Of the two teams, the Hamilton Football Club had the longest history. While the club may not have officially been formed at the time of this article from 1868, it is the earliest article I can find at Trove of football played at Hamilton.
TABLE TALK. (1868, November 12). Portland Guardian and Normanby General Advertiser (Vic. : 1842 – 1876), p. 2 Edition: EVENINGS.. Retrieved April 8, 2013, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article64691122
In 1948, a club formed by a breakaway group from the Hamilton Football Club made its debut in the Western District Football League. The Hamilton Imperials Football Club was born. In June of that year, the Magpies (Hamilton) and the Bulldogs (Imperials) met for the first time beginning a rivalry that would endure for the next 64 years. Hamilton easy winners.
HAMILTON ON TOP. (1948, June 10). Portland Guardian (Vic. : 1876 – 1953), p. 4 Edition: EVENING. Retrieved April 8, 2013, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article64415146
In the 1950s they used to say that the form guide could be thrown away when Hamilton and the Imperials met. The following headlines, all from The Argus during the 1950s, show how the rivalry had grown in just a short time.
Traditional clash in Western League HAMILTON HAS EDGE ON OLD RIVALS. (1953, July 3). The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 – 1956), p. 10. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article23253913
TRADITIONAL RIVALS FIGHT IT OUT. (1955, May 13). The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 – 1956), p. 22. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article71882081
(1956, May 11). The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 – 1956), p. 23. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article71802250
Here’s to a successful future for the Hamilton Kangaroos but may the history of the two clubs that came before be maintained so future generations know their role, not only in Hamilton’s sporting history but its social history.
Where did my heart lie? With the mighty Imps of course!
Western District Families 
Hi merron, I am wanted to delve into some family history specifically menzel and dahlitz families in branxholme in the mid to late 1800’s.very new to this. Any tips?
Lara
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Hi Lara, thank you for your comment. They were Wendish families and these sites will give you more about the Wends http://www.wendishheritage.org.au/news/2012-05-02_194330.php and http://graememoad.com/Family/Barossa%20Villiages/Hoffnungsthal.htm
I was going to suggest Wannon & Glenelg Pioneer Settlers and because I can’t help myself I searched and found references to both families. I also noticed that Daryl who runs the site is a Menzel descendant and he would be an ideal person to contact. He has an email contact at the bottom of the page. This is one of the Menzel pages – http://www.swvic.org/sandford/menzel_christian.htm
Another useful site is Cemeteries of SW Victoria http://home.vicnet.net.au/~marr/CEMINDEX.HTML Not much on the Dahlitz family but you will find something on the Menzels.
Trove newspapers is another good spot to look http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper?q=dahlitz I am sure you will find something on both families there. Narrow down the dates if you know them and also search some the Western District papers such as The Portland Guardian.
You could also contact the Hamilton History Centre http://home.vicnet.net.au/~hamhist/ They have so much information on not only Hamilton, but also the surrounding towns and have information on many families.
The Rootsweb Western District Mailing list can also be useful. http://lists.rootsweb.ancestry.com/index/intl/AUS/AUS-VIC-WESTERN-DISTRICT.html If you join you can put a question to the list, including what you know about each family. There are many people belonging to the list that are long time Western District researchers.
I hope that helps and enjoy your research.
Merron
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Thanks so much for all that. I’m particularly interested in exciting whether we have aboriginal heritage as I’ve just had a baby with distinct features that I and my mum’s side share and we can fairly safely track it back to Selena Ricketts nee Dahlitz, who’s parents were cousins, both grandchildren of Christian menzel, so I’m figuring it could have come from either of those parents parents. tho the records state otherwise…how would uncover a possible cover up
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