95-433: Club Representative Overall Donald Neil Kerley AM (20 February 1934 – 29 June 2022) was an Australian rules footballer and coach. He is best known for taking three clubs to four South Australian National Football League (SANFL) premierships over three decades as both a player and coach, and for playing 32 state games for South Australia . Kerley, who started his senior footballing career with Barmera in
190-419: A 16.13 (109) to 11.7 (73) win over Norwood. In what became known as "The Turkish Bath Grand Final" due to being played in 35 °C heat. The oppressive heat helped The Bloods as they had won their 2nd Semi-Final clash with Port Adelaide and had earned a week's rest while Norwood had to defeat Port in the previous week's Preliminary Final to make the big game. The heat was also blamed for the crowd of just 40,909,
285-471: A Port supporter in his youth, falling out of the Port Adelaide zone into Woodville's. Port Adelaide made the 1964 SANFL Grand Final but lost to South Adelaide in what remains their most recent premiership. Port Adelaide won the 1965 SANFL Grand Final defeating Sturt in front of 62,543 spectators which is still the record crowd for a sporting event at Adelaide Oval . Sturt defeated Port Adelaide in
380-472: A break that sitting in the grandstand watching them was a woman who knew as much about the game of football as he did and that he would be informed on his way home (a 45 km drive from Elizabeth to the couple's home in Bellevue Heights ) who had trained well and who hadn't. Kerley was referring to wife Barbara who had learned a thing or two about Aussie rules football in her 30+ years sitting on
475-561: A challenge to take the prime ministership in September 2015. Two months after coming into office, the new republican prime minister announced that the Queen had approved his request to amend the Order's letters patent and cease awards at this level. Existing titles would not be affected. The move was attacked by monarchists and praised by republicans. The amendments to the constitution of
570-445: A future three time Magarey Medal winner (1955, '58 and '63). Kerley got what he believes was his first touch when he took a contested mark against Head but, in what would be a pattern in his career (not agreeing with officials), the umpire awarded the mark to Head. In 1953 Kerley headed north again and worked as a truck driver at a tent camp near the rocket testing range at Koolymilka, close to Woomera . Although just 19 years old he
665-589: A member of the British Empire, members of the colonies and later federated nation of Australia were able to have achievement awarded under the British Imperial Honours system . However, existing criticism of the aristocratic nature of the awards grew following a cash-for-honours corruption scandal in the UK in 1922. Moves to abolish the awards federally and the states were unsuccessful; however
760-505: A position of power in the league and along with the 1951 win they won five consecutive from 1954 to 1958 and finished second to West Torrens in 1953. After 1950, Port Adelaide only missed the Grand Final under Fos Williams guidance when they lost the preliminary to Norwood by eleven points in 1952. In 1953, Fos Williams returned Port Adelaide to the Grand Final, a stage where the club would remain for seven consecutive seasons. During
855-585: A representation of the states (with whom Whitlam's government was constantly in dispute) through the state badges within the Commonwealth Coat of Arms . The original three-level structure of the Order of Australia was modelled closely upon the Order of Canada , though the Order of Australia has been awarded rather more liberally, especially in regard to honorary awards to non-citizens. As of July 2024 only 30 non-Canadians have been appointed to
950-554: A single flower of mimosa . At the centre is a ring, representing the sea, with the word Australia below two branches of mimosa. The whole disc is topped by the Crown of St Edward . The AC badge is decorated with citrines , blue enamelled ring, and enamelled crown. The AO badge is similar, without the citrines. For the AM badge, only the crown is enamelled, and the OAM badge is plain. The AK/AD badge
1045-597: A single mother, finally moved to Adelaide later in life and died in 1992. While coaching North Whyalla in 1955, Neil Kerley met a local girl Barbara Gordon. The pair were married on 25 February 1955 at the St Teresa's Catholic Church in Whyalla and have three children (Donald Jr, Robyn and Gail). In a story told by Kerley in the book Knuckles by Jim Rosevear (2003), at one of his first training sessions in charge of Central District during 1988, Kerley told his players during
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#17327914334991140-508: A small detachment from 'B' Troop, the 2/8th Commando Squadron were landed from HMAS Kiama on a reconnaissance operation at Jacquinot Bay on the island of New Britain to collect intelligence in preparation for an assault by the 5th Division . On 25 December the crew was recalled from leave to go to the assistance of the liberty ship SS Robert J. Walker , which had been torpedoed by German submarine U-862 . Kiama , along with Quickmatch , Yandra , and USS PC597 found
