RIP Marie Theresa Broome
Well-known Kilmore resident Marie Broome’s life was celebrated with a fitting service at St Patrick’s Church on October 15. Father Jossy oversaw the prayer, music, tributes, and visual ceremony with more than two hundred family, friends, and Kilmore identities in attendance.
Former ACK music director Peter Barlow delivered a splendid eulogy covering Marie’s life from school days at the then-St Joseph’s convent where she was a prefect in her final year, to her working and sporting decades, her marriage to Gary Broome, and her store health bath in the latter years.
The couple were in the Port Arthur precinct in 1996 when 35 people were killed and many more injured by Martin Bryant. The tragedy had a lasting impact on survivors, including the Kilmore couple.
Patrick Harding, son of Gerald and Shirley, also gave a fine eulogy and there were readings by Shane Harding, Michael McNamara, Venessa McNamara, Jamie Harding, and Stephanie Barlow.
The Barlow family provided the musical tributes.
Marie is survived by brothers Bryan and Gerald and many fond relatives.
It was fitting that the wake was at the Kilmore Golf Club. Marie had been a popular member and the flag was at half-mast in her honour.
As a young lady in the 1960s, Marie had worked tirelessly to ensure the success of the annual St Patrick’s Tennis tournament which attracted hundreds of players from all over Victoria.
Forty Years On
Bill Brownless and a couple of his college day pals, Simon Costa and Michael McMaster, paid a visit the other day. After lunch we went up to the ACK main oval for a picture of Bill rolling the cricket pitch. It was a nostalgic reminder from forty years ago when Bill often left my classes to go and do likewise. Prior to the very fine Mark Carbouil era as curator, it was part of my duties for years to prepare the pitches and I had to get help form students.
Bill reckons if I hadn’t sent him to work on the oval so often, he’d have become a Rhodes Scholar.
Bill Brownless played 198 games for the Cats and kicked 441 goals. He is an inductee in Geelong’s Hall of Fame. At ACK he was a champion of the First XVIII and First XI.
Simon Costa is secretary of the ACK old collegians. He has just returned from months in Africa where he has overseen the building of a boarding school for orphaned girls in Tanzania. Previously he spent several years working to make lives better for the poorest people in parts of Africa. He as a recipient of the OAM for his efforts.
Michael McMaster is from a great western district family, based in Lake Bolac. An uncle, Bill McMasters was a fine player in Geelong’s premiership teams of 1951 and 1952. Michael was a classy premiership player in the 80s at Assumption.
Horse of The Year
Pictured are ACK ex-student Tony Ottobre and wife Lynn with the trophy for “Pride of Jenni – racehorse of the year”. The delighted couple are holding the award presented on October 8th at Morphettville in South Australia. Such recognition is a fitting honour for wonderful people and their great “Pride of Jenni”. Watch the Cox Plate on Saturday to see the campion in action.
