AFTER more than three years of work and research, Mighty Mininera League is finally on bookshelves after it was launched at the MCG – no, not THAT one, the one in Mininera.

The 450-page book, written by Kel Murray and edited by Karen McIntyre, documents the history of the Mininera and District Football League (MDFL), dating back to 1921.

Murray said it was a huge relief to finally launch the book last Saturday.

“The last three weeks has been pretty stressful for us,” he said.

“It wasn’t until 1pm on Monday that the book finally went to print, we were staring down the barrel of a book launch without any books.”

The book launch coincided with the clash between SMW Rovers and Tatyoon, made up of teams who were involved in the inaugural league more than 100 years ago.

McIntyre said to put together something so comprehensive took a lot of effort and commitment, particularly during the pandemic and the resulting travel restrictions and lockdowns.

“We are super proud of the efforts which went into putting it together,” she said.

“It would have to be thousands of hours of work.

“It achieved what we wanted 110 per cent.”

Murray noted just how much travel he did during the research stage of the book for the Ballarat resident.

“I worked out I did about 28,500 kilometres,” he said.

“It included at least 60 trips to Ararat, went to Hamilton seven or eight times, went to Warrnambool and also drove to Balmoral to interview Wendell Timms.”

Each club has its own chapter in the book, along with other additional chapters including interleague, women’s football and also a small section focused on the Mininera and District Netball Association.

The pair had worked together previously on a book documenting the history of the Lake Bolac Golf Club and Murray said if McIntyre didn’t agree to the MDFL project, then it would not have seen the light of day.

“If Karen hadn’t come onboard, it would have fallen over and it wouldn’t have gone ahead,” he said.

McIntyre noted that the photography included was also comprehensive in terms of what was covered.

“I could still put a few more photos in that I didn’t, we had to draw the line somewhere,” she said.

“Our aim was to put a premiership photograph for every premiership in the 100 years and we almost achieved that.

“It is very comprehensive.”

The book launch also included speeches from current league president, Dale Bruns, former league president, John Box, with Murray Knight the MC for last Saturday’s event.

Three-time Richmond premiership player and Tatyoon product, David Astbury, was guest speaker at the event.

Astbury said it was a great chance to get back to his roots and repay the community for the support he has received over the years.

“I have been starved of opportunity to spend time with my family and the community over the past two years, I was really excited by the opportunity and I think that was exemplified by the fact I went to the football in Sydney (last Friday night) then got a 6am flight to get back here,” he said.

“I owe a lot to the community and that is why I repay them with appearances like this and it is something I am more than comfortable doing.”

Books can be purchased from the Lake Bolac Information Centre, or people can contact John Box to purchase a copy to be posted.