1235-592: A telegrapher on the corvette HMAS Kiama . HMAS Kiama's initial duty was to escort convoys along the New Guinea coastline. In June 1944 she was given a reassignment to perform anti-submarine patrols in the Solomon Sea . In September Kiama was used to transport soldiers between New Guinea and New Britain . On conclusion, she resumed her convoy escort role until the end of 1944, when she departed for Sydney. In September 1944 Commandos from 'C' Troop and
1330-466: A troop and supply transport, minesweeper, and general duties vessel. When the war ended, Kiama took part in the Japanese surrender at Rabaul . In November, Kiama was assigned to escort demilitarized Japanese cruiser Kashima as the cruiser embarked Japanese soldiers in New Guinea for repatriation. Fos Williams was discharged from service on HMAS Kiama on 6 June 1946, nine months after
1425-457: A week later he agreed to play for the club. Kerley played in an era when players usually only played one position on the ground yet he was a rare breed of player who could play any position on the ground including being successful in the ruck despite his lack of height for a ruckman (Kerley only stood at 182 cm or just over 6 foot tall compared to most ruckmen of the time who stood at least 190 cm or 6'3" tall). His strong, early leap and
1520-434: Is a registered charity, whose stated purpose is "[t]o celebrate and promote outstanding Australian citizenship". It also supports the "community and social activities" of members and promotes and encourages the nomination of other Australians to the Order. The Order also runs a foundation that provides scholarships to tertiary students that show potential as future leaders and are involved in community activities. Branches of
1615-473: Is issued with each badge of the order at the time of investiture; AK/AD and AC lapel pins feature a citrine central jewel, AO and AM lapel pins have a blue enamelled centre and OAM lapel pins are plain. The different levels of the order are awarded according to the recipients' levels of achievement: Since 1976 any Australian citizen may nominate any person for an Order of Australia award. People who are not Australian citizens may be awarded honorary membership of
1710-563: Is likely to feel a bit second-rate, and the public is likely to agree. We hate to be the first to say it, but there is no doubt that the Order of Australia (OA) will be labelled as the Ocker Award. Satire and mockery also greeted the awards, being dubbed "Gough’s Gongs" and "the Order of the Wombat". The newly elected Liberal Fraser government decided to once again make recommendations for imperial awards, whilst maintaining and expanding
1805-485: Is similar to that of the AC badge, but with the difference that it contains at the centre an enamelled disc bearing an image of the coat of arms of Australia . The colours of royal blue and gold are taken from the livery colours of the Commonwealth Coat of Arms , the then national colours . The star for knights and dames is a convex golden disc decorated with citrines, with a blue royally crowned inner disc bearing an image of
1900-490: Is well within our reach and have confidence that each member of both the team and management will suffer personal sacrifices for the common end. Also we know that, should we after striving to our utmost and giving our everything, still not be successful, our efforts will become a further part of this Club's enviable tradition. Finally, we concede that there can be honour in defeat, but to each of us, honourable defeat of our Club and guernsey can only come after human endeavour on
1995-415: The 1956 SANFL Grand Final . In 1957 , Port Adelaide defeated Norwood for the second time in three years for the premiership. For the third time in five years, and what would be his last before retiring as a player and stepping away from football for 1959, Fos Williams guided Port Adelaide to the 1958 SANFL premiership with a two point Grand Final victory over West Adelaide. After leaving Alberton at
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#17327914334992090-550: The 1991 AFL season with the Crows before making his third run as coach of West Adelaide in 1992, taking over from Kevin Morris who like Kerley in 1962 was sacked after taking Wests to the Grand Final in 1991. Unfortunately West Adelaide couldn't recapture their previous season's form due to injuries and the loss of key players to the Crows. The Bloods finished sixth in 1992 and only avoided the wooden spoon by percentage in 1993. Kerley
2185-488: The Australian Labor Party remained opposed and generally refused to recommend awards whilst in office, with this a part of the party's platform since 1918. This was confirmed in a resolution adopted unanimously by the party conference in 1921. However, the non-Labor parties remained supportive, with the long running Menzies government making significant use of the imperial system. The Order of Australia
2280-466: The Council for the Order of Australia . Members of the government are not involved in the recommendation of appointments, other than for military and honorary awards. The King of Australia is the sovereign head of the order, and the governor-general is the principal companion and chancellor of the order. The governor-general's official secretary , Paul Singer (appointed August 2018), is secretary of
