A rare piece of local history will be returned to the Marrar Football and Netball Club in the form of the 1918 Premiership Medal awarded to Charlie Glass who was a member of the 1918 Marrar Football team which won the 1918 premiership.

The medal is to be presented to the Marrar Football and Netball Club and will go on permanent display. It had been in the possession of Anthony (Tony) Glass for many years. Following his death in 2023 in Perth, the medal passed to Geoff Glass of Coolamon (formerly of Marrar).

Excerpts from a report of the presentation ceremony was recorded in the Coolamon-Ganmain Farmers review of October 25 1918:

‘Quite a pleasant time was spent at Marrar on Friday evening last in Winter’s Hall, the occasion being a smoke social, prompted for the purpose of making the presentation of medals to members of the Marrar Football Club, premiers of the Coolamon District Football Association competition.

There was a good attendance, presided over by Mr A Ray, the club’s president. The gold medals that were to be presented stood out prominently, and last but not least; the beautiful Tierney Cup.

When the Marrar team was first formed it was very small. Mr. J. Breheny was elected captain and the speaker secretary. The team went through the whole competition with only one defeat—a splendid performance. The final match was one of the best ever played, and that was against Ganmain—and it would take that team a long while to forget it.

Mr Breheny responded on behalf of his club. He said he was absolutely the proudest man in Marrar that night. He considered that the club had done remarkably well in the competition—in fact, they had accomplished something beyond expectations.

He said that when they defeated Ganmain in the final it was done in such a way that the Ganmain team became disgusted.

The presentation of the competition medals was then made to the following players: W. Taylor. Cecil Fury, Robt. Watson, D. Curtis, C.Glass, J. Breheny, W. Breheny, M. Maloney, P. Gaynor, C. Phelan, J. Langtry, J. N. Langtry and J. Blair. These were the only players present.

There were other members who were not in attendance and they could obtain their medals on application to the secretary.

Several specially donated medals were also presented. A medal, donated by Mr. W. Breheny for the best all-round player, was won by Mr. J. Blair. Mr P. J. Herrick made the presentation. Mr. Blair also secured Mr. D. McCrea’s trophy (an E.P. cake stand) for the player who scored the most goals among the competing teams on the Marrar ground, and Mr. C. Moylan’s gold medal for the member of the Marrar club who kicked the most goals throughout the season.

Mr. J. Breheny was awarded Mr. F.H. Roberts gold medal for the best ruck man or rover in the Marrar team.

The cup was again filled with champagne this time at the expense of Mr. H. Stinson late proprietor of the Marrar Hotel.