BACK TO SHERWOOD - ALLAN HUNTER VISITS FAMILY CLUB
Andrew Thomson
Recently, a small lunch hosted by the Past Players & Supporters Association marked a special occasion with Mr Allan Hunter returning for a visit to his childhood club. Allan was a foundation player at the Magpies, one of just over 100 local boys who attended the first ever Sherwood Magpies training session in Feb 1957 at the Sherwood State School. Allan was also a key member of the clubs first ever Premiership Team in 1958 winning the u14 Brisbane competition. Captain of that side was QAFL Hall of Fame member and Western Districts legend as both Captain & Coach - David Dalgarno. Five other members of that u14 team also went on to play over 100 games of QAFL Senior football at Western Districts.
Allan was not one of those players to play 100 games of QAFL, as he would instead become the first Sherwood junior to play in the VFL/AFL when he was scouted and signed by Footscray in 1963 and he remained with the Bulldogs until 1967. A terrific high mark and a beautiful and accurate kick for goal, Allan showed talent from a young age playing Senior Football for Wests at 16 year old, and also joining the A Grade ranks at Wests Cricket at the same age.
When still just 16, he was selected in the QLD u18 team that journeyed to Melbourne to take on the Footscray u19 team. Allan kicked 8 goals in the game and the Footscray recruiters immediately pounced on the young talented Queenslander, with Allan and the rest of the Hunter family moving to Melbourne the next year, where Allan was presented with his Bulldogs #36 jumper by the great Ted Whitten.
Allan’s father, Mr Wally Hunter , was the first ever President of Sherwood Magpies after the club was formed via a meeting in the Hunter family living room with other legends of the club such as Maurie McNamee among others. Wally held the role of President for 5 years and he and his committee at the time set a solid foundation for the clubs future success.
Allan subsequently departed the Bulldogs and Melbourne to take up a position with BHP in Broken hill where he was appointed Captain/Coach of the West Broken Hill Football Club, and he has remained living in Broken hill now for 50+ years.
Allan’s former teammate from those early days at Sherwood and also one of those foundation players was a gentleman by the great name of Peter Sherwood, who invited Allan to Queensland for a few weeks holiday and during this time it was when Allan decided he would love to go back to Sherwood where their friendship started and where his life in football began before departing at 16. This lunch was quickly organised and when visiting the club Allan was blown away by the facilities, as when he departed the area at 16 the entire sporting precinct at Chelmer now including Sherwood and neighbouring Wests (now Kenmore Bears/Wests Cricket) was a swamp and the local council tip! In those early days when Allan played at the Magpies, our home was at nearby Graceville Memorial Ovals.
Allan became quite emotional upon visiting the club and said that his late father Wally Hunter would be incredibly proud of the clubs progress over the last 70 years, particularly the strong commitment and connection to the local community and focus on local talent.
It was a fantastic lunch enjoyed by a great group of Magpies who all hold long standing involvement with the club, with special thanks to the Past Players & Supporters Association and Peter Sherwood for putting it together.
