Snippet 4 - The Religion of Carlton (1870 onwards)

SNIPPET OF FAMILY HISTORY  -  No. 4

"We are born with a History, and we live to tell another Story." (Warren Maloney)


THE RELIGION OF CARLTON

130+ Years of the Navy Blue

(A family history snippet written January 2019)

 

The Families have been captivated by many Religions over the centuries – from the Norman and Irish Catholics to the staunch Anglicans of Yorkshire and London, to the strict Wesleyan devotees of Cornwall, or the dour Presbyterians of Scotland, to the alternative Baptists of Oxfordshire, or the Evangelical Primitive Methodists of Ballarat, and to the traditions of Melbourne Jewry.

Most changes were introduced with marriages, others by peer or family pressures. Sometimes, family members became enthusiastic enough to devote their careers and lives. For example, we have produced in England one Archbishop of York & two Baptist Preachers. Whilst in Australia, the Families have supported eleven Catholic Nuns, two Catholic Priests, and one ascetic Anglican Reader.

All of the above have stories worth telling! But it is a different religion that consumed the Maloney & connected Families from the 1880s and on into the 2000s – the love of the Carlton Football Club.

From the very beginning, it was geographical and tribal. Frank & Annie Cartwright[1] were the first to rent in Carlton in the early 1880s. They then encouraged Florence[2] and Bill Barker (14 children by 1915) to follow and so it began.

In that late 19th Century, the suburb of Carlton was the home for the “aspirants” – the merchants, the doctors, the theatre performers. It was strongly influenced by its Jewish and Irish families, all of whom saw their homes as so much better than the adjacent ones in Fitzroy, Collingwood and East Melbourne. They had the University, the Melbourne Cemetery, the sweeping Princes Park, the shopping bustle of Lygon Street, and they had the Carlton Football Club.

From the 1870s, each of the inner Melbourne Suburbs locked in behind their teams – the oldest being Melbourne. Carlton had won 5 Premierships in the Association years of 1870 to 1896, but it was all about timing. As the Maloney children started to emerge, Carlton started to dominate its VFL competition with the glorious years of 1906-1915 producing 5 Premierships. With that amount of success, all the family locked in and never doubted from that moment on.

Young Ron & Ray & Roy & Bonnie & Keith were taken by their Grandmothers and Aunts to the weekly games. It must be said that the Womenfolk of the Family were absolutely devoted, and this passed down over the 3 generations that resided in the main rented home at 238 Lygon Street.


Footballs and Jumpers were given at birth. Famous players were introduced. The Sporting Globe and the Weekly Record were the Family Bibles.

Of course, the tribalism broke down as the Baby Boomer Generation moved out to the less committed areas like Pascoe Vale, Upwey, Kew or Sunbury. Other teams, the successful ones of their decades, grabbed attention and following. 

But the die-hards held on. Roy always said “Carlton is the best climate in Australia”. 

Ray attempted to bribe Blues loyalty with all the grandchildren via chocolates and Carlton Jumpers – failing, but still proud of their choices, even if it was Collingwood. 


Keith and Bonnie set such examples that there was no argument. 

Long may the Navy-Blue Religion continue!


[1] Frank Cartwright (1852-1899) & Annie Houghton (1860-1922) are 2nd Great Grandparents of the Millennial Family members

[2] Florence Amelia Chaplin (m. Maloney) (Barker) was also a 2nd Great Grandmother – she raised 3 families over 40 years.


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