Different times
This photograph of a sing-a-long around the piano depicts Assumption College boys of a 100 years ago.
It was a different world then – and tougher times – but there were always fun times and highlights.
Here are a few items from the student diaries – a feature then of the college annuals:
May 5: Athletic events. Hannan wins all events under 18. Branagan, the smallest in his age races, wins all but 440. Magee throws cricket ball 111 yards. Greg Stockdale, a one-time member of the college football team, distinguishes himself by kicking 10 goals in the Essendon-St Kilda match.
May 9: Last school day this term. At 3:30, a wild rush to the ‘box room’. Trunks soon packed. In the evening a great concert. Each class gives items. Farewell banquet terminated with singing of ‘Home, Sweet Home’.
June 3: Football season opens with a win for us. North Melbourne CYMS beaten, 15 goals, 23 behinds to 4 goals, 2 behinds. Herrick notches six goals on the field, and later notches a prize at euchre tournament. First win.
July 21: Senior students visit Melbourne to see the prominent stars, Stockdale, Firzmaurice, etc., in action. College Seconds defeat a heavier team from Seymour High School, 137 points to 1 point.
Oct 1: Snow on Mt William, 12 miles away. Looks well. We, too, feel that, as the mountain won’t come to Muhammad, Muhammad should go to the mountain. The idea of a snow fight appeals, but the distance frightens us.
Smashing
The Matildas have smashed attendance records for all female sport in Australia whilst on TV. They have easily outrated the AFL and NRL grand finals and indeed all other sporting codes.
There is no doubt soccer is by far the world’s biggest sport and it’s World Cups – male and female – are even bigger than the Olympics.
Women’s sport around the world has hugely increased in popularity across the past two decades. The appeal of being able to dream of representing your country is a big plus for many sports.
The record crowd for a female sport in Australia remains at 87,000 for the women’s cricket cup final at the MCG in 2020 but the Matilda’s would have exceeded this had one of their games been played at the MCG.
Thirty years ago
The picture above shows Assumption College’s 1993 captain Brad Hall with the centenary cup trophy at the MCG.
On that now distant day Assumption played St Pat’s Ballarat in a special game to mark the century of the two schools founded in 1893.
A crowd of around 20,000 watched a hard fought close contest. The Herald-Sun ran a four page lift-out supplement for the clash.
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Richmond’s Trent Cotchin is calling time on a stellar career. He played for Penleigh and Essendon Grammar School, PEGS, in 2006-7 and was a strong performer in games against Assumption.
He led the Tigers in a record number of games including the club’s three recent titles. Dion Prestia, still starring for Richmond, was a young Assumption star when Cotchin led PEGS.
Success at any price
The major colleges in the capital cities have long sought success in their sporting competition as a way to advertise and promote their schools.
In Melbourne the Associated Public Schools of Victoria, APSV, the Associated Grammar Schools Victoria, AGSV and Associated Catholic Colleges, ACC, have prestigious competitions in a variety of sports for boys and girls.
For many years teams were coached by staff members but across the past couple of decades, many schools have paid big dollars to lure professional sports people to coach as well as offering scholarships to talented students from metropolitan and country schools.
Sometimes this has caused disgust and even anger. It was recently highlighted at Haileybury college who won the 2023 APS football title.
Their XVIII was coached by ex-AFL stars Matthew Lloyd and Ty Zantuck. Both coaches attended what was described in the media as a ‘boozy celebration party with students parents, supporters etc’.
The heads of the 11 APS colleges were meeting to address the situation.
I can say for sure there were no scholarships or paid coaches in my 40 years at the helm of Assumption’s First XVIII’s and XI’s and since admission to the AGSV in 1959. ACK is still the front runner in footy and cricket premierships across the years.
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James O’Donnell son of Simon has settled in well at the Bulldogs and has just been signed on a two-year contract.
James played junior footy with Kilmore Junior Football Club and in year seven and eight at Assumption before moving with older brother Tom to Xavier where both starred in football and cricket.
Tom is captain of Essendon Cricket Club in Melbourne Premier League cricket and is in the state squad. Dad Simon and grandfather Kevin were both outstanding sportsmen.
Hannah 21
A lovely young lady, Hannah Phillips celebrated her 21st birthday with family and many friends at the Old Kilmore Goal on Saturday evening.
A splendid meal and music were enjoyed by all. Hannah graduated from ACK in 2020 and currently is employed by Harcourt Nutrien based in Springfield, halfway to Lancefield. The Phillips family is highly regarded in this area and beyond.