Club History

The beginning of our great club came about on the evening of 25th August 1964 at Ken (Pancake) Sutherlands home. The meeting was attended by Jeff Blackwood, Neil Rouse, Trevor Pickering, Jim Pickering, Bruce Pickering, Neil Donovan and Ken Sutherland. Jim Pickering moved that a Junior Football Club be formed. The office bearers were then elected; President Jim Blackwood, Secretary/Treasurer Ken Sutherland, Vice President Jim Pickering and Vice President Neil Rouse.

The club colours of red, white and black with monogram were selected (St. Kilda colours). The Secretary advised the T&DJFL of the formation of the club and the intention to enter U14 and U16 teams in 1965 competition.

The next meeting was held in September 1964 at Jim Pickering’s home. It was moved at that meeting that wool for the jumpers be purchased as funds allowed and that Mrs Joyce Sutherland would begin the job of knitting club jumpers. The next meeting in October 1964, got the ball rolling and coach’s positions were advertised for the 1965 season. The U14’s and U16’s successfully competed in the 1965 season with the U16’s defeated in the first semi-final by Police Boys. An U12 team was admitted for the 1966 season with the mini league/U10’s commencing in 1972.

50+ years on from the inaugural season more than 1000 children have pulled on the Paxhill Guernsey. The club has achieved many premierships with 15 in the U16’s age group. Among the clubs premierships is an U16’s quadruple in 1967-70. The club has had 5 teams go through a season undefeated and in 1999 all 4 teams made the grand final, the first time this had happened in T&DJFL history.

Bernie Quinlan played at Pax Hill winning the U16 best and fairest. He went on to win an AFL Brownlow medal, kicked 116 goals for Fitzroy in 1983 and 105 an 1984. Other notable players included Traralgon Football club games record holder Tony Lane, previous TTU’s senior coach Brad Heil and all Australian Junior Josh Jennings.

Pax Hill Football Club like most sporting bodies has had a long and impressive list of people who have given a great deal of their time and energy in support of their Club. A select few of these people have been honored with life membership. Pax Hill appreciates the work done by all volunteers and particularly the life members in bringing the club to its current status.