2375-552: The Irish 3 games to 2. Following his last season as a senior coach in 1993, Kerley was a boundary rider for Channel 7 telecasts of the AFL during the 1990s, until they lost the rights in 2001. He also served as a selector for the AFL's All-Australian team . Kerley recorded a single of "I was Born Under a Wandering Star" whilst still coaching Glenelg in the early 1970s. It received considerable air play on Australian radio. Neil Kerley
2470-639: The Melbourne Cricket Ground in 1963. Kerley also gained All Australian selection in 1961. He also spent 10 years as state coach over a span of 30 years with his last year being 1984 when South Australia lost to Victoria by just 4 points at Football Park and to Western Australia by a single point at Footy Park. Kerley was also coach of the Australian team for the 1987 International rules series played in Ireland . The Aussies defeated
2565-664: The Port Adelaide and West Adelaide Football Clubs and coached South Adelaide in the South Australian National Football League (SANFL) in a career spanning 1946–1978. He also played 34 interstate games for South Australia , captaining the team from 1954 to 1958 and he coached the team in 45 games from 1955 to 1969. Born in the town of Quorn, located in the Flinders Ranges and some 39 km north-east of Port Augusta ,
2660-881: The Riverland Football League in 1948 at the age of 14, played mostly in the SANFL between 1952 and 1969. A Norwood supporter as a young boy growing up on a fruit block in Barmera in South Australia's Riverland , Kerley left home less than a year later and headed north on his motorbike for two years, working as a Jackeroo on cattle stations . Kerley attended Rostrevor College . He played alongside Norwood great Peter Vivian ('52) in Rostrevor's U13 football and cricket sides. Kerley returned to umpire several Past vs Present Player matches at Rostrevor in
2755-429: The 1953 SANFL Grand Final Port Adelaide would fall to West Torrens by 7 points. In 1954 Fos Williams led Port Adelaide to its second premiership under his guidance, defeating his old club West Adelaide by 3 points in the 1954 SANFL Grand Final . In 1955, Port Adelaide defeated Norwood in the 1955 SANFL Grand Final by 63 points. In 1956, Fos Williams again defeating his old club West Adelaide, this time by 16 points in
2850-401: The 1972 SANFL Grand Final and would go on to beat Carlton for the 1972 Championship of Australia. Fos Williams continued to coach Port Adelaide until the end of the 1973 season when they finished fifth. During his 21 seasons at the helm of the Port Adelaide, the club competed in twenty finals series (missing only in 1969 ), sixteen Grand Finals and had won nine premierships. At the time this was
2945-508: The 1974 and 1975 SANFL Grand Finals where they lost both times to Sturt in '74 and Norwood in '75. His last season as coach of Glenelg in 1976 saw them finish in third place. Despite four separate stints at West Adelaide, Kerley said he felt more at home at Glenelg citing the lack of fighting with the club's board, his success there as a player and coach as well as the general atmosphere at the club as reasons. Kerley signed on as coach of perennial under-performers West Torrens in 1977 and fans of
Neil Kerley - Misplaced Pages Continue
3040-474: The 435 people who have received the nation's top Order of Australia honours since they were first awarded in 1975, shows they disproportionately attended a handful of elite Victorian secondary schools. Scotch College alumni received the highest number of awards, with 19 former students receiving Australia's [then] highest honour". On 26 January 1980 the Order of Australia Association was created as an incorporated body with membership open to award recipients. It
3135-547: The 60s. When he turned 18 in 1952 Kerley was called up for National Service where he was based at the Woodside Barracks in the Adelaide Hills . While there he was invited by a friend to attend a Norwood game. The Redlegs, as Norwood has been known since 1878, had heard of Kerley's football skills but Neil was not impressed with the reception he received from the club and when West Adelaide approached him
3230-540: The 67 survivors of the attack at but failed to locate U-862 . Kiama was assigned to anti-submarine patrols near Sydney for the final days of 1945 before a month-long refit in Adelaide starting on 3 January 1945. After the refit Kiama was assigned to Fremantle for two months of anti-submarine warfare exercises with the United States Navy , before returning to New Guinea on 7 May 1945. In May and June,
3325-633: The Bloods improved, making their first finals series since 1969 by finishing fifth in 1976 and improved again to reach the finals again in 1977, ultimately finishing third after losing to Glenelg in the Preliminary Final at Football Park . 1977 also saw Grimwood win the Magarey Medal . 1977 was the 23rd and last SANFL Finals series to feature Fos Williams as a coach. After finishing with a 14–8 record in 1977, West Adelaide slumped in what
3420-611: The Grand Final against Port Adelaide at the Adelaide Oval . It would be the first of four losing Grand Finals for Kerley as a West Adelaide player or coach (1956, 1958, 1959 and 1962) – all defeats to the Fos Williams coached Port Adelaide. Ironically, Williams was a West Adelaide junior who had played 54 games for the club from 1946 to 1949 (kicking 112 goals) and had played in the club's Grand Final win over Norwood in 1947 before moving to Port in 1950. Kerley's coach in 1956
