About Kuljak
Kuljak Lacrosse Club has been a prominent supporter of Lacrosse in Western Australia since 1963. The club's members are dedicated to preserving the sport's rich history by collecting stories and memories of past players, coaches, and members. The club also supports the future of Lacrosse by presenting the Kuljak Medal to the Best Player in the Men's and Women's Lacrosse WA grand finals each year and funding a Youth Sponsorship scheme for member's children and grandchildren who achieve under age State and Australian team selection. The club's lacrosse photographic collection and other historical material are a testament to its commitment to the sport.
The Kuljak Early Story
Harold Horner completed a paper titled GENESIS OF THE KULJAK CLUB when he retired as Club Secretary in 1990. His words are reproduced:
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When the first Australian overseas touring team returned in 1962, the Western Australian members were high in praise of the reception they received in the House of Commons Dining Hall, where they were guests of the Centurion Old Players Club at their Annual Dinner. Letters to the Centurion Club President, Jack Winkley-Heaword, and their Hon. Secretary, Mr J R Gomersall, brought a copy of their constitution, full details of their operations and heartening good wishes to us in our efforts to form an Old Players and Supporters Club on similar lines.
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On the 5th of June 1963, a letter was sent to each club secretary requesting the names and addresses of all known old players and supporters. The response was most gratifying. As a result, 325 invitations were posted for a Buffet tea and inaugural meeting to be held at the Wembley Lodge, Cambridge Street, on 23rd September 1963. Seventy-nine accepted the invitation.
Following a most enjoyable buffet meal, Laurie Turnbull, who had been Manager of the Australian team, so generously feted at the House of Commons, gave an outline of the value to lacrosse England of the Centurion Club and of the part played in retaining the interest and companionship of players who had “hung up their boots”.
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The club’s name came about when a search at the Public Library for Aboriginal words for “black swan” and “boomerang” had disclosed that, throughout Australia, there were forty-three words for the former and more than 20 for the latter. From a short list of these, and bearing in mind euphony and simplicity, members voted to adopt the word KULJAK, meaning “black swan”, the Western Australian emblem.
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