Ross Hutchinson
Encyclopedia
Ross Hutchinson was an Australian rules football
er, coach and politician. He played for and coached East Fremantle
, West Perth
and South Fremantle
in the West Australian National Football League
(WANFL) before spending 27 years as a member of the Western Australian Legislative Assembly
.
An alumnus of Wesley College
, Hutchinson was used in a variety of positions during his football career including centreman, half back and half forward. Hutchinson, who was born in Worsley
, won the Lynn Medal as East Fremantle's 'Fairest and Best' in his first two seasons. He captain-coached the club to a premiership in 1937, as a half back flanker. The following two seasons ended in Grand Final losses, both to Claremont
. In 1939 he was captain-coach of the Western Australian interstate football team which took on Victoria.
Hutchinson sought a clearance to West Perth in 1940 but as it wasn't granted by East Fremantle he had to sit out the entire season. He was able to coach West Perth in 1941 and not only steered them to that year's premiership but also to the 1942 'under-age' premiership.
During the war he fought with the Royal Australian Air Force
in Europe as a pilot and was awarded a Distinguished Flying Cross
. When he returned to coaching in 1946 he had received the clearance which meant that he was able to take the field for West Perth and steer the club to a losing Grand Final.
He made the move to South Fremantle in 1947 and was captain-coach of their premiership team that year, kicking two goals in the Grand Final from the half forward flank. In 1948 he again coached the club to a premiership, but he had retired as a player and it was only in an off-field capacity. Hutchinson continued as non playing coach in 1949, his final season. South Fremantle finished in third position, the only time he failed to coach a WAFL club into the Grand Final.
The following year he successfully ran for a seat in the Western Australian Legislative Assembly
, for the Liberal Party
and became the inaugural member of the new electoral district of Cottesloe
. He served under both the Brand-Watts
and Brand-Nalder Ministries
, until his retirement in 1977. During this time he was Chief Secretary and the Minister for both Fisheries and Health. From May 1974 to February 1977, Hutchinson was speaker of the Western Australian Legislative Assembly
. He was knighted for services to the state of Western Australia when he retired.
His contribution to Australian rules football was also honoured, in 2004, when he was inducted into the West Australian Football Hall of Fame
. He is one of only two people to have coached three separate WAFL clubs to premierships, with John Todd
being the other. Perhaps most remarkably, he steered each of the clubs to premierships in his very first year. He coached 176 WAFL games in total, 72.4% of which were won.
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
er, coach and politician. He played for and coached East Fremantle
East Fremantle Football Club
The East Fremantle Football Club, nicknamed the Sharks, is an Australian rules football club playing in the West Australian Football League . The team's home ground is East Fremantle Oval...
, West Perth
West Perth Football Club
The West Perth Football Club, nicknamed the Falcons, is an Australian rules football club located in Joondalup, Western Australia, competing in the West Australian Football League . It is the oldest existing Australian rules football club in Western Australia. It competes in the West Australian...
and South Fremantle
South Fremantle Football Club
The South Fremantle Football Club, nicknamed the Bulldogs, is an Australian rules football club, based in Fremantle, Western Australia, playing in the West Australian Football League...
in the West Australian National Football League
West Australian Football League
The West Australian Football League is an Australian rules football league based in Perth, Western Australia. The WAFL is the second-most popular in the state, behind the nation-wide Australian Football League...
(WANFL) before spending 27 years as a member of the Western Australian Legislative Assembly
Western Australian Legislative Assembly
The Legislative Assembly, or lower house, is one of the two chambers of parliament in the Australian state of Western Australia. It sits in Parliament House in the state capital, Perth....
.
An alumnus of Wesley College
Wesley College, Perth
Wesley College, informally known as Wesley, is an independent, day and boarding school for boys and girls , situated in South Perth, a suburb of Perth, Western Australia....
, Hutchinson was used in a variety of positions during his football career including centreman, half back and half forward. Hutchinson, who was born in Worsley
Worsley, Western Australia
Worsley is a town in Western Australia located in the South West region near the town of Collie. The town is part of the Shire of Collie.The town's name comes from the Worsley river, a tributary of the Collie river, that is located nearby. The origin of the name is thought to be from the Worsley...
