Young Australia League
Encyclopedia
The Young Australia League (Inc) (Y.A.L.) is an Australia
n youth organisation which was formed in Perth, Western Australia
in 1905 by Jack Simons
and Lionel Boas
. Developed as a means to encourage nationalism
and patriotic
values, the organisation organises activities and the ideals of "Education through Travel", the aims of its founders.
and other "non-Australian" sports was threatening the game of Australian rules football
. Along with several prominent Western Australians including Lionel Boas, the Young Australia Football League was formed in 1905 as a development organisation for football in Western Australia
. The League organised intra- and interstate tours for young Western Australian football players to promote the Australian rules football code as part of a broader nationalist agenda. Other people involved with the establishment of the League were prominent Western Australian artists H. H. Eastcourt and Arthur Clarke, and noted Victorian
artist Robert Prenzel.
Shortly afterward, the YAFL changed its name to 'Young Australia League', and its activities were diversified to include literature, debating, band music, sport and theatrical performances, as well as outdoor pursuits such as hiking
and camping
. Setting its activities mainly for boys, the League promoted a philosophy of development of Australian nationalism with the aim of becoming the 'largest boys club in the British Empire
'. In 1909 the League had its first of many interstate tours, with early overseas tours conducted in 1911, 1914, 1925 and 1929.
After World War I
, branches were established in other states along similar lines to the Perth organisation.
59 hectares (145.8 acre) of land was purchased in 1929 in the Darling Scarp
near Roleystone
and developed for the League's outdoor activities. This became Araluen Botanical Gardens
, as a memorial to YAL members killed in action, and was dedicated in 1930 by the Governor
, Sir William Campion
.
Simons, who had extensive publishing interests, died in 1945. Four years prior, he assigned his interest in Western Press to Y.A.L., giving the League a bequest
of $
50,000.
The League continued but is now only operational in Western Australia. Due to declining funds, Araluen had fallen into disrepair by 1985 and was sold to the Government of Western Australia
. Since 1990 it has been run as a not-for-profit volunteer organisation, responsible for the Park's restoration, preservation and development.
In Simon's lifetime, an estimated 50,000 people participated in the well-known Y.A.L. travel tours around the world.
Boas was president of the League for forty years, until his death in 1949.
'Camp Simons' is a YAL operated youth camp set in bushland not far from Araluen, and about 3 km from Canning Dam
. It has accommodation and facilities for about 200 people.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n youth organisation which was formed in Perth, Western Australia
Perth, Western Australia
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
in 1905 by Jack Simons
Jack Simons
John Joseph Simons was an Australian businessman and politician, best known for establishing the Young Australia League....
and Lionel Boas
Lionel Boas
Lionel Tobias Boas was a prominent public official from Western Australia. The son of Rabbi Abraham Boas, he was born in South Australia and arrived in Perth, Western Australia in 1896....
. Developed as a means to encourage nationalism
Nationalism
Nationalism is a political ideology that involves a strong identification of a group of individuals with a political entity defined in national terms, i.e. a nation. In the 'modernist' image of the nation, it is nationalism that creates national identity. There are various definitions for what...
and patriotic
Patriotism
Patriotism is a devotion to one's country, excluding differences caused by the dependencies of the term's meaning upon context, geography and philosophy...
values, the organisation organises activities and the ideals of "Education through Travel", the aims of its founders.
History
Simons was secretary of the Western Australian Football League (WAFL) between 1905 and 1914, and believed that the encroachment of soccer, rugbyRugby football
Rugby football is a style of football named after Rugby School in the United Kingdom. It is seen most prominently in two current sports, rugby league and rugby union.-History:...
and other "non-Australian" sports was threatening the game of Australian rules football
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...
. Along with several prominent Western Australians including Lionel Boas, the Young Australia Football League was formed in 1905 as a development organisation for football in Western Australia
Australian rules football in Western Australia
Australian rules football in Western Australia is the most popular sport in the state.-Early Beginnings:Organised football in the Perth/Fremantle region of Western Australia dates back to 1881. Back then though rugby union was the dominant football code...
. The League organised intra- and interstate tours for young Western Australian football players to promote the Australian rules football code as part of a broader nationalist agenda. Other people involved with the establishment of the League were prominent Western Australian artists H. H. Eastcourt and Arthur Clarke, and noted Victorian
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
artist Robert Prenzel.
