NSW Australian Football History Society’s Publication Awards OPEN

To promote and highlight print and electronically published work related to the history of Australian football in NSW, the NSW Australian Football History Society has announced two new annual awards to be presented in 2021.

 

The Harry Hedger History Publication Award will be awarded for the best historical work in NSW. This may take the form of a league or club history or a biography of a prominent personality in the history of the game in NSW.

It can be a book, website, blog or extended essay. The length of the work needs to be at least 5,000 words. To be eligible for the 2021 award, the work must have been published within two calendar years.

Harry Hedger OBE, was one of the most influential figures in the game in Sydney in the late 19th century and early part of the 20th century both on and off the field. A player for the original Sydney club in 1880 who represented NSW in the first ever intercolonial game against Victoria in 1881. Hedger was pivotal to the resurrection of the game in Sydney in 1903 by convincing the VFL to play a premiership match for points at the SCG. There’s more information on him here.

 

The second new award from the NSW Australian Football History Society is for the publication of an annual report or yearbook by a club or league or an associated body such as a junior competition or an umpires’ association etc.  The Society has titled this the Gus McKernan Award.

Gus was a long-serving committee member of the Society until his passing in 2018. He played for St George and also served on the club’s committee but is best remembered for his sterling work over four decades for the Pennant Hills Football Club where he remains a much-loved figure.

 

In announcing the new awards NSW AFHS president Ian Granland said: “These publication awards are open to and will recognise the work of individuals and football bodies from around NSW, who endeavour to preserve their history and at the same time publish an annual record of their work, which will assist in future research of the game. We want to support and highlight their contribution to promote the rich history of Australian football within this state.”

 

The winner of each respective award will receive a plaque and a cash prize of $250 PLUS the prestige of attaining an exceptional status amongst the football organisations in NSW.

Nominations close on 31 October 2021

The awards will be announced and presented at the Society’s annual luncheon in December.

Further information about the awards and nomination forms are available on these links:

Publication Awards Information Sheet
Harry Hedger History Publication Award Nomination Form
Gus McKernan Annual Report/Yearbook Award Nomination Form