Planning and Building of the Spearwood Dalmatinac Sport and Community Club
Presentation by Norm Marinovich at the Spearwood Damatinac Club on 18/04/2021
My talk will have three parts.
Firstly I’ll outline the origin of the idea and the people who pioneered the concept.
Then I’ll present the information provided by Alex Banovich, Max Zuvela on the building of the club premises.
Finally there is the account from Vic Jakovich which centres on the story of the process involved in sorting out and establishing the basic grounds of the clubs finances.
The idea of a club began before the Second World War, when the social life of the Slav community in Spearwood was very active and centred around a club housed in a community-owned building on the corner of Rockingham Road and Reserve Street, known as the C(ch)itaonica.
After the war, there was a mass migration of Slavs back to Yugoslavia in 1948–49 on the ships Partizanka and Radnik. One of those people was George Grbavac.
George found that life in Yugoslavia was not to his liking. After failing to obtain approval to return to Australia, he attempted to escape over the border to Italy, was apprehended, and briefly jailed. He was eventually granted exit documents and returned to Australia in 1952. Many others also returned to Western Australia to begin life anew.
Those who returned found life in Western Australia very different from before the war. They had to re-establish themselves through hard work at a time when the Australian economy was booming, resulting in long working hours and little time for recreation. George, who was very socially active, felt the lack of interaction with fellow Slavs and began promoting solutions.
This led George, along with others in the Slav community, to join the Spearwood Rovers Soccer Team. The bulk of the reserve side was initially made up of Slavs, including talented players such as Tonko Fiamengo, the Petkovich brothers, Matt Marinovich, Nick Bleus, Wally Klepac, and Steve Glamuzina. Their home ground was located behind the old Spearwood Recreation Hall on Rockingham Road.
This arrangement proved unsatisfactory to George. There was a feeling that an anti-Slav attitude existed within the club hierarchy, and there was limited opportunity to involve the wider Spearwood Slav community. As a result, George proposed the establishment of a new club.
In 1962, Balkan Dalmatinac Soccer Club was registered as a new soccer club, with George Grbavac as the Founding President. Fifteen of the sixteen founding members are now recognised on an honour board in the entrance lobby of this building.
The team played in the second division and trained on soccer pitches in Stevens Street, Fremantle, and at Fremantle Park adjacent to CBC School. The grounds and change rooms were generally unsatisfactory, and the club did not have its own clubrooms.
Social events were held every two weeks, either at Paget Street in Hilton or at the Memorial Hall in Hamilton Hill. Major events took place at the Melville or South Perth Civic Centres, or at Fremantle Town Hall.
Dissatisfaction with this situation led to a strong desire for the club to have its own premises with an attached soccer pitch. Fremantle City Council was approached, followed by the Cockburn Shire. The paper by Alex Banovich and Max Zuvela addresses the events from that point onwards.
There is no doubt that George Grbavac was the driving force behind the development of the concept of a “Slav”-based soccer club, which eventually evolved into the current Community and Sports Club.
Dalmatinac Club’s History of Building a paper by Alex Banovich and Max Zuvela
Around the early 1970s, Fremantle Dalmatinac Soccer Club President Mr George Grbavac and committee member Mr Ivan Petkovich contacted Mr Šimun Sardelic, a prominent businessman; Mr Max Zuvela, an architect; and Mr Alex Banovich, a local pharmacist, to assist the Club committee. At the time, the Club was experiencing great difficulty in obtaining suitable playing and training grounds, and Fremantle Council was not being helpful. Ultimately, the Club also wanted to establish its own sporting and cultural premises.
These three gentlemen agreed to form a sub-committee, independent of the Club committee, to investigate possible solutions. They arranged a meeting with the Fremantle Town Clerk, who advised that Council could build a soccer and rugby ground at the southern end of Hilton Reserve on Carrington Street. However, as the Club wanted the field and clubrooms as soon as possible, it would need to pay $70,000 for earthworks for both soccer and rugby grounds, and the Council would only offer a 21-year lease.
These conditions were not acceptable to the Club, so an approach was made to Cockburn Council. There, the Club was welcomed with open arms by Mayor Alan Thomas. Cockburn Council was prepared to assist in finding a two-acre parcel of land on which to build sporting and community club premises, adjacent to an all-weather soccer field. Importantly, the land would be freehold and owned outright by the Club.
As public open space could not be purchased for private ownership, considerable negotiation was required between the sub-committee, the Council, and Watson Foods, which owned a large area of buffer-zone land within the same planning scheme. These negotiations were led by Sam Sardelic and Max Zuvela, and were greatly assisted by councillors Miro Srdarov and Lloyd Marchesi, who recommended Council approval. Watson Foods very generously agreed to donate two acres of land to the Club in exchange for land next to the soccer ground, and success was finally achieved.
