South West groups throw support behind plans for statue of legendary footballer Syd Jackson at Hands Oval

Several groups in the South West have rallied behind plans to honour the legendary Syd Jackson with a statue at the newly-redeveloped Hands Oval. Jackson is considered one of the region’s greatest football exports. Representatives from the City of Bunbury, South West Football League, Country Football WA and Gnaala Karla Booja Aboriginal Corporation, as well as several other key advocates for a statue of Jackson, came together at the venue on Tuesday to announce their support. Jackson made his first forays into senior football with Hands Oval’s home club South Bunbury in the South West Football League, becoming the youngest player in the league’s history to win the Hayward Medal as its best and fairest player in 1961, and claiming another in 1962. He was aged just 17 and 18 at the time. In Jackson’s first year with WAFL side East Perth in 1963, he won the club’s best and fairest award and tied for the most votes in the Sandover Medal, which he was ineligible to win due to suspension. After five years with the Royals, he was recruited to Carlton by legendary coach Ron Barassi in 1968, where he played 136 games and starred in their 1970 and 1972 premiership sides. Jackson said he was “very proud” when he learned of the plans to honour him at his former home ground. “At the Roelands Native Mission (was) where I really started to play football. In those days, we only had one football and about 50 kids trying to get a kick, I think you had to be pretty good to get a kick in that group there,” he said. “It’s fantastic to be here. It still feels like home, but all the new stands and everything have all changed now and all for the better of course. “It’s magnificent and unexpected, (I was) very surprised, of course. I’m honoured that the club and the supporters are doing this for me.” When pressed on what form he wanted the statue to take, Jackson showed his loyalty to the Blues still runs deep. “Probably a screamer, but make sure it’s over one of the Collingwood blokes,” he joked. Bunbury mayor Jaysen Miguel said the city was delighted to throw its support behind the plan. “Clearly, what (Syd) has done is known by everyone down here, and what it represents is truly remarkable,” he said. “We were approached by members of the community for a long time about some recognition towards Syd and the South West Football League came to the city a little while ago about allotting some kind of area for a statue to be made in honour of Syd. In principle, the city supported that concept. “We’re still working through where that may end up, what that may look like, with some great support from GKB and the people around me, but it’s truly an honour to announce that’s something the city and the region is going to be fully supporting.” South West Football League president Barry Tate said Jackson was a “perfect choice” for a statue at the venue. “His legacy, we want to see live on. What he did in his football career was outstanding and so remarkable,” he said. “To come back to this place here where it started, it’s a fantastic achievement. “This is the reason why we’re having AFL games here, because of people like Syd Jackson.” Gnaala Karla Booja’s Karim Khan said they “fully supported the well-deserved recognition” of Jackson. “He’s a role model for our community, a role model for the men, senior men in our community as well,” he said. “The GKB will do its utmost to ensure this project moves forward because he’s a special man and has played a big leadership role in our community.” Les Wallam, who was also raised at the Roelands Mission, said his lifelong friend’s importance as a role model could not be understated. “It’s good that he’s been acknowledged because he does more than just the football,” he said. “He’s been all over the place in terms of supporting the community. He continues that today, he came back to Roelands Village, which I manage, and he’s supporting us out there in all the things that we’re doing for young people in the community. “Most of us as Aboriginal people, Noongars, we followed Syd to East Perth. When he want to Carlton, we followed him to Carlton.”