Famous Cricketers No 57 - W. M. Woodfull

W. M. WOODFULL WilliamMaldon Woodfull OBE was born in the central Victorian gold-mining town of Maldon on 22 August 1897. Because his father Thomas Woodfull was a member of the clergy, the family shifted house frequently over the years as he was posted to different parishes. Fortunately Tom was a cricket enthusiast. In the 1910s he laid down a wicket in his backyard for Bill and his brothers to use for practice. Rumour has it that Jack Ryder used to practise there, but the family cannot confirm that now. Woodfull contracted rheumatic fever when he was young and this caused him to be rejected for AIF service during World War One. He began his secondary schooling at Maryborough High School (about 150 km North West of Melbourne) before transferring to Melbourne High School in 1912. Woodfull always wanted to be a teacher and he spent 43 years in his chosen profession. After leaving Melbourne High, he attended The Melbourne Teacher Training College, gaining a Diploma in Education. He then completed a BA degree at the University of Melbourne through part-time study. Few teachers had degrees and this possibly helped Bill gain rapid promotion in his teaching career. Bill Woodfull the Teacher Whilst studying at College, Woodfull played with the Essendon District Cricket Club. He was however lost to District Cricket for several years after he graduated, because of a country teacher posting. Bill O’Reilly had a similar experience. Woodfull’s first teaching appointment was back to his old school Maryborough High School in 1919. It was here “that he began to score a lot of runs at huge averages because he was rarely dismissed.” In 1920 he was selected in the Victorian Teachers’ team that travelled to Sydney. In one of these games he batted through the innings for 91*. These performances meant that when the Victorian Cricket Association sent a Second X1 team to Sydney later that year, he was selected as a gesture to the country. When he arrived at the railway station, no one knew him. He was the only non-VCA player selected. Few have been selected since. In his two years in the Maryborough district competition, Woodfull scored 1355 runs at 225.83. Woodfull transferred back to Melbourne in December 1921 and this undoubtedly helped his first-class cricket prospects. Marrying in 1927, Woodfull returned to Melbourne High as a classroom teacher the same year. Later he had Keith Miller in one of his classes whilst future Test cricketers Doug Ring and Jack Wilson were also students at the school. Woodfull applied for military service during World War Two but was rejected on health grounds again. Undeterred, Woodfull taught navigation to the RAAF, using his maths teaching background to good effect. Woodfull was appointed Principal of Upwey High School (50 km east of Melbourne) in 1943. He transferred back to Melbourne High as Vice-Principal in 1948. In 1954, Woodfull was appointed Principal of Box Hill High School (15 km east of Melbourne). Whilst at the school, he was heavily involved in the running of the Metropolitan High Schools’ Sports Association. It was mainly through his efforts that the association gained full-time teaching release for their Secretary. The teacher released was a member of Bill’s staff. This gesture enabled Victorian school sport to be put on a professional footing and materially helped in popularising sport in schools. Woodfull returned to Melbourne High as Principal in 1956. Melbourne High was (and still is) rated as the top Victorian High School. The Principal is effectively the top Principal in the State and it is a much sought after position. Woodfull retired from teaching in 1962. He had spent almost 30 years at Melbourne High as either a student, teacher, Vice-Principal or Principal. After retiring, Woodfull was awarded an OBE for his “Services to Education”. 4