Jokers "Way Back when machine"
Yesterday I had the pleasure of speaking to a number of lovely Shore parents after the games function. One mother asked me why did it seem that Shore made a bigger effort for the Joeys community than most. I told her it probably goes back to when
Basil Holmes "Jika" Travers first encountered the Joeys community. I know, because I was there when he told this to a group of us after our games at Northbridge. We were fascinated with this war hero.
His story goes as thus....
Jika said that in his first year as Headmaster at Shore he would watch the games of rugby from the junior levels upwards. Jika I believe had some rugby pedigree and loved to watch and encourage the boys.
In his first occasion hosting St Joseph's College in the 1950's? as Headmaster he was watching a junior Shore team getting beaten badly and their heads had gone down. At half time he said that he saw a sorry bunch of disheartened Shore boys walk to the coach (a young school master) who looked quite flummoxed as what to do or say. While he was struggling to find the words Jika said he saw this old man, wearing glasses dressed in a long black coat and sparse white hair approach the young school master. He spoke briefly to him and then he addressed the boys.
Jika walked over to the bunch of lads sitting on the ground and saw them all suddenly rise to the feet and surround the old man. Jika said he was amazed that their focus was on him. He heard the older gent imploring them to play for the jersey, play for their mates and play for their own self belief. He told them to "only allow Joeys to beat you in the scorebook and not in your heart".
Usually you might expect with these "Hollywood" style speeches the lads would go out and win the game. They didn't Jika said. But they did something better, they won their courage back by not allowing Joeys to score another point. Jika said he searched for the old man but could not find him. Later Jika was watching the 1st XV's in battle. It was his first taste of Joeys rugby and spirit. He loved the cheering and told us that he saw that small old man again. He was sitting on the sideline with the coaching staff.
At the end of the game he sought him out and there he met this small old Marist educator,
Brother Henry for the first time. Brother Henry is the most successful schoolboy rugby coach in Australia. (20 AAGPS 1st XV titles and 21 2nd XV titles) Jika said he thanked Brother Henry for his words of encouragement earlier that day and his willingness to help others. He expressed how impressed he was with the result he had on his students. Jika said Brother Henry was very humbled by the praise. From that moment onward the two of them became firm friends. Rumour has it Jika asked Brother Henry for a few ideas when Shore won their back to back titles under Jika's coaching. Jika was also the only GPS HEAD who attended Brother Henry's funeral in 1970.
Jika said he adored the mantra, "Be the best hosts". Jika did say that he was quite impressed of the huge spread Joeys put on for his players but others as well. No one was turned away. He also said that he loved the sneaky red wine served by the Joeys community when they hosted Shore. He said words to the effect, "Catholics know how to corrupt Anglicans"
Jika's deeds and legendary discipline are well known. I will always treasure the time he gave a bunch of rugby players stuffing their faces with some of the best spread in the GPS. His efforts drew Joeys and Shore closer and created a friendship that resulted in many life long friendships.
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