Wally Koochew
Encyclopedia
Walter John Henry “Wally” Koochew (6 July 1887 – 13 March 1932) was an Australian rules football
er, who was the first Victorian Football League
player of Chinese
background, playing four games for Carlton Football Club
in 1908
.
Born in Carlton, Victoria
to James Koochew (also spellt “Kou Chow”, “Kow Chow” or “Ko Chow”) a migrant to the goldfields from Guangzhou
, China
, and his wife Mary Dalker, Koochew worked as a greengrocer and played football in Macedon
and Brunswick
before his recruitment by Carlton.
Carlton were premiers in 1906
and 1907
but Koochew was able to made his debut early in 1908. Upon his selection, a Carlton member, also a member of the Ancient Order of Druids
, returned his membership, claiming that by including Koochew on the team Carlton was dealing a death blow to the White Australia Policy
.
Such issues did not deter Carlton or Koochew and he was listed as one of Carlton’s best players in its Round three win. A rover known for his accurate kicking, Koochew was omitted from the Carlton senior side after four games and two goals. Unable to force his way back into the league team, Koochew returned to Macedon in 1909 to be with his wife Axelina, a New Zealand
born woman of Dutch and Danish parentage, with whom he had five sons and a daughter.
Koochew continued to play football in Macedon and surrounds and worked as a greengrocer until health issues forced him to instead run a hot dog stand at North Melbourne Football Club
’s Arden Street Oval
. He died in Melbourne Hospital, Carlton in 1932 aged 44.
Forgotten for many years, Koochew has recently been recognised by historians for his groundbreaking role in becoming the first VFL/AFL player of Chinese background in the wake of the White Australia Policy, and Australian rules football fans in China are using Koochew as an example to inspire prospective Chinese players.
Koochew’s son Wally Jnr played for Melbourne Football Club
reserves before becoming becoming the Victorian Football Association
's youngest ever coach with Northcote
, while another son, Leslie, was a former VFL umpire and life member of the VFL/AFL Umpires’ Association and his great grandson James Koochew served as a statistician at Carlton in the 1990s.
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, who was the first Victorian Football League
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
player of Chinese
Chinese people
The term Chinese people may refer to any of the following:*People with Han Chinese ethnicity ....
background, playing four games for Carlton Football Club
Carlton Football Club
The Carlton Football Club is a professional Australian rules football club based in Melbourne, Victoria. The club competes in the Australian Football League, and was one of the eight founding members of that competition in 1897...
in 1908
1908 VFL season
Results and statistics for the Victorian Football League season of 1908.Both Richmond Football Club and University Football Club were admitted to the VFL competition .-Premiership season:...
.
Born in Carlton, Victoria
Carlton, Victoria
Carlton is an inner city suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 2 km north from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Melbourne...
to James Koochew (also spellt “Kou Chow”, “Kow Chow” or “Ko Chow”) a migrant to the goldfields from Guangzhou
Guangzhou
Guangzhou , known historically as Canton or Kwangchow, is the capital and largest city of the Guangdong province in the People's Republic of China. Located in southern China on the Pearl River, about north-northwest of Hong Kong, Guangzhou is a key national transportation hub and trading port...
, China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
, and his wife Mary Dalker, Koochew worked as a greengrocer and played football in Macedon
Macedon, Victoria
Macedon is a town on the Calder Freeway between Melbourne and Bendigo in the Macedon Ranges in central Victoria, Australia. It is in the Local Government Area of the Shire of Macedon Ranges, and is located at the foot of Mount Macedon, a peak to the north....
and Brunswick
Brunswick, Victoria
Brunswick is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 6 km north from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Moreland...
before his recruitment by Carlton.
Carlton were premiers in 1906
1906 VFL season
Results and statistics for the Victorian Football League season of 1906.-Premiership season:In 1906, the VFL competition consisted of eight teams of 18 on-the-field players each, with no "reserves", although any of the 18 players who had left the playing field for any reason could later resume...
and 1907
1907 VFL season
Results and statistics for the Victorian Football League season of 1907.-Premiership season:In 1907, the VFL competition consisted of eight teams of 18 on-the-field players each, with no "reserves", although any of the 18 players who had left the playing field for any reason could later resume...
but Koochew was able to made his debut early in 1908. Upon his selection, a Carlton member, also a member of the Ancient Order of Druids
Ancient Order of Druids
The Ancient Order of Druids is a fraternal organization founded in London, England in 1781 that still operates to this day. It is the earliest known English group to be founded based upon the iconography of the ancient druids, who were priest-like figures in Iron Age Celtic paganism...
, returned his membership, claiming that by including Koochew on the team Carlton was dealing a death blow to the White Australia Policy
White Australia policy
The White Australia policy comprises various historical policies that intentionally restricted "non-white" immigration to Australia. From origins at Federation in 1901, the polices were progressively dismantled between 1949-1973....
.
Such issues did not deter Carlton or Koochew and he was listed as one of Carlton’s best players in its Round three win. A rover known for his accurate kicking, Koochew was omitted from the Carlton senior side after four games and two goals. Unable to force his way back into the league team, Koochew returned to Macedon in 1909 to be with his wife Axelina, a New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
born woman of Dutch and Danish parentage, with whom he had five sons and a daughter.
Koochew continued to play football in Macedon and surrounds and worked as a greengrocer until health issues forced him to instead run a hot dog stand at North Melbourne Football Club
North Melbourne Football Club
The North Melbourne Football Club, nicknamed The Kangaroos, is the fourth oldest Australian rules football club in the Australian Football League and is one of the oldest sporting clubs in Australia and the world...
’s Arden Street Oval
Arden Street Oval
Arden Street Oval is a sports oval based in Arden Street, North Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. It is currently the training base of Australian rules team North Melbourne Football Club and up to the end of the 1985 season it was used for elite-level VFL/AFL matches.-History:The North Melbourne...
. He died in Melbourne Hospital, Carlton in 1932 aged 44.
Forgotten for many years, Koochew has recently been recognised by historians for his groundbreaking role in becoming the first VFL/AFL player of Chinese background in the wake of the White Australia Policy, and Australian rules football fans in China are using Koochew as an example to inspire prospective Chinese players.
Koochew’s son Wally Jnr played for Melbourne Football Club
Melbourne Football Club
The Melbourne Football Club, nicknamed The Demons, is an Australian rules football club playing in the Australian Football League , based in Melbourne, Victoria....
reserves before becoming becoming the Victorian Football Association
Victorian Football League
The Victorian Football League which evolved from the former Victorian Football Association , taking its new name as from the 1996 season, is the premier Australian rules football league in Victoria The Victorian Football League (VFL) which evolved from the former Victorian Football Association...
's youngest ever coach with Northcote
Northcote Football Club
Northcote Football Club, nicknamed The Dragons, was an Australian rules football club which played in the VFA from 1908 until 1987. The club's colours were green and yellow and it was based in the Melbourne suburb of Northcote...
, while another son, Leslie, was a former VFL umpire and life member of the VFL/AFL Umpires’ Association and his great grandson James Koochew served as a statistician at Carlton in the 1990s.