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Ernest James “Snowy” Martin

HERITAGE No: 353

BIRTH: 9 February 1910
Dark Corner, NSW
DEATH: 26 May 1989 Toukley, NSW
DEATH: 26 May 1989
Toukley, NSW

OCCUPATION: Miner, 1933; Laborer, 1937

RESIDENCE: Main St Wallerawang, NSW, 1930; Canley Rd Fairfield, NSW, 1937

GAME HISTORY

  • Lithgow RL Combined 2nd Grade 1928
  • Wallerawang Rovers RL 1928, 1929, 1930
  • Lithgow District RL 1929
  • The Rest RL v Lithgow RL 1930
  • Cootamundra RL 1932
  • Group 9 RL v South Sydney RL 1932
  • Leeton RL 1933
  • Group 17 RL 1933
  • Easts RL (Trials) 1934
  • Cootamundra RL 1935
  • Parramatta RU 1936, 1937
  • Good Year RL (City Houses Competition) 1937
  • Wests RL 2nd Grade 1938
  • Wests RL First Grade 1938

Snowy

Ernest “Snowy” Martin, son of a Miner, was born in the Portland area near Lithgow, NSW. He played rugby league with the Wallerawang Rovers Club in the Lithgow competition as early as 1928.

Snowy was selected for the Lithgow District team in 1928. The Lithgow District team played against visiting Sydney teams as well as other regional towns in the Western District.

Towards the end of the 1929 season, the Wallerawang Rovers were scheduled to play a local Lithgow team. Against the direction of the Lithgow District Rugby League, Wallerawang travelled to Mudgee to play that team.

As a result, all Wallerawang players were disqualified for 12 months  and E. Martin “who so flagrantly disobeyed the Committee’s ruling”, received a two year disqualification. It was reported that; “Martin’s extra penalty came as a bombshell to the delegates as it was only recently that he received his chance to play in the Lithgow district team. Each time he has turned out he has shown marked ability.”

The ban on all Wallerawang players including Snowy Martin was lifted in March 1930 after delegates from the Wallerawang Club and Snowy Martin made a personal appearance before the Committee. Each of them expressed regret at the action which had brought about the disqualification.

Snowy Martin was now able to trial for the Lithgow District representative team and was selected in the squad in April 1930. This however is the last record of Snowy Martin playing in Lithgow.

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