St Francis House boys going to school.
(L-R) Laurie Bray, Desmond Price, Ken Hampton, Richie Bray, Malcolm Cooper, Gordon Briscoe, Ron Tilmouth, Vincent
Copley, Gerry Hill, Wilfred Huddleston.
1950 - St Francis House boys going to school
David Woodford on his motorcycle
1950 - David Woodford on his motorcycle
1950s - Aboriginal Football Team in Alice Springs.
Bill Espie is in the back row (4th from L)
1950s - Aboriginal Football Team Alice Springs
7 February - Report on St Francis House from the Centralian Advocate.
1951 - 7 February - Report on St Francis House from the Centralian Advocate
1 March - Report on St Francis House from the Adelaide Church Guardian.
1951 - Report on St Francis House from the Adelaide Church Guardian
Wally McArthur was voted the South Australian Rugby League’s best and fairest player. He
played for the Semaphore side that was undefeated through the 1950 and 1951 seasons. He is said to have scored
more than 900 points for the club.
1952 - Wally McArthur Rugby
Le Fevre Tech 'A' Football Team.
Second Row: Vincent Copley (4th from L)
Front Row: Richie Bray (1st seated boy)
1952 - Le Fevre Tech 'A' Football Team - Second Row Vincent Copley 4th from L - Fron Row Richie Bray 1st seated
boy
Malcolm Cooper and Peter Tilmouth.
1952 - St Francis House - Malcolm Cooper and Peter Tilmouth
Wally McArthur was the first Aboriginal Australian rugby league player to play for an
English club.
From 1952-59 he played professional rugby in England. He played a total of 165 games for English league clubs
Rochdale, Blackpool Borough, Salford and Workington Town.
He is featured on this magazine cover during his time at Salford where he played 46 matches and scored 29 tries.
Wally McArthur - Magazine Cover 1950s
22 March - ABC Document confirming 4-minute broadcast about St Francis House on ABC Radio
5AN.
1953 - 22 March - ABC Document confirming 4 minute talk about St Francis House on ABC Radio 5AN
1953 - Excerpts from book entitled 'WITH THE SUN ON MY BACK' by John K Ewers Published by Angus and Robertson about Father Smith's work with Aboriginal people and vision of a series of hostels serving the interests of Aboriginal people around Australia.
Click here to read exerpt
1953 - Excerpts from book entitled 'WITH THE SUN ON MY BACK' by John K Ewers
28 December
Ken Hampton places 3rd in the Bay-Sheffield behind winner Warren Bock
and Peter Nelson (2nd).
The Bay Sheffield is South Australia's iconic foot race, held every year on the 26, 27 and 28 December.
1954 - Warren Bock wins the 1954 Bay Sheffield
15 May - Newspaper clipping of film review of The Live Heart.
1955 - 15 May Newspaper clipping of film review of The Live Heart
Jim Foster sailed to England and played rugby league for Blackpool and Wigan over a
six-year career.
Wally McArthur was the North England sprint champion, winning both the 100- and 220-yard titles. He also won the
100-yard sprint in the 1957 Highland Games.
Wally McArthur Sprint Champion 1950s
21 February - List of Boys Residing at St Francis House
1959 - 21 February - List of Boys Residing at St Francis House
St Francis House is closed
1959 - St Francis House is closed