ACK football
Assumption College’s new First XVIII coach Stephen Bellis is looking forward to the 2023 season. Practice games against powerhouse sides Parade and St Bernard’s were encouraging.
The Blues’ title defence gets under way on May 5 against PEGS at Keilor following a clash with Wesley College a week earlier.
The Associated Grammar Schools Victoria, AGSV, fixtures are as follows:
May 5
v PEGS, at ACK
May 13
v Peninsula, at ACK
May 19
v Ivanhoe, at Ivanhoe
May 27
v Marcellin, at ACK
June 2
v Yarra Valley, at Ringwood
June 17
v Camberwell, at ACK
July 15
v Trinity, at Bulleen
July 22
v Mentone, at ACK
July 29, August 5
(finals)
Help Blake
Blake Inness, pictured, is college captain at Broadford Secondary College. People I have spoken to say he is a fine young person, excellent school leader and a caring and humble lad.
Blake has been invited to run in cross country events in USA but must pay the costs. I was happy to make a contribution and I’m sure there are many Broadford and district folk who will be pleased to assist.
Inness is a well known and highly-respected name in Broadford. Matthew Inness, who played cricket for Victoria was recently inducted into
Essendon Cricket Club Hall of Honour.

Keeping up tradition
Review Journalist Colin MacGillivray pens some great stuff each week. His work is well said on front and back pages.
Colin’s reporting of the area’s summer and winter sports is widely appreciated. He follows in the footsteps of a long line of good journos who have written for The Free Press and Review down the years.
Indigenous Test legend
The Australian cricket community had paid tribute to the legacy left by Aunty Faith Thomas after the first Indigenous player to represent her country last weekend at the age of 95.
A fearsome fast bowler, Thomas played her groundbreaking Test match for Australia against England at Melbourne’s Junction Oval in
February 1958, when she became the first Aboriginal woman to play for any Australian sports team.
Thomas, a survivor of the Stolen Generations, was training as a nurse in South Australia when she began to play organised cricket. As a child she had played cricket on dirt roads using homemade bats and a rock if there was no ball.
Thomas as invited by a colleague to participate in a club game in Adelaide and after just three games she was selected to represent South Australia, and the following year played Test cricket for Australia.
Christ Church farewell
The Anglican community of the area farewelled their Pastor Rev Andre Duplooy with a luncheon and presentation after the Kilmore Christ Church service recently.
Andre and his wife Patty move to a new posting in Euroa after five years in Kilmore. Both were thanked sincerely for faithful service.
Also, in a nice gesture, Andre and his wife were invited to Saturday mass at St Patrick’s where Fr Prakash paid tribute.
The Anglican and Catholic pastors have high regard for each other’s work, which is dedicated service to the people of God.
Varia
Politics should not intrude in this column but here are a few thoughts. South Australian Labor Premier Peter Malinauskis is the most impressive state leader by miles.
He is a fine person, considerate and caring, highly respected, and honest. He was a good footballer in the SANFL. In footy, players are traded. Any chance Victoria’s Dan Andrews could be traded for the SA Premier?
Penny Wong (ALP) and Jacinta Price (Coalition) stand out as possibly the brightest pollies in Canberra. Wong in proving a fine Foreign Minister while Price, new to parliament, is an outstanding appointment.