The Tree On The Wing History Podcast

Barwon Heads Football & Netball Club History

Podcast by Barwon Heads Football & Netball Club History

  1. 07/10/2023

    Pete Swinton

    Football is the life blood of regional communities. It’s the place where a local would go it they wanted to catch up with a friend for a drink on a Saturday and it is a place where a new member of the community, with a large tribe of kids might head to - to meet a few people and find something for the children to do. If those children all happen to be boys and it is the 1980s, then there probably wasn’t a lot of choice for Lenny Swinton when he arrived in Barwon Heads. Lenny certainly got stuck in and allowed himself to be fully engulfed by the club and his boys all got involved in activities out on the field. Len would go on to be one of the club’s great contributors and earned himself a life membership in 2000. Shortly after arriving in town the family expanded to include son number 7 - Peter. At the time when Pete was born the fortunes of the club were not that hot, but, through a lot of hard work by people like Lenny, and a good turn in fortune, it wouldn’t be long before young Peter would play a part as the mascot in the clubs only ever senior premiership sweep when the firsts and seconds both tasted premiership victory in 1993. Peter started his playing career not long after that when he started playing in the under 15 team as a seven-year-old. Yes, that’s right he was 7. Peter has played more than 250 senior games, an unknown number of junior games, is co-skipper of the reserves and is the quintessential Barwon Heads footballer and life member. He is a man who is completely in love with his town and his football club and incredibly proud of his family and the contribution they have made to both. He even told us he is uncomfortable crossing the bridge. Peter’s brother Gary was the inspiration for the trophy we play the Geelong Amateurs for and Peter shared his emotional memories of his oldest brother. He’s an extremely popular player and member of our club and has made a contribution to the fabric of the place since he was a small boy and it was a delight to catch up with him. We hope you will enjoy our chat with Pete Swinton.

    Pete Swinton
  2. 04/19/2023

    Ep#24_Sam Schaller

    It’s always pleasing to see the kids you’ve seen grow up, go on to better things. It is extremely pleasing to see them aspire to be leaders in their community and to work hard to progress towards those aspirations. Nipper and I remember Sam Schaller being born. We grew up – in as much as any of us actually grew up – with his parents. We played footy and cricket with his father, netball with his mother and father, and his grandparents – all 4 of them – were a constant presence in our community when we were younger. We saw him play his first cricket and footy - and we have seen him rise to prominence on the playing fields of the village. He’s the gentle giant with the unusual kicking style, the left armer who can spin it either way and swing it both. He’s been a coach since he was in school and he has worked on his craft to the point where, when an opportunity rose, the departing incumbent Dan Donati recommended his services to the club as senior coach. Sam has a wonderful perspective on the football club, having grown up surrounded by the two blues. He is filled with gratitude for the little things that the non-combatants do for the players and the club and is rightly humbled by their dedication. And he is also fiercely driven to success and has already proven that he has what it takes to coach and lead teams to high levels of achievement. He realizes the size of the task he has taken on and the size of the shoes he is filling and he is looking forwards to the future and knows the hard work that goes into having a successful football program. We hope you enjoy our chat with Sam Schaller.

    Ep#24_Sam Schaller

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Podcast by Barwon Heads Football & Netball Club History