Four new inductees honoured in Cessnock Hall of Fame

Rugby league player John Sattler, water polo player Elly Pickles, soldier Arthur Francis CSC OAM and soccer player John Roberts, joined 43 other individuals and five families that have all been honoured in recent years, during a ceremony held at the council chambers on Tuesday.

This year the annual was put into the hands of the town’s youth, with 21-year-old councillor Morgan Campbell acting as MC for the ceremony, and local high school students Hannah Onion and Sophie O’Brien assisting with the inductions.

“It is an honour to be here today to celebrate the great people of our city, from all spheres of the community,” Cr. Campbell said.

“What we can do today is celebrate what these individuals have done and what others will do in the future of our great city.”

Mayor of Cessnock, Cr. Bob Pynsent said the Hall of Fame initiative was one that the town should be proud of.

“Council is proud to have established the Hall of Fame in 2006, to recognise individuals and families who have a strong association with the communities of the Cessnock Local Government area, who have achieved prominence in their chosen field of endeavour,” he said.

“I am also really pleased to see so many people here and to witness the greatness of some of the younger people in our communities.”

The mayor also encouraged guests to visit the Cessnock Performing Arts Centre, to view the Hall of Fame Wall and learn a little bit more about the past and present inductees.

John Sattler, also known as ‘Gentleman John’ began his rugby league career when he was 16, playing for the Kurri juniors and later the Kurri senior league from 1960-1962.

Mr. Sattler went on to play for South Sydney, playing in the 1965 grand final and serving as the team’s captain from 1967 to 1972. During this time he led the team to five consecutive grand finals, winning four of the five.

More recently the grandstand at Kurri Sportsground was also named in his honour. 

When Mr. Sattler accepted his award, he shared the story of how he first got his start in sports adding that he originally hated rugby league. 

“Who would have thought I would have ended up where I did,” he said.

“I have always been very proud of where I come from and I thank you for this honour.”

The second inductee, Elly Pickles (nee Goodwin), was recognised for her achievements in water polo. 

Elly has competed nationally as part of the Australian Under-20s team, the NSW Open squad and the Australian team.

Other highlights of her career includes playing in the Australian Women’s University team that toured the United States; the Hunter Hurricanes (as both captain and captain/coach) and membership of the National League’s All Stars Australian team (comprising the top seven players in the League).

Ms. Pickles thanked her family for all of their support over the years, adding that she wouldn’t be where she is today without them.

The third athlete to be inducted in the hall of fame was soccer player John Roberts.

Mr. Roberts became (chronologically) the first player to be selected for Australia’s first venture into the World Cup when, at the end of 1965, he was selected for Australia’s full international qualifying round against North Korea in Cambodia.

In accepting his award, Mr. Roberts said that the recognition was very humbling.

“I would like to thank Cessnock City Council and everyone involved in these awards,” he said.

“When I look at the people who have been recognised previously it makes me very proud.”

Mr. Roberts, who now lives on the Mornington Peninsula in Victoria, also added that it was very good to be back in Cessnock.

Soldier Arthur Francis was also recognised for his outstanding contribution to the community. 

Born in Scotland in 1946, Mr. Francis migrated to Australia with his family when he was eight years old.

His family initially lived in Cessnock, but in 1956 they moved to Kearsley.

From his early rank of Private, he rose to become Australia’s most senior soldier as Regimental Sergeant Major of the Army (RSM-A).

In this position, Mr. Francis reported to The Chief of the Army, with responsibility for discipline, dress and ceremonial, conditions of service, career management and advice and counsel to senior officers on soldier matters.

Mr. Francis said that he felt extremely proud to be selected for the Hall of Fame and that joining living legends such as John Sattler was a real honour.

View more photos from the ceremony in our gallery. 

Inductee’s connection to The Advertiser

It’s a small world.

Former Advertiser managing editor Bruce Wilson was introduced to John Roberts who was one of four inductees into the city’s Hall of Fame last Tuesday.

Mr. Roberts said his first job was delivering The Advertiser as a young schoolboy.