Shortly afterward, the YAFL changed its name to 'Young Australia League', and its activities were diversified to include literature, debating, band music, sport and theatrical performances, as well as outdoor pursuits such as hiking
Hiking
Hiking is an outdoor activity which consists of walking in natural environments, often in mountainous or other scenic terrain. People often hike on hiking trails. It is such a popular activity that there are numerous hiking organizations worldwide. The health benefits of different types of hiking...
and camping
Camping
Camping is an outdoor recreational activity. The participants leave urban areas, their home region, or civilization and enjoy nature while spending one or several nights outdoors, usually at a campsite. Camping may involve the use of a tent, caravan, motorhome, cabin, a primitive structure, or no...
. Setting its activities mainly for boys, the League promoted a philosophy of development of Australian nationalism with the aim of becoming the 'largest boys club in the British Empire
British Empire
The British Empire comprised the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom. It originated with the overseas colonies and trading posts established by England in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. At its height, it was the...
'. In 1909 the League had its first of many interstate tours, with early overseas tours conducted in 1911, 1914, 1925 and 1929.
After World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, branches were established in other states along similar lines to the Perth organisation.
59 hectares (145.8 acre) of land was purchased in 1929 in the Darling Scarp
Darling Scarp
The Darling Scarp, also referred to as the Darling Range or Darling Ranges, is a low escarpment running north-south to the east of the Swan Coastal Plain and Perth, Western Australia...
near Roleystone
Roleystone, Western Australia
Roleystone is an outer southeastern suburb of Perth, Western Australia. Its Local Government Area is the City of Armadale.-History:Roleystone's name originates from a property purchased by Thomas Buckingham in 1858, upon which he built a sawmill in 1866. The town was also referred to as "The...
and developed for the League's outdoor activities. This became Araluen Botanical Gardens
Araluen Botanic Park (Australia)
Araluen Botanical Park is located in a sheltered valley in the Darling Ranges approximately south of Perth, Western Australia, in the suburb of Roleystone. The Botanical Park covers an area of about . There is a small entry fee to the park, and it is open every day of the year...
, as a memorial to YAL members killed in action, and was dedicated in 1930 by the Governor
Governor of Western Australia
The Governor of Western Australia is the representative in Western Australia of Australia's Monarch, Queen Elizabeth II. The Governor performs important constitutional, ceremonial and community functions, including:* presiding over the Executive Council;...
, Sir William Campion
William Campion
Colonel Sir William Robert Campion KCMG, DSO, TD, DL was a British politician and Governor of Western Australia from 1924 to 1931....
.
Simons, who had extensive publishing interests, died in 1945. Four years prior, he assigned his interest in Western Press to Y.A.L., giving the League a bequest
Bequest
A bequest is the act of giving property by will. Strictly, "bequest" is used of personal property, and "devise" of real property. In legal terminology, "bequeath" is a verb form meaning "to make a bequest."...
of $
Australian dollar
The Australian dollar is the currency of the Commonwealth of Australia, including Christmas Island, Cocos Islands, and Norfolk Island, as well as the independent Pacific Island states of Kiribati, Nauru and Tuvalu...
50,000.
The League continued but is now only operational in Western Australia. Due to declining funds, Araluen had fallen into disrepair by 1985 and was sold to the Government of Western Australia
Government of Western Australia
The formation of the Government of Western Australia is prescribed in its Constitution, which dates from 1890, although it has been amended many times since then...
. Since 1990 it has been run as a not-for-profit volunteer organisation, responsible for the Park's restoration, preservation and development.
In Simon's lifetime, an estimated 50,000 people participated in the well-known Y.A.L. travel tours around the world.
Boas was president of the League for forty years, until his death in 1949.
Facilities
The League's headquarters are at 45 Murray Street, at the corner of Irwin Street, Perth; a heritage listed building which was built in 1924 to accommodate clubrooms and administration. The foyer houses an extensive museum of memorabilia associated with the League's early years.'Camp Simons' is a YAL operated youth camp set in bushland not far from Araluen, and about 3 km from Canning Dam
Canning Dam
The Canning Dam and reservoir provide a major fresh water resource for the city of Perth, Western Australia. The dam is situated on the Darling Scarp and is an impoundment of the Canning River. It is noted for its innovative structural and hydraulic design that was considered to be at the forefront...
. It has accommodation and facilities for about 200 people.