Aldam Pettinger

Aldam Murr Pettinger (30 July 1859 – 18 August 1950) was a leading sportsman in South Australia in the late nineteenth century.

Born in Adelaide in 1859, the son of a police inspector, Pettinger represented South Australia in cricket, Australian rules football, baseball and bowls, was a leading local lacrosse player, golfer, steeplechase rider, an excellent gun shot, and bred and trained hunting dogs.

Pettinger began playing club cricket for the North Adelaide Young Men's Society (later known as North Adelaide) in 1876/77, serving as captain for many seasons, retiring at the end of the 1896/97 season.

Pettinger played in one first-class match for South Australia in 1880/81 (South Australia's first 11-a- side match against Victoria) and a non-first-class match, for a South Australian XV against Australia on 26-29 November 1880.

Pettinger founded the South Australian Football Association (SAFA) club South Park in 1877 and captained the club until its dissolution in 1884, after which he played for Adelaide Football Club on its readmission to SAFA in 1885.

Following his retirement from cricket and football, Pettinger became involved in golf and lawn bowls, winning the Adelaide Bowling Club championships "many times" and for many years was able to play a round of golf in less than his age in years.

Outside of sport, Pettinger worked for D. and W. Murray Ltd, a wholesale importing firm, for 50 years, starting upon leaving school at 16 and retiring as company secretary and director, and served as a Justice of the Peace.

On his death in 1950, Pettinger was referred to as "the grand old man of South Australian sport".