Yallourn Football Club 1954 - Bernie Nairn

YALLOURN FOOTBALL CLUB 1954 ~ BERNIE NAIRN

Bernie Nairn won the Yallourn Football Club’s trophy for the Best and Fairest Player in 1954. It was the culmination of an exceptional season for Bernie. He had also polled well in the LVFL Rodda Medal with 13 votes. Sale’s champion ruckman Bob Mason (20 votes) won the medal that season.

The club trophy was a just reward for Bernie who had been a key player for Yallourn since the late 40’s. “Nairn is giving Yallourn his best season at centre half back.” Morwell Advertiser 10th June 1954

Press reports between 1949-1954 indicate that Bernie was a tough, tireless and robust defender who could be effective when used in attack.

In the 1949 final series, Yallourn was well beaten by Traralgon by 36 points. Although the Yallourn team struggled across all lines, Bernie was deemed to be best on the ground. “Nairn defended magnificently for the Blues.” Morwell Advertiser.

Bernie’s ability to go forward was best typified by his impact in the 1953 Grand Final Replay against Morwell. He booted four goals and was named second best for Yallourn. It is fair to suggest that Bernie probably played 100 games for Yallourn. While the statistics are vague, there is no doubt that Bernie Nairn was a powerful force in local football, a “big occasion” player and a “true Blue.”

Award winners at the YFC Presentation Night, at the RSL Hall (in Centreway), on the 15th October were:

Senior awards:
Best and Fairest Bernie Nairn
Runner-up~ B&F Pat Wheeler
Most consistent Jimmy Shaw
Most serviceable Laurie Shipp
Best utility Ken Parker
Most improved Jim Watt
Most reliable Des Madden
Trainer’s award Pat Wheeler
Youngest player John Hutchinson

Reserves awards:
Best and Fairest George Botten
Runner up~ B&F Kevin Collins
Most consistent Tom Oswald
Most improved Ian Broberg

Other trophy winners that evening included… Keith Gibson (Best clubman), Ian Houston, G &D Hall, I.McKenna and R.Wade.

Members of the YFC Ladies’ Committee received a gift and Carl White was presented with an appreciation award from the players.

Footnote~ Bernie Nairn - There is some evidence that Bernie Nairn played with East Geelong FC prior to arriving at YFC. In Geelong in 1941, a certain Bernard Nairn was warmly praised for the assistance he gave in saving the life of a friend who had been seriously injured in a railway shunting accident.(The Argus 8.9.1941)
The Morwell Advertiser (22nd December 1949) ran a headline that read.. “Popular Yallourn Footballer Weds.” The article reports the marriage of Bernie Nairn and Grace Lillian Turner from Morwell Bridge. Yallourn Football Club stalwart Col Webster was the best man at Bernie’s wedding.
It seems that 1954 was the last season that Bernie played senior football with Yallourn.
Photographs of Bernie and the team of that era can be found on the Virtual Yallourn website.

Written by ~ Roger Spaull for Virtual Yallourn. October 2012