During the Henty Machinery Field Days, I spoke with the Bourke family and found they were part of the Pleasant Hills Football Club team. The club started on a ground about 4 miles west of the village on a property formerly owned by Vern Morey.
The club won their only premiership in 1920, playing in the Urangeline and District League. Players were presented with gold medals, including Mr August Lindner for his work clearing the ground with his traction engine.
The club produced several outstanding players, including Les Klemke, who played for St Kilda in the VFL in 1936, and Ted Grunow, who played over 500 games and won a long-distance kicking competition.
Former player Brian Bourke recalled that the oval at the recreation reserve was on such a slope that the ball was nearly always at the bottom end of the ground. Looking at it now, it seems not much has changed!
Fiona Beckett