-
"On Boxing Day we held our sports. The launch went early to Cairns and brought over some visitors who wished to spend the day with us and witness our sports. We got through twenty-five events in a little over three hours. The band in new uniforms looked quite gay. Prizes distributed in the evening". Source: Missionary Notes, 18 2 1905, p. 10.
-
Report from October 1904: “Football still has a fascination for the men, not to speak here of the girls and little boys, who each have their own play ground and their own ball when this is kindly put in our power to provide”. Source: Missionary Notes, 17 1 1905, p. 3
-
Arrival of inmates from Fraser Island working out well. “Cricket matches have brightened the holiday (in September)”. Reeve’s Creek v Yarrabah matches, and Staff v Mission. 370 people now living at Y. Source: Missionary Notes, 26 10 1904, p. 93.
-
Rev E. Selwyn Chase, who replaced Gribble temporarily, appeals for footballs and cricket bats. Source: Missionary Notes, 20 5 1904, p. 35
-
Boxing Day sports delayed until 29th December 1903. Footraces were for all sections of the community. Events included: grinning through a horse collar [sic] ; tug of war b/t married and single men; egg and spoon races; great canoe race. Also a race b/t 3 canoes manned by girls. One overturned – “of course they could all swim”. Source: Missionary Notes, 19 1 1904, p. 2.
-
At Xmas 1902 someone sent a football to Yarrabah: “after almost daily use it is in pieces” – appeals for a new one. Source: Missionary Notes, 30 6 1903, p. 43
-
Ernest Gribble report: “On Boxing Day, at 2 p.m., we held our sports on the beach, the different events causing great excitement, especially a well-contested canoe race. Four canoes entered, each canoe containing two men.” Prize was a tomahawk apiece. Source: Missionary Notes, 21 2 1903, p. 9.
-
Report by visitors Archdeacon White and Mr. FR White from Armidale on 23 July 1901. Drill performed for them. Older girls played croquet. Source: Missionary Notes, 23 9 1901 p. 1.
-
Boxing Day sports in afternoon following morning Holy Communion. Footracing, jumping, skipping contests, singing contests, grinning [sic] through horse collar, throwing the weight, throwing the boomerang,… much interest was caused by the treacle bun contest. Prizes given out at night, including Mrs Gribble’s prizes to married women for tidiness in their homes [This not the first time this done]. Sports prizes awarded by visiting Miss Margaret Monaghan, sister of Y’s Miss Monaghan [identified in 23/9/01 p. 1 issue as Sister Mary Monaghan, matron in charge during Mrs Gribble’s absence at Fraser Island in charge of the women there]. Source: Missionary Notes, 23 1 1901 p. 3.
-
Feb 14, a regular half-holiday, held a Fancy Dress Cricket Match b/t single and married men. Mr Reeves dressed as Aunt Sally; Mr Webber as Jolly Clown; Andrew Obah as a woman and Willie Ambryn as a Native Chief. Hilarity. Source: Missionary Notes, 19 3 1900 p. 18.
-
“At the last meeting of our government [local governing body], a programme for the sports on Boxing Day was drawn up, and now the lads are all very busy training for the different foot races, or practising jumping, etc. Today I noticed them all practising spear throwing, for which provision had been made in the programme.” Source: Missionary Notes, 5 January 1900, p. 3.
-
September 13th was a general holiday at the mission with a game of football. Ernest Gribble wrote: “The boys are keen lovers of this sport, and it is hard work sometimes to get them to leave off when the bell rings for meals.” Source: Missionary Notes, 16 10 99 p. 95.
-
Ernest Gribble appeals for a cricket set on behalf of some of the boys – 2 bats, stumps and a ball. Source: Missionary Notes, 15 9 1899 p. 89.
-
Ernest Gribble reports that on his arrival back from a southern tour with presents for all they had a sports afternoon in February with jumping, running, throwing the cricket ball, etc.” Source: Missionary Notes, 16 3 1899 pp. 18-19.
-
Ernest Gribble letter written pre-Xmas says will have “our Xmas-tree [sic] and Sports”. Source: Missionary Notes, 15 2 1899 p. 1 .
-
Letter from James Noble dated 22 /8/98. Noble assisting at Yarrabah. Writing to the Archdeacon White [in NSW?], he says “Plenty of fun here. We play football nearly every day”. Source: Missionary Notes, 17 11 98 p. 104.
-
Ernest Gribble report dated 8/8/98 - When men returned from coffee picking on plantations after expiry of their contract, a married v single men’s football match took place. Singles won by one point. Source: Missionary Notes, 15 9 98 p. 90.
-
Letter from Ernest Gribble 26 May 1898: “Yesterday (Queen’s birthday) all hands turned out harvesting rice till mid-day. At 2 p.m. a great football match took place, I acting as umpire, the Rugby game being played.” Game followed by a swim and a feast. Source: Missionary Notes, 22 6 1898, p 1.
-
Ernest Gribble appeal: “Would some kind reader of the [Missionary] Notes please send us a football? The one we have is all worn out.” Source: Missionary Notes, 18 4 1898, p. 28 .
-
Ernest Gribble reports that on NY Day [1897] we intend to have our sports and a great cricket game during the week. Source: Missionary Notes, 15 1 1897 p 3.
-
“On Boxing Day we have had quite a lengthy program for our sports, including canoe racing, foot races, sack race, jumping, spear throwing, etc. The great events are the canoe races, the men have been busy making canoes for some time past. The first prize is to be a tomahawk. Our great aim is to have a counter attraction to the sports and regatta in Cairns, and thus bring all our people together every year.” Source: Missionary Notes, 15 1 1896 p. 3
-
"Christmas was a happy time on the Mission, and the Sports Day on the following Monday was a great success, a very large programme had been drawn up which took two days for the land sports alone, whilst the aquatics will be held in the New Year".
Source: Aboriginal News, 1 January 1910, p. 3.
-
"A football match between Yarrabah and the Settlements was arranged for Saturday July 25th and we may say here that it proved to be a very keen match and ended in a win for Yarrabah. Mr. Morrison was appointed umpire, and Douglas Pitt and Charlie Chambers were entrusted with the selection of the Home team and James and Phillip of the settlements". Source: Aboriginal News, 8 August 1908, p. 1.
-
Paper chase (race) over the hills won by Charlie Chambers. Source: Aboriginal News, 15 July 1908, p. 3.
-
25 men and boys from Yarrabah attended a benefit sports day in Cairns. Bertie and Douglas 1st and 2nd in foot race. Informal boxing bout among the Yarrabah group (Moses, Hector and Victor) in the morning. Source: Aboriginal News, 15 May 1908, p. 5.
