Mitch with Cliffy Lyons in Gundagai in the mid 1980s. Mitch with his junior soccer team (back row, far right).
There’s a few aspects about Mitchell ‘Mitch’ Goodsall which strike people when they first meet him. He is friendly, intelligent and has a passion for life. He has three very immediate and visible loves. The first being the Gundagai Tigers, the second being the 7-year-old bay gelding Alligator Blood, trained by Gai Waterhouse and AdrianBott. The love for the Tigers goes back to his early childhood when Australian Rugby League legend Cliff Lyons played for them when they won the comp in 1983. Cliffy still stops in every now and again to see Mitch when he is coming through or visiting and it’s part of the reason why Mitch also supports his third love, the Manly Sea Eagles to this day. “He is a great servant to the game and is married to a Gundagai girl,” Mitch said.
Mitch also loves the town of Gundagai and is a proud born and bred local. “I just love the town, love the community, unbelievable community Gundagai. I’m in a group chat with a few of the older local fellas and we have a lot of fun,” he said. Mitch went to primary school in Gundagai. He enjoyed playing junior soccer for the town and then spent his high school years in Tumut and much of his working life there also. He has an affinity with the cross town rivals. He said, “I always go for Gundagai, they are my team, but if Tumut isn’t playing Gundagai, I like to see them do well against other teams. Gundagai is always number one, but I’ve been travelling up to Tumut since 1992.”
Mitch was born on the 16th of April 1979. His high schooling moved to Tumut because, “they had a support class. One of my best friends who was a few years older than me was in the same class. Once I got to know people it was easy.” Mitch started working with Valmar in Tumut in August 98 and has been there ever since, amassing 26 years. He works reception as his main role, fielding phone calls and enquiries as well as organising the mail. He also works for QPA in Gundagai and does a sports show on radio in Tumut once a week where he spends half an hour on the topics of sport both locally and nationally. Mitch does the show with Pat Ferguson and loves it. When he gets a chance he also enjoys a roll at the Bowling Club in Gundagai and also fits in poker. He runs a lotto style game for the Tigers club which jackpots each week.
His love of Alligator Blood has transferred to his own racehorse which he has a share in by the name of Show Secrets, trained by Mitchell Beer in Albury. With one campaign under the belt, Show Secrets will be back for its second campaign soon. When asked why he has interest in Alligator Blood, Mitch puts it down to one main factor. He said, “He just puts his ears back and says ‘catch me if you can’. I like that about him. He leads nearly all the way, he has red, green and black silks. Peter McAlister is friends with the owners and he got me a big print.” Mitch works hard but gets to enjoy a long weekend most weeks, which suits him well. Come game day for the Tigers, Mitch jumps into action at ANZAC Park and puts the goal posts, corner posts and other markers on the field. He doesn’t have too many beers but enjoys a coke. He admits he can’t sit still during the games and loves the excitement of it.
Mitch with his 3 year old gelding Show Secrets which he owns a part share. Mitch with the print of Alligator Blood his favourite race horse, alongside Peter McAlister.
Mitch loves the history of Gundagai, noting that the township was built up on the hill after the tragedy of the 1852 flood. He also noted the aboriginal men, Yarri and Jacky Jacky, who saved many lives during the flood. He misses the old bridge and talked of the quality of the museum and the Rusconi Marble Masterpiece which is housed at the tourist information centre.
Mitch lost his mum, Pam, in 2020 and it hit him hard. “When stuff like that happens, you realise how good the community is. Gundagai really got behind me,” he said. Mitch moved into his current home with some friends after Pam passed. Mitch’s father is still in Cairns and he visited him a couple of years ago, but his relationship with his mother was close. He has other relatives including his beloved aunties and uncles, cousins in Gundagai, Wagga and Darlington Point, and a half brother and sister in Cairns. “The good things to happen is when the Tigers win Grand Finals. I also got the chance to play a couple of all abilities games. We ended up with our own team, the Tigers,” he said. Mitch made it across the line and scored a fine try during his career. Leading into Australia Day it’s important to note that Mitch received an Australia Day award for all of the things he is involved in with the community, with his peers recognising his contribution to the town. He mentioned during the interview that he had made the triples finals in the past and as you can see in today’s sport section, he took out a triples match on the weekend.
Mitch and his All Abilities Team who took to the field against Brothers at ANZAC Park in July 2022. Mitch evading the defence with smiles all around.
At 44, Mitch has no plans of slowing down in any facet of his life. He has a dog, Miley, who is crossed between a Toy Poodle and a Fox Terrier. He is on the touch footy committee and also enjoys the Wednesday night competition. He loves a few TV shows and is a fan of That 90’s Show and 90210 while also enjoying the early years of Home and Away on 7plus. Apart from these shows he loves documentaries on sports stars including Tom Brady. Mitch keeps up to date with international cricket and is sad to see David Warner retire. “Pat Cummins is one of the best bowlers in the world and Travis Head is a great batsmen. I hope they go with a traditional opener once Warner retires,” he said. Mitch put his two bits in about ‘sandpaper gate’ and highlighted that the Australians were treated very harshly compared to some of the outcomes the players from other countries get. Mitch commented on the local cricket and said that it’s great to see 20/20 on a Friday night, but that the demise of the Saturday competition locally is something he would like to see reversed.
Mitch doesn’t drive but doesn’t have to with the group chat coming to the fore when he needs to get somewhere. If they can’t help, they will find someone who can. They are all local men with big hearts who are there for Mitch when he needs them. They can remain nameless, as that’s between Mitch and them, and forms part of that special relationship. Those men know who they are. Mitch finished by thanking the Gundagai community for everything in his life. “I love Gundagai and the community and everything they do for me,” he said. Gundagai wouldn’t be the same without Mitch Goodsall and his involvement in the community. His warm smile and friendly and giving nature, his friendships across different organisations and demographics is seamless.
Mitch Goodsall, you are champion. A man who wears his heart on his sleeve for his local footy club and shares his pride for his town on his chest. Whether donning the Tigers colours or puffing it out after a win, Mitch does himself and Gundagai proud in everything he does. Mitch you truly are a Local Legend.
