The future and the past at Souths Leagues

The South Sydney Leagues Club redevelopment is well under way. With a new look comes new ideas and old ones revisited and revived.

The Leagues Club values its heritage as it links the past with the vision set for its future. As part of the strategy to embrace its heritage, it is now taking the steps towards developing an enlightening ongoing exhibition showing the past history of the Leagues Club, the Rabbitohs and Redfern. Part of the exhibition will remain as an integral part of the Leagues’ Club décor and part will be regular exhibitions highlighting selected eras.

“Our rich history provides us with a unique foundation for a great future,” states Board Director, Kieran Hickey. “Growing up in Redfern gave me a first-hand view of the importance the Leagues Club and the football team played in our everyday lives. We need to respect the importance of these foundations and this exhibition will allow us to collectively celebrate our past.”

“If someone has a piece of Souths history they feel would be great to showcase in the exhibition, we want to see it,” says Mr HIckey.

The project will not just focus on the history of the football club and its players, but include the history of the Leagues Club and its place in the community, as well as the suburb of Redfern.

An important part of the project is the identification of photographs, as well as objects and ephemera (including letters, diaries, tickets, menus, coasters, badges, jerseys, poker machines and so on).

A series of community consultation days are planned for early next year when members will be invited to attend with their photographs and other items. The first of these open days will be at the end of January and will be announced in plenty of time for everyone to be there. The materials are sought for display purposes only and not acquisition by the Leagues Club.

In the meantime, start looking for those rare items that might be buried somewhere at home.

Further information about the project can be found on the website or calling the club on (02) 9319 4156 or email: history@southsleagues.com

Source: South Sydney Herald December 2008 www.southsydneyherald.com.au