Lester Hamilton Kelly (14 February 1892 – 6 January 1958) was an Australian rules footballer who played with the Melbourne University Football Club in the Victorian Football League (VFL).The University Team, The Leader, (Saturday, 4 May 1912), p.29.
Family The son of Rev. Robert Kelly, and Mary Kelly, née Steer, Lester Hamilton Kelly was born at Moonta, South Australia on 14 February 1892. He married Christina Maude Howard in 1916.
Education Educated at Wesley College, and the University of Melbourne, he was an outstanding athlete, and was the first Australian schoolboy to high-jump six feet.A Champion Athlete, (Thursday, 30 March 1911), p.2.
At the Wesley College Sports on 21 October 1910, Kelly won the Open shot put (32 ft 10in), the open long jump (20 ft 8½in), the open 220 yards (23 1/5 secs.), and was second ("by inches") in the open 100 yards.Wesley College Sports, The Age, (Saturday, 322 October 1910), p.16.
Football All of the 40 games he played with University resulted in losses. Kelly played the most games without recording a win of all players in the history of the Victorian Football League.
Military service He enlisted in the First AIF on 17 August 1914.
Schoolmaster On his return to Australia, he was a member of the teaching staff at Wesley College.Athletic Master Throws Pursuer, The Herald, (Friday, 10 August 1928), p.3.
Death He died on 6 January 1958.Deaths: Kelly, The Age, (Tuesday, 7 January 1958), p.10.Obituaries: L.H. Kelly, Wesley College Chronicle, No.272, May 1958), p.48.
Footnotes
References Holmesby, Russell & Main, Jim (2007). The Encyclopedia of AFL Footballers. 7th ed. Melbourne: Bas Publishing. World War One Embarkation Roll: Second Lieutenant Lester Hamilton Kelly, collection of the Australian War Memorial. World War One Service Record: Captain Lester Hamilton Kelly, National Archives of Australia. World War One Nominal Roll: Captain Lester Hamilton Kelly, collection of the Australian War Memorial. Great in Sport, Great in War, The Winner, (Wednesday, 22 November 1916), p.6. Recent Fighting Described by Prominent Footballers, The Winner, (Wednesday, 22 November 1916), p.6.
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