, won the Lynn Medal as East Fremantle's 'Fairest and Best' in his first two seasons. He captain-coached the club to a premiership in 1937, as a half back flanker. The following two seasons ended in Grand Final losses, both to Claremont
Claremont Football Club
The Claremont Football Club, nicknamed the Tigers, is an Australian rules football club in the West Australian Football League . Its official colours are navy blue and gold....
. In 1939 he was captain-coach of the Western Australian interstate football team which took on Victoria.
Hutchinson sought a clearance to West Perth in 1940 but as it wasn't granted by East Fremantle he had to sit out the entire season. He was able to coach West Perth in 1941 and not only steered them to that year's premiership but also to the 1942 'under-age' premiership.
During the war he fought with the Royal Australian Air Force
Royal Australian Air Force
The Royal Australian Air Force is the air force branch of the Australian Defence Force. The RAAF was formed in March 1921. It continues the traditions of the Australian Flying Corps , which was formed on 22 October 1912. The RAAF has taken part in many of the 20th century's major conflicts...
in Europe as a pilot and was awarded a Distinguished Flying Cross
Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)
The Distinguished Flying Cross is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the United Kingdom's Royal Air Force and other services, and formerly to officers of other Commonwealth countries, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying in active operations against...
. When he returned to coaching in 1946 he had received the clearance which meant that he was able to take the field for West Perth and steer the club to a losing Grand Final.
He made the move to South Fremantle in 1947 and was captain-coach of their premiership team that year, kicking two goals in the Grand Final from the half forward flank. In 1948 he again coached the club to a premiership, but he had retired as a player and it was only in an off-field capacity. Hutchinson continued as non playing coach in 1949, his final season. South Fremantle finished in third position, the only time he failed to coach a WAFL club into the Grand Final.
The following year he successfully ran for a seat in the Western Australian Legislative Assembly
Western Australian Legislative Assembly
The Legislative Assembly, or lower house, is one of the two chambers of parliament in the Australian state of Western Australia. It sits in Parliament House in the state capital, Perth....
, for the Liberal Party
Liberal Party of Australia
The Liberal Party of Australia is an Australian political party.Founded a year after the 1943 federal election to replace the United Australia Party, the centre-right Liberal Party typically competes with the centre-left Australian Labor Party for political office...
and became the inaugural member of the new electoral district of Cottesloe
Electoral district of Cottesloe
The Electoral district of Cottesloe is a Legislative Assembly electorate in the state of Western Australia. Cottesloe is named for the western Perth suburb of Cottesloe which falls within its borders.-History:...
. He served under both the Brand-Watts
Brand-Watts Ministry
The Brand-Watts Ministry was the 23rd Ministry of the Government of Western Australia, led by Liberal Premier David Brand and his deputy, Country Party leader Arthur Watts. It succeeded the Hawke ministry on 2 April 1959, following the defeat of the Labor government at the 1959 election twelve days...
and Brand-Nalder Ministries
Brand-Nalder Ministry
The Brand-Nalder Ministry was the 24th Ministry of the Government of Western Australia, led by Liberal Premier David Brand and his deputy, Country Party leader Crawford Nalder. It succeeded the Brand-Watts Ministry on 1 February 1962 following the Deputy Premier's retirement from politics...
, until his retirement in 1977. During this time he was Chief Secretary and the Minister for both Fisheries and Health. From May 1974 to February 1977, Hutchinson was speaker of the Western Australian Legislative Assembly
Speaker of the Western Australian Legislative Assembly
The Speaker of the Western Australian Legislative Assembly is the presiding officer in the Legislative Assembly. The office has existed since the creation of the Legislative Assembly in 1890 under the Constitution Act 1889...
. He was knighted for services to the state of Western Australia when he retired.
His contribution to Australian rules football was also honoured, in 2004, when he was inducted into the West Australian Football Hall of Fame
West Australian Football Hall of Fame
The West Australian Football Hall of Fame was created in 2002 to recognise and enshrine those who have made a significant contribution to Australian rules football in Western Australia...
. He is one of only two people to have coached three separate WAFL clubs to premierships, with John Todd
John Todd (footballer)
John Todd is a former Australian rules footballer and coach. After becoming youngest ever winner of the Sandover Medal in his first year of senior football he suffered a serious knee injury, which affected his playing career...
being the other. Perhaps most remarkably, he steered each of the clubs to premierships in his very first year. He coached 176 WAFL games in total, 72.4% of which were won.