BIO
Born on Christmas Day 1936, Jock Faehrmann was a tough Hahndorf footballer who showed leadership qualities from an early age. His baby brother having survived just one day, Jock grew up as the only son of Gordon Faehrmann and his wife Jessie (‘Tup’), youngest daughter of popular Hahndorf publican James Wallace. Jock was always competitive.
In 1952 he was commended for his qualities when, as a 15-year-old, he was farewelled by the headmasters of the Mount Barker Public School and the Mount Barker High School as a member of the Advertiser Youth Travel group chosen to visit England and meet the Queen. On the voyage home in the Strathmore he took on and beat the skipper, Captain R. E. Cowell, at deck quoits.
Jock played his early football with Hahndorf. He dallied with South Adelaide before being appointed the first contracted coach of Mundulla in the Kowree Naracoorte Football League in 1959. He made a big impression early, even entering the sheaf tossing competition at the local show and finishing second to the accomplished Deane Hunt. Jock brought stricter discipline to the Mundulla club, insisting on greater physical fitness, play-on football and handball – at that time the flick pass. The new messiah ended Mundulla’s premiership drought in 1959 but failed to deliver on his promise of four more flags.
Jock kicked four goals in his two league games at Norwood under Alan Killigrew in 1961. He also kicked three goals in four reserves games. He won the Mundulla best and fairest award in 1963. He later coached Bordertown, securing a premiership in 1967.
After Jock’s life was cut short at 50 on 20 March 1987, the Mundulla Football Club carried the following appraisal in its Tiger Rag newsletter: “Jock will be remembered by Tiger supporters as a big strong player wearing a lace-up jumper, who was tough to play with and tough to play against, a reasonable mark and long kick but not an accurate short pass, but the thought (that) lingers is discipline and play-on football.”
P Robins , D Cox April 2020
* Picture and data kindly supplied by Colin Wiese, historian and former secretary of the Mundulla FC. Thanks also to current secretary Ben Perry and Nigel Clarke, secretary of the Kowree Naracoorte Tatiara Football League