3515-560: The Grand Final at Football Park, with Kerley stating that the 1983 team was the best side he had ever coached. This was West Adelaide's last premiership until 2015. West Adelaide could not repeat their stunning 1983 form due to injuries and finished the 1984 season in sixth place. Following the 1984 season Kerley, seeking a new challenge after more than 30 years of league football, accepted the position of Fitness Director and Tender Captain for South Australia's America's Cup campaign. Following SA's unsuccessful America's Cup challenge, Kerley
3610-462: The Magpies. Following the season Kerley, who was always his own man and rarely bowed to officialdom, was sensationally sacked as West Adelaide's coach despite taking them to one premiership and two Grand Finals in his two seasons in charge. He was replaced as captain-coach by longtime teammate Doug Thomas for 1963 but agreed to play out his contract with the club (Thomas was against Kerley's sacking and
3705-418: The Order of Australia and the award of 199 Honorary Medals of the Order of Australia. Notable honorary awards include: Since 1975, just over 30 per cent of recipients of an Order of Australia honour have been women. The number of nominations and awards for women is trending up, with the 2023 Australia Day Honours resulting in the highest percentage of awards for women to date (47.1 per cent, 47.9 per cent in
3800-597: The Order of Australia. This was done by with the addition of two additional award levels: Knight or Dame (AK or AD) above the level of Companion, and the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) below Members. The Civil Division was also renamed the General Division, so that awards could be given to those in the Defence Force for non-military achievement. These changes were made on 24 May 1976. The reaction to
3895-486: The Order of Canada, while 537 non-Australians have been appointed to the Order of Australia, with 46 to the Companion level. Public reaction to the new awards was mixed. Only the state Labor governments of Tasmania and South Australia agreed to submit recommendations for the new awards, with the remaining governments affirming their committent to the existing imperial honours system. Newspaper editorials similarly praised
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3990-498: The Order were gazetted on 22 December 2015. Yvonne Kenny AM represented the Order at the 2023 Coronation . King Charles III , when he was Prince of Wales , was appointed a Knight of the Order of Australia (AK) on 14 March 1981. As he is not an Australian citizen, even though he was the heir to the Australian throne at the time, this would have required the award to be honorary. To overcome this issue, his appointment
4085-594: The Order would be determined by the Council of the Order of Australia. Awards of the Order of Australia are sometimes made to people who are not citizens of Australia to honour extraordinary achievements. These achievements, or the people themselves, are not necessarily associated with Australia, although they often are. On 1 July 2024, the Australian Honours website listed appointments for 46 Honorary Companions, 118 Honorary Officers, 174 Honorary Members of
4180-611: The Players and Management of the Port Adelaide Football Club, accept the heritage which players and administrators have passed down to us; in doing so we do not intend to rest in idleness but shall strive with all our power to further this Club's unexcelled achievements. To do this we believe there is a great merit and noble achievements in winning a premiership. To be successful, each of us must be active, aggressive and devoted to this cause. We agree that success
4275-441: The Queen to reinstate the level of knight or dame and the Queen co-signed letters patent to bring this into effect. The change was publicly announced on 25 March, and gazetted on 17 April 2014. Up to four knights or dames could be appointed each year, by the Queen of Australia on the advice of the prime minister after consultation with the chairman of the Order of Australia Council. Five awards of knight and dame were then made, to
4370-527: The Roosters’ home ground, Prospect Oval . Kerley coached the club to just its second premiership (and first since 1934) when they defeated North Adelaide by seven points in front of 56,525 fans in what would be the last Grand Final played at the Adelaide Oval, as the league's new headquarters, Football Park in the western Adelaide suburb of West Lakes opened in 1974. Kerley coached Glenelg to both
4465-438: The SANFL ladder after being "easy beats" since his departure from the club in 1963. They finished sixth in 1982, only needing to beat Norwood (the eventual 1982 premiers) in the final round at Norwood Oval to be assured of fifth spot. However, a fully focused Norwood took The Bloods apart with an 80-point win. The Bloods continued to improve and in 1983 Kerley won his fourth premiership as a coach when West Adelaide defeated Sturt in
4560-569: The Tigers to the 1970 Grand Final where again they lost to Sturt who won their fifth premiership in a row under the coaching of Kerley's former West Adelaide mentor Jack Oatey. The Tigers finished sixth and missed the finals in both 1971 and 1972 but bounced back with a vengeance in 1973, finishing the 21-game minor round with a club best ever 20–1 record, their only loss to reigning premier (and 1972 Champions of Australia ) North Adelaide in Round 8 at
