Collingwood legend Malcolm ‘Doc’ Seddon had no idea that the two biscuits he sent back to Melbourne during his service in World War 1 would one day be displayed in the Westpac Centre.
Seddon was serving for the Australian military overseas and used ‘Ship’s Biscuits’* on occasions to send back artistic memorabilia to his teammates.
Earlier in the week Collingwood accepted the second biscuit linked to Seddon, who sent it to his Magpie mate Ted Rowell, captain of the 1903 premiership side. The club has previously housed a biscuit sent by Seddon to a Melbourne friend during the War.
The Caulfield RSL donated the piece of history earlier in the week with club CEO Gary Pert on hand.
“The two Doc Seddon biscuits are now a significant part of the club’s substantial memorabilia collection which is displayed at the Westpac Centre,” Pert told Collingwoodfc.com.au during the week.
“The biscuits are a fantastic historical recognition of the friendships between two club legends, Doc Seddon and Ted Rowell. They also are a great symbolic link to the service that the Collingwood players gave to our military forces over the last 100 years.”
The presentation of the Anzac Day jumper signed by the players was the club’s gift back to the Caulfield RSL to show the appreciation for the loan of the Doc Seddon biscuit.
To mark the occasion the jumper was presented by Ted Rowell’s great grand daughter, Amy Rowell, who is a valued staff member of the club. Amy presented the jumper on behalf of the Rowell and Seddon families to Caulfield RSL President, Bob Larkin.
*The biscuits were issued to the diggers in the First World War as part of their rations and were produced by Arnott’s. The purpose of the biscuits was to mix them with hot water and turn them into porridge.
Playing profiles
Malcom ‘Doc’ Seddon
Playing career: 1911-15 and 1919-21
Games: 102
Goals: 56
Edward ‘Ted’ Rowell
Playing career: 1901-04 and 1907-15
Games: 189
Goals: 175
Image: David Seddon, Gary Pert, Bob Larkin, Amy Rowell, Wendy Cossar, John Rowell, Patricia Rowell
