Bill Bateman

William Augustus Bateman (11 September 1866 – 27 July 1935) was an Australian businessman, and sportsman who played first-class cricket for Western Australia and Australian rules football in the Western Australian Football Association (WAFA). He was the captain of the Swans Football Club - the first Australian Rules Football team in Western Australia. He came from one of the founding families of Western Australia and his grandson Alan Bateman created the TV soap Home and Away.

Life Bateman was born in Fremantle in 1866. He worked for J & W Bateman which was a general supply company created by his father John Bateman (1824–1909) and his uncle, Walter Bateman, six years before this Bateman was born. Bateman was descended from John Bateman A few days later he appeared again in a match against Victoria at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. He struggled to have an impact as he failed to take a wicket and scored a duck in his only innings. Bateman didn't get an opportunity in the second innings as he was absent hurt.

Bateman became an influential Australian rules football identity in Western Australia. He spent 10 seasons in the WAFA, playing in an unprecedented eight premierships. As their inaugural captain, Bateman started out at the original Fremantle Football Club in 1885. Two years later they disbanded and he moved to the Unions Football Club, which was renamed Fremantle Football Club in 1890.

Bateman married and had five children. He died on Saturday 27 July 1935 at his home in Bulls Creek in Perth. Bateman's grandson Alan Bateman was a TV executive who started the TV soap Home and Away.