This private cover depicting Tom
Wills and the "All-Australian side" cachet is printed on a pre-stamped envelope
displaying the Victorian State Floral Emblem, Pink Heath, and cancelled with the
125th Anniversary Commemorative Postmark. (PM 1050)
On the 17th May 1859 Wills chaired a meeting in
which the first rules of the game were codified. Three days earlier on the 14th
May along with others, he formed the Melbourne Football Club becoming their
first captain. It also appears he had much to do with the formation of the
Geelong Football Club on 18th July 1859.
For the 1860 season it appears he captained the
Richmond Club.
In early 1861 he left Victoria travelling by sea
to Brisbane and then overland to Cullinlaringo, a station 250 miles west of
Rockhampton on the Tropic of Capricorn. On the 17th October 1861 Aboriginals
attacked the camp killing 19 including Horatio Wills, his father. Tom was away
on a trip to Brisbane for supplies.
He returned to Victoria in 1864 and played
football mainly for Geelong but it appeared that he had little administrative
input. His two younger brothers also played for Geelong.
Tommy, as he was affectionately known, developed
problems with alcoholism and on the 2nd May 1880 he stabbed himself with a pair
of scissors and died latter that afternoon at the age of 44.
First
Class Collectables released a Cinderella of
Tom Wills
in 2006.
