General News
10 September, 2024
GEORGE GUINEY: What should have been! — By Brian Lennen
In this edition of the Maryborough Memories series, Brian Lennen takes a look at the life of George Guiney.
How would you feel if you were robbed of immortality?
This is a question that plagued George Guiney all his life.
In the 1940 Stawell Gift, George running in semi-final three of the gift was involved in a controversy.
George and Alex Reid (the eventual gift winner) hit the finish line locked together.
George’s colour went up as the winner on the finishing machine but the judges decided to over rule the result and awarded the race to Reid.
They deemed Guiney’s hand had triggered the machine instead of the running breasting the tape in the correct fashion.
Most of the estimated crowd of 25,000 were stunned and many an angry punter cried foul and skirmishes broke out in the bookmakers ring.
According to Gary Watt, author of the history of the Stawell Gift, corruption was common among the “satchel carriers”.
On one occasion a heavily backed contestant was locked up in a local cell overnight for his own protection. Threats were made on his safety.
On the day of the Gift, an American tourist filmed the semi-final with a personal movie camera (technologically advanced for Australia).
Attendees at the Sports Association dinner were shown this film blown upon on the big screen.
It clearly shows that George was the winner and had breasted the tape.
Unfortunately the technology for developing the film took days and couldn’t be used on the sports night.
Despite concerns from his family that George would be incoherent when interviewed, he was lucid recalling his many exploits in full detail.
George and his close friend, Frank Hannan, tell tales of running slow to get a mark and competing in distance events to hide their form.
In one event, they hid in the shadows and joined in for the final lap.
On the conclusion of his interview at his induction into the Hall of Fame, he shook my hand and wouldn’t let go.
He looked me in the face and said, “I don’t want this to end!”
George’s children, Helen and Leigh inherited his speed with Leigh contesting many gifts and excelling at school athletics.
George resided in the highly individual brick house at the rear of the Paramount Theatre which he operated for many years. He also spent many hours identifying and coaching local athletes.
George Guiney passed away in January 2005 at the age of 88.