On the eve of the sesquicentennial Intercollegiate Football Match on Friday 20 August, past and current 1st XVIII Football players came together to honour 150 years of tradition. It was wonderful to host those who have represented our great School in football and an even greater privilege to have Dr Peter Harbison (HWK 1946) present his coveted Opie Medal from 1946 to the School.
The Opie Medal is awarded to the best player in the Intercollegiate Football match and named in honour of John Murray Opie (SHT 1938) who tragically lost his life during WWII in a flying accident in Rhodesia in May 1941, aged 20.
John Opie was born in Minlaton, South Australia on 10 March 1921. He attended St Peter’s College from 1936 to 1938. He was a House Prefect in his final year, a year that saw Short House win both the House Cricket and House Athletics Cups. An all-round sportsman, John received Colours for Football, Athletics and Tennis and also for his leadership of Short House. In 1938, John was a member of the winning Intercollegiate Athletics team and was named as one of the best players in the Intercollegiate Football match, which beat Princes 16-8 to 7-9.
In honour of his contribution to St Peter’s College, the Opie Medal for the best player in the Intercollegiate Football match was created in his memory. It was first awarded in 1941 and many recipients of this medal have gone on to excel in the game, including 2020 Brownlow medallist Lachie Neal (S&A 2010). Peter Harbison made this decision with the full support of his family. This is the first Opie Medal to be donated back to the School and it is a wonderful addition to the School’s archive collection.