4655-451: The Tigers, won the club's Best and Fairest award in 1967 and led the club to the 1969 Grand Final against Sturt . Following the loss to Sturt (coached by Jack Oatey), Kerley retired from league football having played 276 SANFL games and kicking 123 goals in a career spanning 16 seasons beginning in 1952. Following his retirement from playing at the end of 1969, Kerley moved full-time into coaching from 1970, continuing on with Glenelg. He took
4750-409: The ability to do so all game as well as his physical strength made him one of the league's top knock ruckmen. He made his SANFL league debut for West Adelaide in 1952 as a reserve for a game against West Torrens at Thebarton Oval (his only game of the season). West Captain-Coach Brian Faehse was injured early in the game and Kerley went on to play Centre half-back , standing a young Lindsay Head ,
4845-511: The association are in all the states and territories of Australia as well as the UK and the USA. Total inductees as of July 2024 . The order of wearing Australian and other approved honours is determined by the government. The award is parodied in the play Amigos , where the central character is determined to be awarded the AC, and uses persuasion, bribery and blackmail in his (ultimately successful) attempts to get himself nominated for
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#17327914334994940-502: The award to Prince Philip in a ReachTEL poll. The Australian Labor Party continued to oppose knighthoods and damehoods. Leader of the opposition Bill Shorten stated in March 2014 that the party would again discontinue the level if it were to win the next Australian federal election. The knighthood decision was a significant factor that caused Liberal party members to question Abbott's leadership, with Malcolm Turnbull succeeding in
5035-435: The award. During the 1996 season of the popular television programme Home and Away , the character Pippa Ross was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia for her years of service as a foster carer. Fos Williams Club Representative Coaching Honours Foster Neil " Fos " Williams AM (21 February 1922 – 1 September 2001) was a leading Australian rules footballer who played for and coached
5130-411: The awards as an example of Australia's greater independence, whilst also noting that the awards would likely appear second-rate. The Australian stated that There is no longer a British Empire; everyone knows that. But somehow the phrase "imperial honours" still carries a ring of regal authenticity that somehow transcends nationalism. For the time being a recipient ... of the Order of Australia
5225-519: The changes to the awards were similarly split along party lines. Following the 1983 federal election , Labor Prime Minister Bob Hawke recommitted to the end of recommendations for imperial awards. No knighthoods were awarded during his first term in office and he advised the abolition of the knight/dame level after being re-elected in 1986. During the time the division was active from 1976 to 1983, twelve knights and two dames were created. On 19 March 2014, monarchist prime minister Tony Abbott advised
5320-416: The club creed. After 1958, citing exhaustion, Williams spent a year out of the game. After spending a year out of the game following his retirement as a player, Fos Williams looked to become reinvolved in league football. Williams re-entry into league football as a non-playing coach began when he took over South Adelaide in 1960. Unfortunately for both South Adelaide and Williams he could do little with
5415-464: The club to retain him as a registered player. In early 1956 Kerley was on his way to take up a position of playing coach at South Gambier in the South-East & Border Football League when West Adelaide intervened. West persuaded Kerley to start a serious league career in the SANFL and also found a replacement coach for South Gambier. In his first full season with Wests Kerley helped the team to
5510-518: The club were called upon to "Join the King’s Eagle Revival in 1977" with T-shirts printed up stating just that. He took them from bottom (tenth) with losses in each of the last sixteen matches in 1976 to sixth in 1977 and fifth in 1978. The club slumped to eighth in 1979 before Kerley again lifted them and took the Eagles to their last ever finals series by finishing fifth in 1980. In 1981 Kerley
5605-463: The coat of arms of Australia. The ribbon of the order is royal blue with a central stripe of mimosa blossoms. Awards in the military division are edged with 1.5 mm golden bands. AKs, male ACs and AOs wear their badges on a necklet and male AMs and OAMs wear them on a ribbon on the left chest. Women usually wear their badges on a bow on the left shoulder, although they may wear the same insignia as males if so desired. A gold lapel pin for daily wear
5700-583: The conclusion of World War II . Williams had a late start to football due to World War II, returning to Adelaide to start his career as a league footballer in July 1946 at the age of 24. Williams initially wanted to play with Port Adelaide where his brother Frank had been playing. However, because he was living in the Hilton district within the West Adelaide zone, he was required by the SANFL to play for
