Dr Edward Rae Cordner [1012]

  General Notes:

Family
The son of Edward James Cordner (1856-1930),[2][3] and Helen Cordner (1860-1952), née Rae,[4][5] Edward Rae Cordner was born at Sandhurst, now known as Bendigo, in Victoria on 18 June 1887.[6]

Whilst serving in the First AIF, he married Margaret Constance Pruen, at Cheltenham, in England, on 23 January 1918.[7] They had four sons, Edward Pruen Cordner (1919\endash 1996), the 1946 Brownlow Medal winner Donald Pruen Cordner (1922\endash 2009), George Denis Pruen Cordner (1924\endash 1990), and John Pruen Cordner (1929\endash 2016), all of whom represented Melbourne Grammar School, University Blacks, and Melbourne in Australian rules football.[8][9]

Ted's brother Harry Cordner \emdash "Harry" Cordner, who was overseas at the time that war broke out, was commissioned as an officer in the Royal Army Medical Corps, and served in France.[10] \emdash and two of his cousins Alan Cordner and "Larry" Cordner, also played senior VFL football.

Education
Educated at Melbourne Grammar School, Ted entered into residence at Trinity College, Melbourne in 1906, and graduated M.B.B.S. from the University of Melbourne on 23 December 1910.[11]

In 1910, he shared the prestigious Beaney Scholarship for Surgery, with his fellow Old Melburnian, University Football Club team-mate, and fellow medical student, Athol Tymms.[12]

Football
Ted played two senior VFL games with Melbourne in 1905, while still a pupil at Melbourne Grammar.

Admitted to Melbourne University in 1906, he played for the University team for two seasons (1906 and 1907) in the Metropolitan Junior Football Association (MJFA); and, then, when the University team was admitted to the VFL competition in 1908, he played another 60 VFL games for University over five seasons (1908 to 1912), as both a student and a graduate of the university. He left Australia for England in 1913 to advance his medical career, and did not play in the VFL ever again.

Military service
Captain (later, Major) Edward Rae Cordner, served as a medical officer in the 6th Field Ambulance.[13][14]

Death
He died at the Diamond Valley Community Hospital in Greensborough on 21 July 1963.[15][16]




Full name
Edward Rae Cordner Snr

Known as
Ted Cordner

Born
18 June 1887

Place of birth
Sandhurst, VIC (3977)

Died
21 July 1963 (aged 76)

Place of death
Greensborough, VIC (3088)

Occupation
Medical practioner

Age at first & last AFL game
First game: 17y 336d
Last game: 25y 74d

Senior clubs
Melbourne; University

Jumper numbers
Melbourne: 22
University: 22

Recruited from
Melbourne (1908)

State of origin
VIC

Family links
Harry Cordner (Brother)Don Cordner (Son)Denis Cordner (Son)John Cordner (Son)Ted Cordner Jnr (Son)Alan Cordner (Cousin)David Cordner (Grandson)Harriet Cordner (Great grand-daughter)

After playing briefly (2 games in 1905) with Melbourne Ted Cordner returned to League action with University when that club took its bows in the VFL in 1908. A highly talented defender, he was the father of Don, Denis, Edward junior and John, all of whom played for Melbourne. He was one of the University Football Club's star players during the club's fleeting involvement in the VFL. Between 1908 and 1912 he played 60 games and kicked 8 goals.

Author - John Devaney
Sources
Encyclopedia of AFL Footballers by Russell Holmesby & Jim Main; Wikipedia article

Edward married Margaret Constance Pruen [1948] [MRIN: 193] on 23 Jan 1918 in Cheltenham, Gloucs.