Young Australia League

Prior to the formation of the organisation, Australian rules football was struggling to gain traction as an extracurricular activity outside of Victoria.

The success of the league in boosting junior numbers was instrumental in the rapid growth of Australian rules football in Western Australia as well as consolidating its position in schools across the nation.

[2][3] By 1905 Soccer had infiltrated most of the schools in Western Australia, and despite efforts from the WAFA, it was fighting a losing battle for access to junior players.

Between the two sports, as an administrator, Simons clearly had his work cut out for him and resented that the governing bodies of the eastern states would take kudos for his efforts in growing the game while displaying an otherwise apparent disinterest.

and its activities were diversified to include literature, debating, band music, sport and theatrical performances, as well as outdoor pursuits such as hiking and camping.

This became Araluen Botanical Gardens, as a memorial to YAL members killed in action, and was dedicated in 1930 by the Governor, Sir William Campion.