5795-592: The corvette performed several coastal bombardments in the Bougainville area . In July, Kiama transported Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester from New Guinea to the Solomon Islands, then spent the rest of the month moving troops and military cargo between these two locations. From 5 to 24 August, the corvette was based in Brisbane, before returning to New Guinea waters. Kiama spent the rest of 1945 as
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#17327914334995890-430: The end of 1958, Williams' influence at Port Adelaide was still evident in his three-year absence with the team's style of play changing little under new coach (and Williams' old teammate) Geof Motley . Motley took over as captain-coach and Port would win a sixth successive flag in 1959 and finish third in 1960 and 1961 before Williams returned in 1962. During his time as captain-coach of Port Adelaide, Fos Williams wrote
5985-463: The exception of awards recommended by the soon to be independent government of the Territory of Papua and New Guinea ); however this did not affect the constitutional right of state governments to recommend imperial awards. According to the governor general's then-secretary Sir David Smith , Whitlam was furious when he first saw Devlin's design for the insignia of the order, due to the inclusion of
6080-450: The following three SANFL Grand Finals in 1966 , 1967 , 1968 . Port Adelaide missed the SANFL finals for the first and only time in 1969 with Fos Williams as coach. Port Adelaide finished minor premiers in 1970 but lost the preliminary final to Glenelg by 18 points. Port Adelaide would lose the 1971 SANFL Grand Final to that year's minor premiers North Adelaide. In a repeat of the previous year's decider North Adelaide would beat Port in
6175-489: The general division). Advocacy groups such as Honour a Woman and the Workplace Gender Equality Agency have called for greater effort to be made to reach equal representation of men and women in the order. In December 2010, The Age reported a study of the educational backgrounds of all people who had received Knight/Dame and Companion level awards at that time. It reported: "An analysis of
6270-683: The governments of each respective state and territory, and three ex officio members (the chief of the Defence Force , the vice-president of the Federal Executive Council and a public servant responsible for honours policy). The Council chair as of August 2024 is Shelley Reys. The Council makes recommendations to the governor-general. Awards are announced on Australia Day and on the King's Birthday public holiday in June, on
6365-586: The governor-general to remove an individual from the order, who may cancel an award. Announcements of all awards, cancellations and resignations appear in the Commonwealth Gazette . Nomination forms are confidential and not covered by the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (Cth) . The reasoning behind a nomination being successful or unsuccessful—and even the attendees of the meetings where such nominations are discussed—remains confidential. As
6460-646: The greats of South Australian Football when he took the Panthers from bottom in 1963 to the SANFL Premiership in 1964 with a 27-point win over his long-time Grand Final nemesis Port Adelaide. As of 2022 this is the last time South Adelaide has won the SANFL premiership. Kerles went on to play 56 games for the Panthers until the end of 1966. Kerley signed with his third league club when he agreed to join Glenelg as player-coach from 1967. He played 55 games for
6555-469: The latter club. Subsequently, Williams became the 609th player selected to play for club in the SANFL making his league debut on 20 July 1946. Williams played as a rover in West Adelaide's victorious 1947 Grand Final against Norwood at the Adelaide Oval . West Adelaide looked likely to repeat their success of the previous season but would fall four points short to eventual premiers Norwood in
6650-417: The occasion of a special announcement by the governor-general (usually honorary awards), and on the appointment of a new governor-general. The governor-general presents the order's insignia to new appointees. Appointments to the order may be made posthumously as long as a person was nominated for an award whilst they were still alive. Awardees may subsequently resign from the order, and the Council may advise
6745-674: The order at all levels. Nomination forms are submitted to the Director, Honours Secretariat, a position within the Office of the Official Secretary to the Governor-General of Australia , at Government House, Canberra , which are then forwarded to the Council for the Order of Australia . The council consists of 19 members: seven selected by the prime minister (described as "community representatives"), eight appointed by
6840-448: The order. The order is divided into a general and a military division. The five levels of appointment to the order in descending order of seniority are: Honorary awards at all levels may be made to non-citizens. These awards are made additional to the quotas. The order's insignia was designed by Stuart Devlin . The badge of the Order of Australia is a convex disc (gold for AKs, ADs and ACs, gilt for AOs, AMs and OAMs) representing
