In a League of Her Own
Mrs Christine Joan HALBERT, OAM (Medal of the Order of Australia)
Rose Park resident Chris Halbert has been awarded an OAM (Medal of the Order of Australia) in the Australia Day Honours for service to the history of Australian Rules football, and to music. Chris was instrumental in the ‘140 years of SANFL’ exhibition which debuted at the State Library in 2017.
Chris, 74, has spent most of her adult life around football. Her husband John played for Sturt Football Club from 1955 – 68. “He had lots of memorabilia that he had collected over the years, including a Magarey Medal.” She thought others of his generation would also have lots of ‘stuff’ stored in sheds and spare rooms.
“I approached the SANFL Commission and said ‘What should we do with all these items’. They thought it was a good idea to pull it together and asked me to do it.”
Through word of mouth and her football connections, with the profile of the AFL and the wonderful SANFL history which should not be lost, she gathered a diverse collection of memorabilia. She recruited a team of fellow volunteers and they were given a space at AAMI Stadium.
“We received more and more and started to run out of room. “ With AAMI Stadium to be demolished the group moved to Bowden, above the Lutheran Church Archives. Chris says it is not a museum and they do not accept visitors, however they are always looking for opportunities to promote the collection including May History Week.
The inaugural display ‘In a League of Its Own’ launched at the State Library in June 2017 and ran for 10 weeks. The memorabilia included trophies, scrapbooks of players, and photographs of the teams, spectators, Football Park and Adelaide Oval. The exhibition attracted some 70,000 visitors, making it one of the most highly attended exhibitions in the history of the State Library.
”It was special because it resonated for so many,” Chris said of the exhibition. “The reaction of people who came in and hadn’t seen photos of their grandfather or other memories was overwhelming. The exhibition was important as was the search for all of the Magarey Medals. The fact we have now got all of them except six is just fantastic and people are amazed when they have a look at the display.”
Chris has also contributed to music as a skilled pianist, singer and teacher. She organised the Lutheran 175th Anniversary celebration and taught at the Elder Conservatorium of Music.
Chris was surprised and honoured to receive her Australia Day Honour. “I received an email late last year with the Governor General’s insignia and I thought it was a joke at first.”
”I’m delighted because it is an acknowledgement of all the people who have worked with me along the way,” Chris says. ”It’s not as if you do things by yourself, you are always part of a team.”
Chris credits her team of volunteers for her achievement. “Without them I wouldn’t be here receiving this Award,” she says. “Volunteers bring experience, wisdom and common sense and there is a real camaraderie within the group.”
Married to John for 54 years they have three daughters and six granddaughters. Chris is eagerly planning a 145-year exhibition at the State Library in mid-2022.
She will receive her Medal at a ceremony at Government House in April.
