Cherbourg, Palm Island, Woorabinda - Jones Shield - Description - 1949 to 1953

Item

Sport

Communities Involved

Year

1964

Place

Title

Cherbourg, Palm Island, Woorabinda - Jones Shield - Description - 1949 to 1953

Description

1949 Jones Shield inaugurated.
Donated by Arthur Jones, MLA, Minister for Health and Home Affairs. Established for 5-year period 1949-53
Focus was arts and crafts, but most events included some sport (sport in every year except perhaps 1953). Intended as a 3-phase contest held on each of the settlements Cherbourg, Palm Island and Woorabinda
The settlement gaining the highest aggregate points wins the shield for the year.
The settlement with the highest points over the 5 years keeps the shield
"Long term winners" Brisbane Telegraph, 10 August 1953: 9
PI show July 1949 included “native sports display on both days of the show created an added interest and attraction for our visitors, who came in launches from Townsville and Ingham districts. Native dancing, spear and boomerang throwing, as well as firelighting, are always popular with our visitors, and the highlight of the clays' sports was a woodchopping contest for aboriginal women”: 1950 Annual report, p. 11
Winner of women’s woodchopping in 1948 and 1949 was Mrs Ginnie Watson "PALM ISLAND SHOW" Townsville Daily Bulletin, 26 July 1949: 2
Photo of Watson and another of spear throwers in "The Aborigines' Island" Brisbane Telegraph, 28 July 1949: 12
Watson won woodchopping annually at the PI Shows 1947-50: "She's Axe Champion" Brisbane Telegraph, 12 August 1950: 1
Photo of Ginnie Watson with her husband George in: Dixon, R. M. W. I Am a Linguist. Leiden: BRILL, 2010.
Photos located:
AIATSIS N2882.08
DATE 1947
PLACE Fantome Island, Qld
SUBJECT George Watson's wife Ginny
DSCRPTN has just won the under-hand woodchop, Fantome Sports
N2891.16a
DATE 1940's
PLACE Palm Island, Qld
DSCRPTN woodchopping competition on sports day. Organised by Freddy Kraus, head of Progress Association. Always won by George Watson
Ch show 9-10 September 1949 included ring events: “Rain marred ring events during the after-noon of the first day, and rain again during the night and early morning of the second day caused ring events to be postponed. This was rather unfortunate, as a record crowd of visitors from other districts was anticipated. This was the first show in the new pavilion at the showgrounds and the arranging of exhibits for display purposes was a considerable improvement on previous shows. Further improvements were carried out in the ring. New hurdles were made and another amplifier was purchased for use by the show society. The official opening was broadcast by Station 4S.B. and created considerable interest.” 1950 Annual report, p. 19
Woor show 1949 included rodeo and ring events: “The association was successful in obtaining the use of 10 buckjumpers from Messrs. McGee Brothers, of Blackwater, and these greatly assisted in the attraction of the rodeo events, whilst the displays and ring events were well up to the standard of previous years.” 1950 Annual report, p. 24-25
Woorabinda was the aggregate points winner for 1949
PI show 1950 included native sports: “The native sports, conducted during the period the visitors were ashore, were much enjoyed by them”. 1951 Annual report, p. 11
Cherbourg 5th annual show 8-9 September 1950 included boxing. “A team of boxers visited Woorabinda for their Annual Show, and Woorabinda returned the visit during our Annual Show”. 1951 Annual report, p. 18, 17.
Woorabinda Show 26-27 May 1950 included boxing. “A team of boxers visited Woorabinda for their Annual Show, and Woorabinda returned the visit during our Annual Show”. 1951 Annual report, p. 18.
“The show concluded with boxing between competitor from Cherbourg and Woorabinda on Saturday night and a football match between teams from the two settlements on Sunday”: Morning Bulletin (Rockhampton, Qld) 29 May 1950 : 5
PI was the aggregate points winner for 1950 – won all 3 events (1951 report)
It appears that in 1951 there was only one inter-settlement show during which the Jones Shield was awarded: “The inter-Settlement competition which is conducted in conjunction with Settlement shows was held at Cherbourg Settlement”. Cherbourg was the winner. 1952 Annual report, p. 10,
This included ring events: “Although unfavourable seasonal conditions were prevalent both ring and pavilion sections provided excellent exhibits.” 1952 Annual report, p. 17


Cherbourg was the aggregate points winner for 1951
Woorabinda Show 30-31 May 1952 included ring events and football: “The show concluded with a programme of ring events on Saturday, a natives' dance, and a football match on Sunday”. Morning Bulletin (Rockhampton, Qld) 2 June 1952: 5
This show at Woorabinda was THE JS event for 1952: see Woorabinda report in DNA Report 1953: “This year's show was the fourth annual competition between Settlements for the Jones Shield. The show was held at Woorabinda and we were beaten by Cherbourg Settlement by a very narrow margin”: DNA Report 1953, p. 21
Cherbourg was the aggregate points winner for 1952
Inter-Settlement Competition.—Your Association assisted with the preparation of the Cherbourg exhibit for the Jones Shield which was staged in the Royal National Exhibition. We were successful in winning the competition this year, making three wins in all, but the shield was finally won by Palm Island. Congratulations Palm Island. DNA Report 1954, p. 19
August 1953 during the Brisbane Show – an innovation for 1953
No mention of sport: "Abos at Show" Brisbane Telegraph, 22 July 1953: 25
Cherbourg was the aggregate points winner for 1953, which was the 5th and final year of the Shield.
The overall 5-year shield was won by Palm Island.

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