Play

For the record, when we played Trugo while researching The Slow Guide to Melbourne I trounced photographer James Braund so bad that his dignity was down around his ankles. Trugo is perhaps the most Melbourne of sports, and as our host, Gerald Strachan of the Brunswick City Trugo club lamented, “it’s dying mate, it’s dying”.

Rail workers in Newport invented Trugo in 1924, to help them pass downtime in the yards. Some clever clog took a ring-shaped rubber buffer off a train, and tried to pelt it with a mallet through two cans at the other end of the carriage. “When the ring went through the posts”, says Gerald, “observers yelled ‘true go, that was a true go’ and hence the name”.

The game became more organised and grew in popularity among the rail workers of the western suburbs, and then beyond to the working classes throughout the city. Men and women play together, the gents swinging the mallet between their legs with their backs to goal, women swinging to the side.

Trugo, once the preserve of the over-65s, was opened to all-comers in the 1990s in the hope of preserving the game. Gerald’s 34-year-old son Patrick is his doubles partner and they’re the reigning doubles champions of…well, seeing as though the game is only played in Melbourne, they’re the Trugo doubles champions of the world! Tout le monde!!!

But the traditional player base is dying off and the young folk aren’t joining in sufficient numbers. This unique piece of local culture is endangered, its last legs about to be kicked out by an increasingly homogenised world. There are only six clubs left: Brunswick, Footscray, Yarraville, Port Melbourne, Ascot Vale and current champions Sandridge. And less than a hundred registered players.

The new season has just started. Games end with a “beer or two” in the local pub. “It’s all about having a bit of fun and being sociable. Anyone can come along for a hit”, says Gerald. So if you’re interested in enjoying yourself, connecting with the community, preserving local heritage and setting your own trend, give Gerald a call on 9386 6708, and he’ll put you in touch with your nearest club.