George Jardine

VALE – GEORGE JARDINE, Born 8 November 1926, Passed Away 29 May 2015

George Jardine was a hard and talented lock forward from the 1940s and 1950s. He played a key role in St. George’s 19-12 win over South Sydney in the 1949 Grand Final. In that match at the Sydney Cricket Ground on 10 September, George played strongly, despite running on with a probable broken wrist which he suffered late in the 18-7 win over Balmain in the final the previous week. Born at Helensburgh, 35 kilometres north of Wollongong, George was a schoolboy star and came into grade with the local Helensburgh club in 1945, playing in the Illawarra second grade competition. The next season he began playing first grade with the newly formed Northern Suburbs club and was chosen for the Illawarra representative side at age 19.

In 1947 George again represented Illawarra, then Group 7, Combined Groups 6 and 7 and finally Southern Districts against Newcastle, before being selected for Country Seconds. That year Country Seconds defeated City Seconds 25-22 at the Sydney Showground. Soon after this, St. George offered him a contract and he signed towards the end of the season. His first try in the top grade came at North Sydney Oval on 10 April 1948 in the 25-13 win over the Bears. At the end of that season he played in the winning semi final for the Dragons against Newtown at the SCG. In 1949, George’s robust defence and strong running was a key factor in the Dragons march to the Premiership.

He also played with St. George in 1950 and 1951 but in early June 1952 returned home to Helensburgh and rejoined Northern Suburbs. Again he played a major role in a Premiership win as Norths won their first ever Illawarra first grade Grand Final. After one more season in 1953 with Norths, George finished his playing career but spent the next 20 seasons or so coaching and working on the committee for Norths and then the Helensburgh club. With St. George, he played 60 first grade matches and scored nine tries.

As a member of the Helensburgh-Stanwell Park Surf Life Saving club, George won an Illawarra Branch Senior Belt Race title at North Wollongong beach on
8 March 1947. For around 10 seasons from 1946, George was club champion of Helensburgh-Stanwell Park and was made a Life Member of the club in 1993. He also enjoyed lawn bowling and was a committee member of the Helensburgh Bowling club for several years. He loved living at Helensburgh and spent most of his life there. He was 88 when he passed away.

George was married to Margaret “Peg” who pre-deceased him. He was a loving father and father-in-law to Cherie and Stuart, Calvin, Michael and Jan and grandfather of Darrin, Mark, Vanessa, Luke, Michael, Rebecca, Lee and Peta.

He was a much loved brother to Cec, Betty, Myra, Bill, Nancy, Harry all deceased and Peg. He was also a great grandfather and uncle to many.
Family and friends are invited to attend George’s funeral service to be held in the South Chapel of the Woronora Crematorium Linden Street Sutherland, on Friday 5 June at 12.45pm.

In lieu of flowers, George’s family have advised that donations to the Men of League would be appreciated