Thread by @rhettrospective

TIGER THREAD/

With the @RichmondWomens team about to make club history, let's bring to the fore those women of Tigerland's past - the famous, and not so famous - who in their own ways, helped bring the club to this historic moment.

@RichmondWomens 1. When she died in 1951, MONICA MANZIE was eulogised as the 'Mother of Richmond Football Club' for her continued passion and support, even when he husband Andrew left Richmond as secretary for the Melb F.C
Her residence was the social gathering place for players/supporters.

@RichmondWomens 2/ In the early 1900s, of the 40+ Vice Presidents of the club, only 3 were women.
They included ANNIE TABULO and her sister AMELIA, who were the proprietor of several Richmond pubs. Vice President role was for prominent supporters in the Richmond area.

@RichmondWomens 3/ ALICE WILLS established a supporters group in 1959 and sat in the old Grandstand. They raised funds + sponsored players. Alice later oversaw mail-outs, collections tins and volunteers during Save Our Skins.
Club's 1st life member in 1988. Our only female Hall of Fame inductee

@RichmondWomens 4/ From 1890s the club had a Ladies Committee responsible for fundraising/social evenings.
In all reporting their 1st name was never given.
If married, always listed as husband's name.
To those never fully documented by name, I'm sorry; and thank you for all you did.

@RichmondWomens 5/ In 1937 membership decreased by 700.
Gate takings were down 200 pounds
Up stepped the women of the club who created the fundraiser "Queen Competition".
They raised 1,111 pounds(!).
The club finished 1937, 700 pounds in credit
The women were thanked, under their husband's name

@RichmondWomens 6/ So let's fix that right now. 83 years later by bring those 3 women back into the spotlight to give them the recognition they deserved for 1937, by listing their ACTUAL names - not hiding them behind their husband's.

1. Ivy Fleming
2. Gladys Connelly
3. Dulcie Titus

@RichmondWomens 7/ As Alice Wills watched from the grandstand in 1959, a group of teenagers met behind the Punt Road goals, and slowly began to form our first cheer squad.
PAULINE DI MAURO was one of them.
"We'd go down and meet at Dimmeys and buy our crepe paper."
soundcloud.com/roarpodcast/pa…

@RichmondWomens 8/ Joining Pauline in the formation of our cheer squad was LORRAINE EVANS
"What we did was carry a blanket around the ground at 1/4 time + 1/2 time and people threw money in it...and that's how we raised the money for that big first banner"
soundcloud.com/roarpodcast/lo…

@RichmondWomens 9/ In 1923, a team made up of women workers from the Bryant and May Match Factory took on the Richmond Reserves to raise money (for the men) to have an interstate trip.
The captain Aggie Holliday said "she claimed the right to play men's games, because she did men's work"

@RichmondWomens 10/ In 1998 the club launched Hafey's Ambush - a women's networking group. It was co-organised by Maureen Hafey.
Maureen received a Life Membership in 2015 for her support of players, coaches, families, staff with her association with Tom.
She presented the 2019 premiership cup

11/ In 1990, during the height of Save Our Skins, the club's marketing department was run by PAULINE SATCHELL, JENNY CONNOLLY, JOY IRVIN; bookkeeper was LEONIE BALDWIN, computer operator JULIE MANDERSLOOT and personal assistant DEBBIE MATHESON.

12/ To all the wives of the Richmond coaches - from Elizabeth Pannam in 1908, to Danielle Hardwick in 2020, and those in between (hi Mum!), thank you for dealing with the intrusive world of football, the media spotlight, and the losses.

13/ Jan Richmond joined her husband, the famous club secretary Graeme Richmond, often when he travelled around to sign up players. She is the strongest of advocates for his service to the club.
soundcloud.com/roarpodcast/ja…

14/ In the 1970s there was an influx of children born of Richmond players (me included). So Kerry Bourke (Francis' wife) convinced GR that the club should host them at Berry Street, so the wives can go and watch the footy.
To her and all those who looked after us, thank you

15/ Peggy O'Neal was born in an American coal town that no longer exists. As President she has overseen 2 Richmond premierships, is a Life Member, and still the only woman to be President of a League club

16/ MARGARET SCOTT is an example of all those tireless club volunteers.
Born in Richmond she was one of Alice Wills supporter group members, was part of Tiger Lillies, rattled tins/did mailouts/sold raffle tixs for Save Our Skin, helped out in the shop, and Museum.