The Club then became the Spearwood Dalmatinac Club and set about engaging Tsigulis & Zuvela Architects to draw plans for the new sporting and cultural club. At the same time, Cockburn Council commenced earthworks on a fully professional, cambered soccer pitch, complete with underground drainage and reticulation to prevent winter flooding and ensure automatic watering during summer. Excess soil from the works was deposited on the club building site to create a natural grandstand for spectators. Floodlighting was later added to allow night training and matches. The field is now regarded as one of the best playing surfaces in the state and is currently used by the Soccer Federation of WA to host the State Soccer Night Series competition.
During this period, the soccer players were still competing in the amateur Sunday League, and social functions were held fortnightly at Paget Street Hall or the Memorial Hall. Modest funds were raised at these events to maintain the Club’s financial position.
With the acquisition of land and very limited funds to build a substantial club building, members constructed a basic bocce pitch and a builder’s shed for weekend gatherings. This helped attract new members and encouraged donations to the Building Fund. Members with building trades were encouraged to donate their services and materials when construction eventually commenced.
Max Zuvela’s architectural firm completed the plans and submitted them to Council for approval, with his services heavily discounted in support of the project. Others who donated or significantly discounted their services included:
Earthworks: Eddy Garbin
Ceilings: Brian Valeta (Vista Ceilings)
Concrete: Steve Simich
Bricklaying: Tome and Ante Borcich
Ceramic tiles: Faruk
Painting: Ante Žabica
Plumbing: Ante Nadilo Krenich
The building contract was awarded to Tecon Building Company, owned by Tony Pogorelic and John Petkovich. They facilitated further donations of labour and materials, significantly reducing construction costs. To complete the project, a substantial bank loan was required, and the ANZ Bank showed faith in the Club’s ability to repay it.
Alex Banovich served as Club President for the three years during which these achievements were realised. He then passed the presidency to Miro Srdarov, who held the position in the year Sir Charles Court, Premier of Western Australia, officially opened the Club on 5 March 1977. Alex Banovich acted as Master of Ceremonies at the opening, which was followed by a dinner and dance that continued late into the night. There was great jubilation among members over what had been achieved—something that only a few years earlier had seemed near impossible.
The Club’s hall soon proved its capacity when, a few years later, a Johnny O’Keefe rock concert was held at Dalmatinac. All tables were removed to accommodate over 1,000 people. It was a night to remember.
While dances continued at Paget Street Hall, Marko Marinovich organised a Miss Dalmatinac competition among members’ daughters, with each participant selling raffle tickets. The winner was the girl who raised the most money—Valma Tomasich, sister of the current Club President, Dennis Tomasich. Alex Banovich was asked to MC the event, and following its success, he recognised the potential to raise significantly more funds through a more professional, extended competition.
This led to highly successful gala nights at the Pagoda Ballroom, where Miss Dalmatinac and Charity Queen titles were awarded, raising many thousands of dollars to reduce the Club’s bank debt. The competition was later expanded to include entrants from other Slav clubs and renamed the Miss Jugoslavena Quest of WA, raising substantial funds for each participating club. The Charity Queen was always from the Dalmatinac Club, reflecting the generosity and organisation of its members.
During Western Australia’s 150th anniversary celebrations, the competition expanded nationally, with entrants from most states gathering in Perth at Canterbury Court. The Queensland entrant won, and the following year the quest was held in Brisbane. Overall, hundreds of thousands of dollars were raised for participating clubs, thanks largely to Marko Marinovich’s initiative.
Once firmly established, the Club applied for a professional team in the State Soccer League. Over subsequent years, the team progressed to the First Division, eventually winning the State Championship and every major competition held by the State Soccer Federation. Amateur and junior teams were also developed to support youth participation and future champions.
The members mentioned above, along with many others, worked tirelessly—often at the expense of their own employment—to ensure the Club’s continued progress. Many had arrived from their homelands with little money and limited English, yet demonstrated remarkable resilience. Several foundation members remain active on Club committees to this day.
Their generosity, hard work, and resilience are key reasons for the Club’s success. Having members of such strength and commitment is a tremendous asset to any organisation—and Dalmatinac has many.
VIC JAKOVICH REPORT ON SPEARWOOD DALMATINAC CLUB EARLY DAYS FOLLOWING CONSTRUCTION OF THE CLUB
Around the early 1970s, Fremantle Dalmatinac Soccer Club President Mr George Grbavac and committee member Mr Ivan Petkovich contacted Mr Šimun Sardelic, a prominent businessman; Mr Max Zuvela, an architect; and Mr Alex Banovich, a local pharmacist, to assist the Club committee. At the time, the Club was experiencing great difficulty in obtaining suitable playing and training grounds, and Fremantle Council was not being helpful. Ultimately, the Club also wanted to establish its own sporting and cultural premises.
These three gentlemen agreed to form a sub-committee, independent of the Club committee, to investigate possible solutions. They arranged a meeting with the Fremantle Town Clerk, who advised that Council could build a soccer and rugby ground at the southern end of Hilton Reserve on Carrington Street. However, as the Club wanted the field and clubrooms as soon as possible, it would need to pay $70,000 for earthworks for both soccer and rugby grounds, and the Council would only offer a 21-year lease.
