WARRNAMBOOL has been chosen as the venue for a football gathering with a difference.
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The Port Moresby Football Club is holding its reunion in Warrnambool, beginning with a dinner at Flagstaff Hill's Steam Packet Inn on February 28 .
The Papua New Guinea club has a reunion every second year at a different place around Australia . This is the first time Warrnambool has been chosen to host it.
Bev Kenna, wife of former Port Moresby player Noel, is organising the reunion, which will run until March 2.
Kenna said Warrnambool was chosen due to the city's strong links to the club.
Players from Warrnambool who went on to play for Port Moresby include Brian Baudinette, Brian Brebner, Wally Cook, Daryl Dalton, Brian Fry, Brian Guyett, Noel Kenna, Dennis O'Malley, Daryl Watson, Rob Whelan and Peter Wooles.
"The club was formed in the 1950 s and at that time it was one of three Aussie rules teams playing in Port Moresby," Kenna said.
"By the time we left there in 1982 it had grown to about 10 or 12 teams, so it was a very popular sport.
"There were a lot of ex-pats playing and they were there at the teachers' colleges, the armed forces and the police.
"There were also a lot of locals in Port Morseby who took up the sport.
"Over the years the players who have been part of the Port Moresby Football Club have scattered all over the world, so it is good to have these reunions and get everyone together again."
The reunion is expected to attract as many as 70 former players, supporters and officials. The highest profile of these will be former Brisbane Lions triple-premiership player Mal Michael's father Peter, who is still involved with the club.
abrady@fairfaxmedia.com.au
