An interesting e-mail doing the rounds on the Newtown vs Glebe topic and George Green and whether he was Aboriginal. And apparently this e-mail is also found on facebook - see below.
Subject: Newtown - Rugby Leagues First Club
Newtown Rugby Leagues First Club
On February 15th this year, an article appeared in the Sun Herald claiming that evidence had been uncovered supporting Glebes claim to being the first Rugby League club formed in Australia. The article, written by David Middleton report that Ian Heads, Sean Fagan and Geoff Armstrong, the so-called George Green Trio, had uncovered a letter written by J.J. Giltinan (one of the games founders) which weights heavily in favour of the view that Glebe were first cab off the rank.
Unfortunately as the George Green Trio are only too aware, the letter has been cherry-picked from a large collection and only proves how desperate they are to restore tattered reputations.
Firstly, lets not dispute that the letter does exist. The letter from J.J. Giltinan to Simon Boland (Brisbane RL) is one of many in the Harry Sunderland collection. But the authors of the article and close associate of the George Green Trio, David Middleton has totally mis-representated the letters true intention. The letter is very short it is only half a page long and its obvious that Giltinan did not write to Boland specifically to tell him about the Glebe meeting. It appears that Giltinan is impatient, some might say worried, that he hasnt heard from Boland. He starts the letter by saying I am still waiting for your reply to my lst letter would be pleased to hear from you at earliest date. He finishes the letter by saying trusting to hear from you .
Giltinan did not white to Boland to tell him of the Glebe meeting. It was more of an after thought. Its almost as thought he added it just for something to talk about. Before writing about the Glebe meeting he actually says I have nothing new to tell you, only our movement is still going ahead.
David Middletons article also implies that because there was no mention of a meeting at Newtown in Giltinan's letter then the meeting must not have taken place. The letter, dated January 10th is one of the 21 letters and telegrams that J.J. Giltinan sent to Brisbane. One of the interesting characteristics of Giltinan's letters is that he doesnt mention any of the clubs in his correspondence. It is not only Newtown that is not mentioned. There is no mention of South Sydney, North Sydney, Balmain, Easts or Western Suburbs. For some reasons, David Middleton, a close associate of the George Green Trio, does not mention this fact in his article.
For example, Giltinan wrote to Boland on January 25th 1908, a day after Eastern Suburbs was founded and 2 days after the formation of Balmain. But there is no mention of this in his letter. He wrote again on February 5th, a day after the formation of Western Suburbs and 2 days before a meeting at North Sydney. But again, there is no mention of this in his correspondence. Are the George Green Trio suggesting that these meetings didnt take place either? Are the George Green Trio so desperate to repair shattered reputations that that they are prepared to re-write history? Could someone please save the history of Rugby League from the George Green Trio?!?
This latest article is just part of a continuing campaign of mis-information. It all started on January 6th last year 2 days before Newtown celebrated its centenary when Philip Heads (any relation) boldly stated in the Sunday Telegraph that in the option of everyone, bar the Newtown club itself, the Glebe club was formed first !! Dont shove it too far down peoples throats Phillip !
In the Sun Herald on the same day, Daniel Lane, an associate of Ian Heads, backed up Glebes claims with reference to some bizarre theory involving Victor Trumper. Luckily for the George Green Trio, that fairytale was quickly abandoned. This was backed up when the NRL produced its guide to the Centenary Celebrations and for some reason listed Newtowns Centenary as taking place on January 9th
In this most recent article, Ian Heads with his tongue firmed planted in his cheek, proclaims that its a lively healthy debate. But as Ian Heads is aware, its not a healthy debate when youre only hearing one side of the argument. At the bottom of the Middleton article is a picture of Newtown playing in last years State Cup, and the caption reads Not the first. Its the sort of force fed mis-information that a totalitarian regime would be proud of.
In the Sydney Morning Herald last November Andrew Moore, History Professor at the University of Western Sydney, warned the NRL and ARL that its historians had failed to investigate all the available documentation in researching the George Green Trio. The resulting fiasco saw a player of West Indian descent become an Aboriginal. They basically didnt check the guys birth certificate with much embarrassment to the games administration and much mirth in historical circles. But, unfortunately the George Green Trio havent learnt from their mistakes.
Last year, the President of the Newtown RLFC, Barry Vinning repeatedly invited the George Green Trio to come and read Newtowns book of minutes. All his invites were rejected. And what would they discover if theyd bothered to take up the invite? They would discover the original minutes from the first meeting dating 8th January 1908. They would also discover that at the next meeting, in February, these minutes were confirmed.
Having abandoned the Victor Trumper fairytale the George Green Trio now claim that these minutes must have been written some months laters. And in doing so, the wrong date has been printed. In other words, those present at the Newtown meetings were either a) all suffering from some sort of collective amnesia or b) their all bald faced liars.
Now if the George Green Trio wish to back-up their claims, they need to either:
a)produce medical certificates supporting the collective amnesia diagnosis, or
b)produce evidence that these men were repeating liars.
It should be noted that 2 of the games founding members, J.J. Giltinan and Henry Hoyle attend the meeting. Unbelievable, both the NRL and ARL seem unperturbed that the reputations of Giltinan and Hoyle are being tarnished by the claims of the George Green Trio.
One of the other characteristics of the minute book is that it contains actually quotes of statements that were made at the meetings. They actually wrote down some of the things that were said at the meeting. Now ask yourselves this questions would you be able to remember something was said at a meeting 2 or 3 month ago? Does it sound logical to you ?
Theres something else that the George Green Trio will discover if they could be bothered to read the minute book and thats the ink!! Thats right, the ink ! The minutes are written in black and blue ink. The George Green Trio want you to believe that someone sat down 2 or 3 months after the event, and wrote down the minutes using different coloured inks! Does it sound logical to you? Of course it isnt logical?
In David Middletons article, Ian Heads proudly proclaims that the next step in the debate (which club was first) is certainly Newtowns. Unfortunately for the George Green Trio, the next step in the debate is for them to do what any high school history student would do and that is to research all the documentation that is available. I believe that Barry Vinnings offer is still open.
In the end, this is a really sad situation. Sad because the Newtown club is proud of its historical status and it does a lot to foster its history. Its easy to see whey a lot of people are attracted to the club because of its history. Unfortunately, this ill-informed speculation could easily affect the clubs future.
Its sad for the game of Rugby League and its supporters because for some reason, the George Green Trio, are the preferred historians of the NRL and ARL !!! It is any wonder that the Centenary Year was such a disappointment!
Yours in Rugby League
Rob Corra
BA Hons. Hist. BA Pol. Sc.
