1922 - 2015

Mr Bondi United was the nickname bestowed on ‘Yooka’ Symonds as an inaugural player with the Bondi United Rugby League Football Club.

Yooka and his twin brother 'Curly' (aka Neville and Dudley) were born in a small private maternity hospital on Rickard Avenue, Bondi, in 1922. The family shifted house around Bondi during their childhood, living at Forest Knoll Avenue and Francis Street, among other places.

The inseparable brothers were known for their childhood antics. Yooka’s name originated from time spent with fishermen at North Bondi. His mispronunciation of ‘hook’ resulted in the lifelong nickname.

The twins attended Bondi Wellington St Public School, before working at McGrath’s Motors in Paddington, then Paddy Gallagher’s workshop.

In 1941, they signed up to serve in World War II, saying they were Jewish despite never attending a synagogue. As a result, they were visited by an army rabbi who gave them wine, which the teetotallers gave to their mates.

The pair were stationed at Port Kembla and Darwin preparing defences against a feared Japanese invasion. Yooka was shot in a training exercise gone wrong.

After the war, the twins played for Bondi Juniors (rugby union) on Saturdays. Many mates were not able to play because of work on that day. When Jimmy Redpath founded the Bondi United rugby league team in 1946 for a Sunday competition, the brothers played union on Saturdays and league on Sundays.

In 1947, United entered a B-grade team and won their first competition. In 1948, they had enough players to enter D- and C-grade sides. Yooka was club secretary and became president in the 1950s. Under his leadership, it secured a training ground and clubhouse at North Bondi’s Bamford Oval, opening in 1966 with the motto ‘Facta Probant’ (Let deeds speak for themselves).

The club soon started squash teams, girls’ netball and girls’ and boys’ touch football and basketball, as well as a swim club.

Yooka coached the under-6 team until the mid-2000s. After retiring, Yooka continued running raffles and supporting Bondi United into his late 80’s. He was recognised by Waverley Council for his service to Bondi United and other community work, including 30+ years with Meals on Wheels; volunteering at Norm Andrews House; and fundraising for Wairoa Special School. He was Bondi United’s first Life Member and was a recipient of an AM and  a NSW Government Sports Award. 

He was the club’s first life member.

Images courtesy Toni Single.