JOE HEENAN.

NZ Truth, Issue 935, 27 October 1923, Page 9

JOE HEENAN.

"I take all knowledge for my province," said Bacon, or words to that effect, as P.C. 99 says, and Joe Heenan might welt declare, "I take all sport for-my 'ptoVinc<EH^ r rHe f s interested" in everything — boxing, „ football. amateur athletics (his greatest field}, and, indeed, no sport goes by him unnoticed. Originally, he hails from the good old sporting community of the West Goast, but has spent most of his life m Wellington where he holds down a job as an assistant raw-draftsman." For seventeen years , he was on the Wellington Athletic Centre, and is now representing 1 Wellington on . the New Zealand Council. One of his greatest

achievements was m founding the Athletic Sports Club m 1908. which, by tho way; war'an instance -of history- repeating itself, as the football club was formed originally from the old amateur athletic club. As an active footballer Joe was no Billy Wallace, but he has ever since applied to the administrative side of sport. He wore a Victoria College Jersey away back m 1904 and also played In tho Junior grade for the Athletic Club, with which he has tjeen connected with for twenty years. He has held office as a vicepresident and has also been the club deleurate on the Union. Last, year ho was on the management committee. Turning to the sport of boxing we find that Joe is a member of the Wellington Centre and secretary of the sports club at Eastbourne, which embraces a school of 40 enthusiastic lads learning the fistic art -under tho tuition of Heenan, pere. Joe's father learnt his boxing on the Coast m tho early days when tho home of boxing m New Zealand was down that way. He was m the P. and T. service, but has retired on superannuation and now finds vent for his

energies m the encouragement of young athletes. The father was also an enthusiastic supporter of the Athletic Club and trained the team from that club which won the championship five years In succession. This wa3 "before the war., The record is a flne one. In 1911 the 5 team was first successful m the long break, and worn again m '12 and '13. In 1914 Athletic tied with the Wellington Club and then m 1915 again won the championship right out. At the moment Joe is full of the Olympic team idea.