SA Footy

The Woodville West Torrens Football Club wishes to notify it’s members and supporters of the passing of past players Ray Hank and John Mehaffey.

Ray played 169 games and kicked 188 goals for West Torrens between 1946-1957, he was a 1953 Premiership player and also a Life Member.

John Mehaffey played 89 games for West Torrens kicking 250 goals between 1946-1951 and also coached Woodville before they entered the SANFL competition.

The Club offers it’s sympathy to both families of these esteemed past players.

I'm guessing Ray Hank was a brother of Bob Hank?

Magellan wrote:I'm guessing Ray Hank was a brother of Bob Hank?

Yep, Bill too.

Ray Hank was a very good player in his own right. As well as playing 169 games for Torrens he represented South Australia on 5 occasions. He kicked the vital final goal for West Torrens when they won their fourth and last Premiership by defeating Port Adelaide by 7 points in 1953.

John Mehaffey was a fine player for Torrens who played 89 league games and 4 state games.

He was also a good enough tennis player to play in four Australian Championships, the forerunner of the Australian Open. His best result was to finish in the Round of 16 in 1950 when he was defeated by Mervyn Rose. In other years he lost to Frank Sedgman and John Bromwich in the Round of 32 . Tennis fans would know the standard of player he played against.

John Mehaffey was also state table tennis champion. For many years he ran a Sports store in the city and also was a football commentator on the ABC.

robranisgod wrote:Ray Hank was a very good player in his own right. As well as playing 169 games for Torrens he represented South Australia on 5 occasions. He kicked the vital final goal for West Torrens when they won their fourth and last Premiership by defeating Port Adelaide by 7 points in 1953.

John Mehaffey was a fine player for Torrens who played 89 league games and 4 state games.

He was also a good enough tennis player to play in four Australian Championships, the forerunner of the Australian Open. His best result was to finish in the Round of 16 in 1950 when he was defeated by Mervyn Rose. In other years he lost to Frank Sedgman and John Bromwich in the Round of 32 . Tennis fans would know the standard of player he played against.

John Mehaffey was also state table tennis champion. For many years he ran a Sports store in the city and also was a football commentator on the ABC.

Do you recall where the sports store was?

DOC wrote:

robranisgod wrote:Ray Hank was a very good player in his own right. As well as playing 169 games for Torrens he represented South Australia on 5 occasions. He kicked the vital final goal for West Torrens when they won their fourth and last Premiership by defeating Port Adelaide by 7 points in 1953.

John Mehaffey was a fine player for Torrens who played 89 league games and 4 state games.

He was also a good enough tennis player to play in four Australian Championships, the forerunner of the Australian Open. His best result was to finish in the Round of 16 in 1950 when he was defeated by Mervyn Rose. In other years he lost to Frank Sedgman and John Bromwich in the Round of 32 . Tennis fans would know the standard of player he played against.

John Mehaffey was also state table tennis champion. For many years he ran a Sports store in the city and also was a football commentator on the ABC.

Do you recall where the sports store was?

I am not completely sure.

Was John Mehaffey's sports store on Grenfell Street close to where City Cross is now? There certainly was a sports store there and another one on King William Street near where Southern Cross Arcade is now. One of them would have been McGregor and Clements. Rowe and Jarman in those days were on the other side of Grenfell Street roughly opposite the Adelaide Arcade. Much later they shifted across Grenfell Street to the location by Regent Arcade. Motley and Greer were on King William Street South of Victoria Square, Hughes and Loveday were in the Adelaide Arcade towards Rundle Mall and Bailetti's were in Hindley Street.

I know that I have gone off on a tangent but I am trying to help any old timer who can categorically state where Mehaffeys was.

There was also Ebert and Weston in Grenfell Street as well, where the sushi train is now (at least I think it's still there)

Being laid up since new year
When did john mehaffey pass?
Cant get reliable internet in hospital to track down?

Did he spend time in New Zealand. I havent got my pc on me but for some reason this pops into my mind

Mark_Beswick wrote:Being laid up since new year
When did john mehaffey pass?
Cant get reliable internet in hospital to track down?

Did he spend time in New Zealand. I havent got my pc on me but for some reason this pops into my mind

He certainly did spend time in New Zealand. When North held their reunion for the 60th anniversary of their 1949 premiership, North invited the Torrens players to the reunion. Six players from that Torrens Grand Final side attended, but John Mehaffey sent an apology from New Zealand.

I don't know whether he was still living there when he died.

robranisgod wrote:

Mark_Beswick wrote:Being laid up since new year
When did john mehaffey pass?
Cant get reliable internet in hospital to track down?

Did he spend time in New Zealand. I havent got my pc on me but for some reason this pops into my mind

He certainly did spend time in New Zealand. When North held their reunion for the 60th anniversary of their 1949 premiership, North invited the Torrens players to the reunion. Six players from that Torrens Grand Final side attended, but John Mehaffey sent an apology from New Zealand.

I don't know whether he was still living there when he died.

I have now found that he passed away on 10th December in Tauranga, New Zealand