These conditions were not acceptable to the Club, so an approach was made to Cockburn Council. There, the Club was welcomed with open arms by Mayor Alan Thomas. Cockburn Council was prepared to assist in finding a two-acre parcel of land on which to build sporting and community club premises, adjacent to an all-weather soccer field. Importantly, the land would be freehold and owned outright by the Club.
As public open space could not be purchased for private ownership, considerable negotiation was required between the sub-committee, the Council, and Watson Foods, which owned a large area of buffer-zone land within the same planning scheme. These negotiations were led by Sam Sardelic and Max Zuvela, and were greatly assisted by councillors Miro Srdarov and Lloyd Marchesi, who recommended Council approval. Watson Foods very generously agreed to donate two acres of land to the Club in exchange for land next to the soccer ground, and success was finally achieved.
The Club then became the Spearwood Dalmatinac Club and set about engaging Tsigulis & Zuvela Architects to draw plans for the new sporting and cultural club. At the same time, Cockburn Council commenced earthworks on a fully professional, cambered soccer pitch, complete with underground drainage and reticulation to prevent winter flooding and ensure automatic watering during summer. Excess soil from the works was deposited on the club building site to create a natural grandstand for spectators. Floodlighting was later added to allow night training and matches. The field is now regarded as one of the best playing surfaces in the state and is currently used by the Soccer Federation of WA to host the State Soccer Night Series competition.
During this period, the soccer players were still competing in the amateur Sunday League, and social functions were held fortnightly at Paget Street Hall or the Memorial Hall. Modest funds were raised at these events to maintain the Club’s financial position.
With the acquisition of land and very limited funds to build a substantial club building, members constructed a basic bocce pitch and a builder’s shed for weekend gatherings. This helped attract new members and encouraged donations to the Building Fund. Members with building trades were encouraged to donate their services and materials when construction eventually commenced.
Max Zuvela’s architectural firm completed the plans and submitted them to Council for approval, with his services heavily discounted in support of the project. Others who donated or significantly discounted their services included:
Earthworks: Eddy Garbin
Ceilings: Brian Valeta (Vista Ceilings)
Concrete: Steve Simich
Bricklaying: Tome and Ante Borcich
Ceramic tiles: Faruk
Painting: Ante Žabica
Plumbing: Ante Nadilo Krenich
The building contract was awarded to Tecon Building Company, owned by Tony Pogorelic and John Petkovich. They facilitated further donations of labour and materials, significantly reducing construction costs. To complete the project, a substantial bank loan was required, and the ANZ Bank showed faith in the Club’s ability to repay it.
Alex Banovich served as Club President for the three years during which these achievements were realised. He then passed the presidency to Miro Srdarov, who held the position in the year Sir Charles Court, Premier of Western Australia, officially opened the Club on 5 March 1977. Alex Banovich acted as Master of Ceremonies at the opening, which was followed by a dinner and dance that continued late into the night. There was great jubilation among members over what had been achieved—something that only a few years earlier had seemed near impossible.
The Club’s hall soon proved its capacity when, a few years later, a Johnny O’Keefe rock concert was held at Dalmatinac. All tables were removed to accommodate over 1,000 people. It was a night to remember.
While dances continued at Paget Street Hall, Marko Marinovich organised a Miss Dalmatinac competition among members’ daughters, with each participant selling raffle tickets. The winner was the girl who raised the most money—Valma Tomasich, sister of the current Club President, Dennis Tomasich. Alex Banovich was asked to MC the event, and following its success, he recognised the potential to raise significantly more funds through a more professional, extended competition.
This led to highly successful gala nights at the Pagoda Ballroom, where Miss Dalmatinac and Charity Queen titles were awarded, raising many thousands of dollars to reduce the Club’s bank debt. The competition was later expanded to include entrants from other Slav clubs and renamed the Miss Jugoslavena Quest of WA, raising substantial funds for each participating club. The Charity Queen was always from the Dalmatinac Club, reflecting the generosity and organisation of its members.
During Western Australia’s 150th anniversary celebrations, the competition expanded nationally, with entrants from most states gathering in Perth at Canterbury Court. The Queensland entrant won, and the following year the quest was held in Brisbane. Overall, hundreds of thousands of dollars were raised for participating clubs, thanks largely to Marko Marinovich’s initiative.
Once firmly established, the Club applied for a professional team in the State Soccer League. Over subsequent years, the team progressed to the First Division, eventually winning the State Championship and every major competition held by the State Soccer Federation. Amateur and junior teams were also developed to support youth participation and future champions.
The members mentioned above, along with many others, worked tirelessly—often at the expense of their own employment—to ensure the Club’s continued progress. Many had arrived from their homelands with little money and limited English, yet demonstrated remarkable resilience. Several foundation members remain active on Club committees to this day.
Their generosity, hard work, and resilience are key reasons for the Club’s success. Having members of such strength and commitment is a tremendous asset to any organisation—and Dalmatinac has many.
