HEINZ, George Victor (1891-1966)
George Heintz was enrolled as a day student at Geelong College by his mother and his address at enrolment was the Haymarket Hotel, Yarra St, Geelong. He was a member of the College 1st Football Teams of 1908 and 1909 and is listed as playing as a 'follower' in the annual football game between the Old Collegians' and the College.
He was born at Ballarat East on 8 October 1891, the son of George Heinz (c1862-1900) and Louisa nee Booth.
He had been working as a masseur for 5 years when he enlisted (No 14300) on 9 August 1915 as a Private in the AIF but due to a dearth of Massage Therapists (now known as Physiotherapists) he was discharged to serve in England in that capacity on 17 December 1915. He embarked for overseas with No 1 Section, Sea Transport Staff, (Masseur Corps) as Staff Sergeant from Melbourne on RMS Morea on 30 May 1916. He marched in to Australian Army Medical Corps Training Depot, Parkhouse, England, on 12 September 1916.
George Heinz returned to Australia on Transport Duty on HS Ajana, embarking on 12 October 1916. After his return he worked in Home Services at Mont Park and married Olive Laura Jane Keown in about 1918 in Victoria. He was residing in Mount Eliza, Victoria at the time of his death at age 75 on 3 October 1966.
His name is registered on Geelong College Roll of Honour as G V Haines and it is believed that he anglicised his name due to the sensitivity of German names during World War I.
George Heinz played as a rover and made his debut in 1910 for his local club Geelong. The following season he represented Victoria at the Adelaide Carnival. He played his last game for Geelong in 1914 before joining the AIF. He missed the next four seasons due to war commitments. When he returned in 1919 it was with Melbourne and he was named as captain-coach. The club did not win a game all season and he lost his coaching job, although he remained captain for 1920. He was Melbourne's leading goal kicker in 1919. In 1927, he became non-playing coach of St Kilda, but played and captained them once when they were a player short.
Sources: Pegasius June 1909 p29; Marriage Vic BDM No 2690; Geelong Collegians at the Great War compiled by James Affleck. p 210 (citing Pegasus; National Archives).