He said he would go to The Advertiser office and collect his papers, then go back home to Aberdare where he would roll them and then ride all the way to Kearsley where he made his deliveries.

Then it was back home to get ready for school.

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John Sattler (Rugby League player)

John Sattler was born in 1942 at Telarah, and moved to Kurri Kurri with his family when he was 12 years old. He attended Marist Brothers High School in Maitland.

After completing school, John was employed at Meadows clothing store in Kurri Kurri.

When he was 16, John began playing rugby league with Kurri Kurri Juniors, from where he progressed to play grade football with Kurri Kurri Senior League from 1960 to 1962. In that year, he represented Newcastle Rugby League in the game against the (until then) undefeated Great Britain Lions, which Newcastle won 23-18.

John left Kurri Kurri to further his football career with South Sydney Football Club in 1963. John played in the 1965 grand final, and subsequently was captain from 1967 to 1972. He led the team to five consecutive grand finals between 1967 and 1971, winning four of those five finals, and being runner-up in the fifth in 1969.

After 195 games and the four premiership victories with South Sydney, John moved north to play for Brisbane Western Suburbs in 1973.

John also captained the Australia, New South Wales and Queensland rugby league teams, leading the national team in three of the four games he played for Australia.

John retired from rugby league in 1975, later moving into the hotel industry.

John has received great acclaim for his achievements in football.

In 2008, he was named in the list of Australia’s greatest players (1908 – 2007) which was commissioned by the National Rugby League and Australian Rugby League to celebrate Rugby League’s centenary in Australia.

In 2004, John was named Captain of South Sydney’s “Team of the Century” and in 2010 received a similar honour in Kurri Kurri Rugby League’s “Team of the Century”.

In 2012, John was honoured when the grandstand at Kurri Kurri Rugby League Ground was named after him.

Indeed, John has been an excellent ambassador, not only for Kurri Kurri Rugby League and Rugby League in general, but for the community of Kurri Kurri as a whole.

John, sometimes known as “Gentleman John”, has always proudly maintained his links with Kurri Kurri, and his achievements have inspired many residents of the local area and Australia to strive for their best and to achieve their goals.

John now lives on the Gold Coast.    

John Roberts (Soccer player)

John Roberts was born in Aberdare in 1944 and lived Rawson Street before moving to King Street, Cessnock.

He started playing locally for Aberdare Rangers Under 10s, 12s and 14s before also playing for Police Boys Club Under 14s and then finishing his junior football with Cessnock East End Under 16s.

John then joined Cessnock’s senior club and represented Northern New South Wales against Western Australia, Queensland and Victoria in 1963.

In 1964, John joined Apia Leichhardt, winning premiership medals for that year and again in 1965.

John became (chronologically) the first player to be selected for Australia’s first venture into the World Cup when, at the end of 1965, he was selected for Australia’s full international qualifying round against North Korea in Cambodia. At this time, John also played in an Australian XI team against Chelsea and AIK Sweden, and represented NSW against New Caledonia.

On returning from Asia, John took up an offer from Chelsea for a three-month trial period. This was done against the wishes of the Australian Soccer Federation and with strong opposition from his club Apia, who refused to transfer his registration for nearly three years.

After the brief spell at Chelsea, in early 1966, John moved to Blackburn Rovers. Whilst there, he spent a period of time in 1967/68 on loan to Chesterfield.

In 1968, Bradford City negotiated a transfer deal and secured John’s services until 1971, when he transferred to Southend United. Further transfers took place, to Northampton Town in 1972 and Bath City in 1973.

At the end of that year, John returned to Apia Leichhardt where he remained until 1976. John was a member of that team when it won the 1973 AMPOL competition. He continued his association with the club for some time as its goalkeeping coach.

During his career as a goalkeeper, John won many medals with the teams he represented, and enjoyed several promotions in the English football leagues when his teams progressed to higher divisions. During his career, John played many games for Cessnock and Apia, and in the English leagues played a total of 187 games plus 21 FA and League Cup games.

