1968 – This is the competition that led to the formation of the existing structure of Touch in Australia: NSW Touch Association, Australia Touch Association (now TFA), and International Touch (FIT) and in parallel, other states in Australia.

The letter that started the new association in 1968:

Ray Vawdon remembers the legendary Darcy Lawler, on handing the letter to him, quipping, ‘This bloody game will never get off the ground!’

In 1968 the first official season of a constituted Touch Football Association was held in the traditionally strong Rugby League area of South Sydney.

Here, through the organisational structure of the intraclub sporting bodies at South Sydney Junior Rugby League Club Bob Dyke and Ray Vawdon started a formal competition between a small number of teams at Snape Park, Kingsford, in Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs.

Initially, the competition was intended simply to appeal to retired Rugby League players who wanted to stay fit through a football-type sport.  The below was published in an early competition booklet.

For a detailed history, see also ATA history 1967-to-2000