6935-457: The outgoing governor-general , Quentin Bryce ; her successor, Peter Cosgrove ; a recent chief of the Defence Force , Angus Houston ; a recent governor of New South Wales , Marie Bashir ; and Prince Philip . This last award was widely met with ridicule and dismay by many in the Australian media. The award was also heavily criticised in the community, with 72% disapproving and 12% in favour of
7030-420: The playing field is completely exhausted." Fos Williams Port Adelaide would win back-to-back premierships in 1963. This would mean that Port Adelaide had won 8 of the last 10 premierships and the SANFL would subsequently introduce the neighbouring Woodville Woodpeckers in an effort, at least partially, to weaken Port Adelaide's dominance. The most tangible impact of this change would be Malcolm Blight ,
7125-681: The prime minister alone, rather than by the Council of the Order of Australia, as is the case with all lower levels of the order. In accordance with the statutes of 2014, Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh , was created a Knight of the Order by letters patent signed by the Queen on 7 January 2015, on Abbott's advice. Prince Philip's knighthood was announced as part of the Australia Day Honours on 26 January 2015 and his appointment attracted criticism of what Abbott described as his "captain's call". Abbott responded by announcing that future recommendations for appointments as Knights and Dames of
7220-430: The record for coaching in the SANFL. John Cahill , protege and successor of Williams took over as Port Adelaide coach for 1974 and would go on to break Williams' record of 9 premierships as coach, when he won 10, all with Port Adelaide. Williams returned to West Adelaide as coach in 1974 but the side finished with its third "wooden spoon" in a row. Williams recruited former Port Adelaide rover Trevor Grimwood in 1975 and
7315-578: The sidelines watching her husband's teams play. Over the years Barbara was often able to inform Neil of things that happened during training or games that he had missed, something he greatly valued during his coaching career. Kerley died on 29 June 2022, aged 88, after crashing his car in Walker Flat, South Australia . Member of the Order of Australia The Order of Australia is an Australian honour that recognises Australian citizens and other persons for outstanding achievement and service. It
7410-498: The smallest since West Adelaide's last premiership in 1947. Kerley was at his dynamic best on the day leading the 1st Ruck . He collected 23 kicks, 3 handballs and took 6 marks in a best on ground performance. 1962 produced much the same for West Adelaide. Kerley won the club's Best & Fairest award in 1961 and '62 (to add to his 1958 and '59 wins). He led the Bloods to the 1962 SANFL Grand Final where they faced their nemesis Port Adelaide but couldn't repeat their 1961 win and lost to
7505-663: The son of Melville George Williams and Emma Otellia Williams (née McMillan). The only football Williams played prior to World War II was in Quorn. He played for the Quorn Albions and also was a start player for Quorn High School. Williams enlisted in the Australian Army on 5 March 1942, serving as a signalman. On 32 March 1943 Williams transferred to the Royal Australian Navy where he served as
7600-414: The team to a preliminary final, where they were however well beaten by Glenelg. In 1951, he won his second SANFL premiership as a player and the first of a then record nine as a coach when he led Port Adelaide to an eleven-point win over North Adelaide in the Grand Final after losing only one game on a Thebarton Oval mudheap all season. Under the coaching of Williams from 1950 until 1958, Port returned to
7695-410: The underperforming Panthers and the club finished seventh with only three wins in his sole season in charge. Williams returned to Alberton in 1962 as non-playing coach taking over from Geof Motley, who stayed on as team captain. Williams once again led Port Adelaide to premierships in 1962. The Port Adelaide Football Club's creed was written and spoken for the first time in 1962 by Fos Williams. "We,
7790-516: The year's preliminary final. Williams first gained state selection for South Australia while with West Adelaide and also kicked 112 goals for the club until the end of 1949. At the end of 1949 Fos Williams was approached by representatives of clubs from Western Australia and Victoria, particularly Geelong and Subiaco , in attempts to lure him away from West Adelaide. Despite Williams having lucrative offers from clubs interstate, Port Adelaide's first preference to replace Jack McCarthy as head coach
7885-496: Was Laurie Cahill while from 1957 to 1960 the club was coached by the legendary Jack Oatey . Kerley won the first of four Best & Fairest awards for the club in 1958 and was appointed West captain in 1959. Kerley took over as coach from Jack Oatey in 1961 when Oatey moved on to coach Sturt (whom he would coach until 1982, taking the Double Blues to 7 premierships). Neil led Westies to its first premiership since 1947 with
