The South Sydney Rabbitohs Historical Society (SSRHS) was established on Wednesday 24 November, 2021, to ensure that more than a century of storytelling and record keeping of the famous South Sydney Rabbitohs was kept in great hands.
The initial group at the first meeting included Rabbitohs Historians Michael Curin, Marco Sivis and Brad Ryder, with South Sydney’s Media and Communications Manager Jeremy Monahan chairing this and subsequent meetings. Contributions have also been made by Rabbitohs CEO Blake Solly and Digital Content Manager Sunny Brar. Each Historian’s strengths were identified to help maintain and further build the Club’s historical records and interesting items in the Club’s collection.
Renowned historian Ross Mackay joined the SSRHS for the second meeting, which saw the group develop a number of projects including the delivery of the history wall at the Club’s Community and High Performance Centre, the USANA Rabbitohs Centre, at Heffron Park in Maroubra, the completion of the Club’s collection of team photos from 1908 through to the current day, and the correction of the full men’s first grade player list with 16 errors corrected from the initial list made in 2002, to name just a few.
Mr Sivis stood down from his role on the SSRHS in February 2023, however he remains a valuable source of information and a strong supporter for the South Sydney Rabbitohs and the SSRHS.
The SSRHS meets regularly to discuss record keeping and story telling to help enrich the experience of Rabbitohs Members and supporters.
The charter of the SSRHS is to:
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provide a platform to tell the amazing and varied stories of the South Sydney Rabbitohs’ and its associated parties that have been gathered since the Club’s establishment in 1908 for the entertainment, information and enjoyment of the players, officials, their families, contributors, the Club’s Members, supporters and sports fans alike;
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record thorough, accurate and accessible data and statistics of the South Sydney Rabbitohs’ rich history since 1908 and provide an accuracy reference point to one and all;
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establish and maintain a framework for the continued collation, improvement, education and collaboration of South Sydney Rabbitohs’ historical information and statistics that is both meaningful and informative for generations to come;
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ensure the thousands of proud men and women that have played for, or contributed to the history of, the South Sydney Rabbitohs since 1908, and those who are to play for, or contribute to, long into the future, are always valued, remembered and never forgotten for what they have given to the Club.
Rabbitohs CEO Blake Solly said: “The Club’s history is of great importance and passing along the stories and achievements of the Club, its players, coaches and contributors, of which there are many over the past almost 115 years, is vitally important as well.
“Rather than many historians working in isolation we’ll be bringing together some of the Club’s brightest minds and history buffs to tell the stories of the Club and help broaden the stories and records of the Club from the past 115 years and ongoing into the future.
“Our history is a point of difference for our Club and something of which we are very proud, so we look forward to working closely with Historical Society members and their invited guests to give our Members and fans the greatest opportunity to learn about what it means to be a Rabbitoh.”
If you have any valuable historical information or historical items that you would like to share with, or donate to, the South Sydney Rabbitohs Historical Society, please call the office on (02) 8306 9900 or email [email protected].
