CAMERON’S TIME
IN 2003, Yea boy Cameron Armstrong joined Assumption’s illustrious list of cricket premiership captains.
Pictured centre front with the AGSV trophy, he joined college ‘greats’ such as Nildo Munari, John Bahen, Peter Ryan, Neale Daniher, Simon O’Donnell, Tim Scala, Jon Henry, Michael Barlow, Jamie Sheahan, and Daniel Evans.
All were ‘bush boys’ except Bahen and Ryan. As the legendary writer Neville Cardus would say—they turned the fields of summer into cloths of gold with youthful power and majesty of stroke play.
O’Donnell is the most illustrious, having played for Australia—something Daniher may well have emulated had he not gone straight from ACK to Essendon. Ryan played for Queensland and Hampshire in England’s County championship, while Armstrong played premier level cricket for Melbourne Cricket Club.
The cricket captains listed were also highly talented footballers with O’Donnell, Daniher, Bahen, and Barlow all playing VFL/AFL.
Armstrong not only led the First XI to a title but was a key member of the 2002 and 2003 football premier sides.
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He is still making runs for hometown Yea in the Seymour and District competition. In his 20s, he had a season with Tynemouth Cricket Club in the Northern Ireland league in the UK. It was the club Kilmore resident Reg Montague played and coached. Reg was a fine coach and helped me at ACK for a couple of seasons. He died tragically far too young. His two children were pupils at ACK at the time of their dad’s death.
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Armstrong met his lovely wife Lily not long after leaving college. She is the daughter of a former TV personality. The couple are devoted parents of three young boys William, Archie, and Teddy. Archie delighted his folks when he hit 79 runs in a junior competition just prior to Christmas. The youngster looks like following in his dad’s footsteps.
Archie after his 79
The three lads are happy characters, and enjoy visiting Cameron’s folks on their farm just west of Yea. Ross and Mary Armstrong are fine people. They came to ACK many times to watch the First XVIII and First XI play. Mary and her friend Helen Hauser always helped out in the kiosk and with afternoon teas. Armstrong Plumbing is highly regarded in the area and beyond, and founder Ross and two sons Cameron and Lachlan are carrying the business forward.
Archie, William, and Teddy Armstrong
VARIA
T20 SUCCESS
The recent Big Bash season (BBL14) has been highly successful with large crowds and record TV ratings. The final in Hobart saw the packed home crowd in a frenzy as the Hurricanes triumphed, largely thanks to a blazing century by hometown ‘tradie’ Mitch Owen whose life and fortunes changed dramatically due to his 39 ball hundred. Riches await him in the lucrative league around the world.
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RIP DOMINIC MCCARTHY
I was sad to learn of Dominic’s passing. The Broadford resident was a gentle, kind person, much loved by family and friends. The son of wonderful parents near Strath Creek, Carmel (dec) and Anthony, and brother to Anthony, Kieran, Angela, Matthew, and Joseph. Thoughts and prayers of many will be with wife Pina and her family and the McCarthy clan. Three of Dominic’s brothers and his sister Angela attended ACK and are really fine people. Angela was ACK’s first girls cricket captain in 1976.
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Basil Brumley, now a resident of Kilmore with his wife Judy, grew up in Mortlake, my old hometown in Western Victoria. The name Brumley is a generational one in the area and highly respected. A keen sportsman in early years, Basil enjoys bowls with the Kilmore club and its friendly atmosphere. Mortlake, with a population around 1200, is at the centre of a rich grazing area, but like countless small towns in Australia, it has declined. One bank, once three, no longer a bakery, newsagency or standalone footy club, the town has suffered in the name of ‘progress’. There are still two pubs and a Prep to Year 12 school, along with a successful cricket club that fostered Australian player Georgia Wareham. Basil and his extended family knew the better times.
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Talk about entitlement. Indian star Virat Kohli’s wife, a very wealthy and glamorous Bollywood star, flew to Melbourne for the Boxing Day test. Apparently she was quite upset when the MCC could not grant her a personal bathroom.