7980-484: Was Fos Williams' last year as an SANFL league coach in 1978. The Bloods finished with only five wins and a draw and ninth place; however one of the wins was the only loss inflicted upon Sturt prior to the Grand Final. Following this disappointing result Williams retired from coaching. In early July, Fos Williams was named for the first time in the South Australian team for the upcoming 1947 Hobart Carnival at
8075-512: Was appointed Captain-Coach of the local scratch side. He won the association's Mail Medal and led the team to the premiership. In 1954 Kerley was persuaded by former West Adelaide player Bill Sutherland to take over from him as coach of North Whyalla in the Whyalla Football League . Kerley led North Whyalla to the premiership in both 1954 and 1955 and in 1955 he played his second SANFL league game with West Adelaide which allowed
8170-447: Was created by an amendment to the constitution of the Order of Australia by special letters patent signed by the Queen, on the recommendation of Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser . In March 2014 the knight and dame levels, which had been abolished in 1986 by Prime Minister Bob Hawke , were reintroduced to the Order of Australia by Tony Abbott . At the same time, Abbott announced that future appointments at this level would be recommended by
8265-417: Was enticed back to West Adelaide by their President Bob Lee and his 1961 premiership winning teammate, General Manager Doug Thomas, who had replaced Kerley as Captain-Coach of the Bloods in 1963. Kerley and Thomas had remained friends as Kerley's beef from 1962 was with the then board of the club and not Thomas who only agreed to the coaching role in a bid to bring stability to the club. His impact at Richmond
8360-408: Was established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II , Queen of Australia , on the advice of then prime minister Gough Whitlam . Before the establishment of the order, Australians could receive British honours , which continued to be issued in parallel until 1992. Appointments to the order are made by the governor-general , "with the approval of The Sovereign", according to recommendations made by
8455-498: Was established on 14 February 1975 by letters patent of Queen Elizabeth II , acting as Queen of Australia , and on the advice of the newly elected Labor prime minister , Gough Whitlam . The original order had three levels: Companion (AC), Officer (AO) and Member (AM) as well as two divisions: Civil Division and Military Division. Whitlam had previously announced in 1972 (on his third day in office) that his government would no longer nominate persons for British Imperial honours (with
8550-499: Was immediate, steering the Bloods to fifth place and their first finals series since 1977. With strong recruiting of former VFL players such as Ian Borchard , Larry Watson , Craig Williams , Mike Smith , Mark Dreher and Bernie Conlen , as well as young stars Roger Luders , Bruce Lindner , Mark Mickan and Grantley Fielke mixing with veterans Geoff Morris and Peter Meuret, and a game plan that turned attacking from defence into an art form, Kerley had begun to steer West back up
8645-665: Was initially reluctant to take up the position, only doing so when assured by Kerley that he had his support). West Adelaide's form dropped in 1963 and they finished the season fourth, losing the Elimination Final. As a player and playing-coach for West Adelaide Kerley played 165 games and kicked 87 goals between 1952 and 1963 and led the club to its seventh premiership in 1961. After his contract with West Adelaide ended following 1963, Kerley signed on as Captain-Coach of South Adelaide in 1964. The South Adelaide Panthers had finished last in 1963 and Kerley cemented his place among
8740-512: Was ready to come back to football and after negotiations with WAFL club Claremont , Woodville and Central District he became the seventh coach of Centrals in 1988, leading them to fourth in both 1988 and 1989 before ending his three-year term at Elizabeth by finishing seventh in 1990. In 1991 Kerley was appointed Football Manager for the newly formed Adelaide Crows in the Australian Football League (AFL) and spent
8835-406: Was sacked for the second time as coach of West Adelaide, bringing an end to his SANFL coaching career after 28 seasons that began with a premiership at West Adelaide in 1961. Neil Kerley is the only SANFL coach to win premierships at multiple clubs over three decades. Neil Kerley represented South Australia 32 times during his league career including captaining SA to a famous win over Victoria at
8930-808: Was the son of Laurie and Lillian (née O'Brien) Kerley and was the second of the couple's six children (brothers Michael, Ronald, James and Brian, and sister Jennifer). His father died at the Daw Park Repatriation General Hospital in Adelaide on 21 February 1945, the day after Neil's 11th birthday. Laurie had fought in the AIF in World War I and also in Egypt and Crete in World War II . His mother, after struggling for years as
9025-421: Was to appoint South Adelaide's Jim Deane . However, despite Jim Deane being Port Adelaide's first preference for head coach, South Adelaide vehemently refused to release him from his contract. Subsequently, on 22 January 1950 Fos Williams was released in good faith by West Adelaide so he could become the captain-coach of Port Adelaide. In his first year at Port, he won the club's best and fairest award and led
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