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One of the most talked about items on the website was initially placed on the website in January, and when the opportunity came for a reuniting of the old warhorses from exactly 50 years ago at the 50th anniversary celebration of the 1963 Wests v Saints grand final at the rugby league museum, I just couldnt resist.

Fred Jackson was working at the museum as a volunteer on Sunday 14th April and Peter Dimond was there at the reunion function when I grabbed Fred and brought the 2 together for their own 50 year reunion.

Fred introduced himself to Peter with a handshake and the phrase
” Hi Pete, I’m Fred Jackson and 50 years ago you helped me get into first grade”

Fred then related to Pete that Pete had “taken out” so to speak one of Souths players Alan Skene earlier in a game in the Pre Season comp in 1963 and Fred had “stumbled” onto Peter, well onto his face later in the game to be precise which resulted in Fred being sent off on the day.

Peter responded with
“Is that what happened to my face then ?”

Folklore has it that when Fred reached the sideline after receiving his marching orders, he didnt slow down and literally ran through the dressing sheds at Redfern Oval, smashing through anything in his path and out into the streets of Redfern and Surry Hills not looking back thinking the Wests enforcer was hot on his heels.

I was so happy to get this historic photo to allow the article to have a wonderful finale

Scott Towers-Hammond

The original article is below……….

Normally as the saying goes actions or pictures speak louder than words but I feel in this case the opposite is true !!!

The article below appeared in the Sydney Morning Herald on the 2nd April 1963 approaching 50 years ago

Pretty lenient suspension by todays standards.
The game was a 1963 Craven Filter 1st Grade trial at Redfern Oval.

Thats Fred below after being sent off for his altercation with Peter Dimond.

Thanks to Ken Vessey for the newspaper clipping……

Scott Towers-Hammond

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