John has been inducted into the Hunter Region Hall of Fame.

John now lives on the Mornington Peninsula in Victoria.

Elly Pickles (nee Goodwin) (Water polo player)

Elly Pickles was born in Cessnock in 1980 and attended Cessnock Primary and Mount View High Schools. Elly then studied at the University of Newcastle where she graduated with her teaching degree.

From an early age, Elly demonstrated her passion and prowess as a swimmer. She won gold and silver medals at age championships during her high school years, and represented her school at the All Schools level nationally.

In her final years of high school, having turned to water polo, Elly represented Australian School Girls, NSW Under 16s (with whom she won the Australian title), and was also in the Australian team that won a test series against the New Zealand All Schools national team.

From 1997 to 2002 she represented St George, in Sydney, at the Australian Clubs Championship, and has also played with that team in the national league as captain.

After leaving school, Elly extended her participation in water polo by playing in the Australian Under 20s team, the NSW Open squad and the Australian team.

Her career in water polo continued, and includes highlights of playing in the Australian Women’s University team that toured the United States; the Hunter Hurricanes (as both captain and captain/coach) and membership of the National League’s All Stars Australian team (comprising the top seven players in the League).

It is fair to say, in fulfilling her commitment to the sport of water polo, Elly has travelled extensive distances on a weekly basis to attend training sessions in Newcastle and Sydney, as well as scheduled games and tournaments.

More recently, for the past three years, Elly has coached the NSW All Schools water polo team, seeing the team win the national championship trophy each year.

Elly has been a previous recipient of a Cessnock award, when she gained the Australia Day Cessnock City Sports Award aged 19.

Elly was also awarded a University of Newcastle Blue for Water Polo in 2002, in recognition of her outstanding record of sporting achievement and representation of the University in her sport whilst enrolled as a studen.

In addition to her ongoing sporting commitments, Elly maintains her high school teaching career on the Central Coast.

Arthur Francis CSC, OAM (Soldier)

The following citation was read at the special induction held for Mr Francis as part of the ANZAC Day ceremony on 25 April 2013 in the grounds of Kearsley Community Hall.

Arthur Francis was born in Scotland in 1946 and migrated to Australia with his family when he was eight years old.

Initially, Arthur’s family lived in Cessnock, but in 1956 they moved to Kearsley.

Arthur attended West Cessnock and Kearsley Public Schools, and Cessnock High School. Arthur demonstrated his leadership capabilities early, as he was appointed School Captain at Kearsley, and was a class captain at high school.

Arthur participated in a wide range of activities whilst at high school including being a principal performer in school Gilbert and Sullivan productions. He was also a prominent young sportsman, playing soccer in the Under 12 years State team and also the East Cessnock, Police Boys Club and Bellbird Under 18 years teams.

In 1964, Arthur joined the Army, serving with distinction until his retirement in 1997. From his early rank of Private, he rose to become Australia’s most senior soldier as Regimental Sergeant Major of the Army (RSM-A). In this position, Arthur reported to The Chief of the Army, with responsibility for discipline, dress and ceremonial, conditions of service, career management and advice and counsel to senior officers on soldier matters.

During his time with the Army, Arthur saw active service in Malaysia, Borneo and Vietnam, and also travelled extensively to other parts of the world.

In recognition of his distinguished career, among his many medals and awards, Arthur was awarded the Order of Australia Medal (OAM) in 1986 for his services to the Parachute Battalion, 3rd Battalion the Royal Australian Regiment (3RAR), and the Conspicuous Service Cross (CSC) in 1997 for his services to the Army.

In 2012, Arthur represented his country with the Prime Minister at the announcement of the establishment of an Australian section of the Vietnam Veterans’ Education Centre at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall in Washington DC, which will recognise Australia’s men and women who served in the Vietnam War.

Arthur continues to contribute to the community in many ways, for example through attendance at community events such as ANZAC Day services and contributing to the establishment of the Australian Army Infantry Museum in Singleton, which opened in 2012