ONCE UPON A TIME
A postcard recently of fox hunting near Camperdown in Southwest Victoria was a reminder of times when it was very popular in this area, especially in the Willowmavin area. There used to be quite a few hunt clubs in the region and meetings were regular during winter time. An Irish priest at St Patricks, Father Tim O’Callaghan was one of the key figures involved. The former Carlton football “great” was very keen on the pastime and was a regular participant for many years.
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WHEN IS THE NEXT?
Australia is strongly tipped by most pundits to win the Ashes series now underway. But there are worrying signs for the Australian game. The current side is an ageing one, dubbed “Dad’s Army”, once the name given to England’s teams. The selectors have let the game down in this country by ignoring the fact that there always needs to be transition. Across Australian cricket history each generation has thrown up fine players, some of them truly great. Think of the enormous impact the following names have had – Victor Trumper, Bill Pnsford, Stan McCabe, Don Bradman, Keith Miller, Ray Lindwall, Ian and Greg Chappell, Dennis Lillee, Shane Warne, Ricky Ponting, Adam Gilchrist, and Steve Smith.
Cricket in this county desperately needs another champion to emerge. It also requires selectors with some vision.
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Meanwhile Merv Hughes and many former Aussie players have slammed the authorities for selling all the iconic “Bay 13” seats to England’s Barmy Army. This area of the MCG has almost forever been the area filled with passionate Aussie fans. Ian Chappell has called it “despicable”.
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Cigarette sponsorship and advertising has long been banned from sport. Cricket here and in England enjoyed much financial support from the tobacco companies.
The little advertisement shown was from the Daily Mail in England in 1930, the year Don Bradman strode like a colossus through England. Such was his dominance that the top brass at Lord’s over several meetings devised the “bodyline” plan to take Bradman down in Australia in 1932-33. The plan worked in a drama filled series watched by enormous crowds. But Aussie fans were hostile and at Adelaide Oval when captain Bill Woodfull and keeper Bert Oldfield were filled by blows to the heart and head. Things turned really nasty and mounted police ringed the oval to stop angry fans from invading the pitch.
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However, in a recent story renowned sports journo Robert Craddock writes that England captain Douglas Jardine was a “genius” playing by the rules of the time. Jardine (pictured) was revelled by our crowds. Jardine’s Bodyline attack was led by two of the greatest fast bowlers ever, in Nottingham coalminers Harold Larwood and Bill Voce. Herewith is Craddock’s take on Jardine.
Enough is enough – it’s time to stop the sooking.
Australia calls England the land of the whingeing Porns, yet Australia has been whingeing about England’s Bodyline captain for 93 years.
Here are the facts. Jardine was ruthless, uncompromising and contrary, but he also orchestrated the greatest single plan in the history of cricket when he cut in half the greatest force the game had seen – Don Bradman.
Bradman’s career average was 99.94. In Bodyline, where England shamelessly aimed at the batsmen·s bodies with leg-side fields, he averaged just 56.57 as England won the series 4-l.
Brutal? Absolutely. Illegal? No. Not every Australian loathes Jardine. Allan Border called him a “tactical genius”, while Ian Chappell found him “fascinating” and wrote “it wasn’t Jardine’s fault the laws allowed for an exploitation of field placement he made use of’.
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BLOWN AWAY
Australia blew England away in the Perth test in two days. More than 100,000 watched the short and sharp encounter. Travis Head’s blazing century sent the crowd into a frenzy and the Poms packing. At lunch on day 2 England was in control – five hours later they were out – Bazballed.
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R.I.P TWO FINE LADIES
Kilmore residents Maureen Murphy and Jana Harding passed from this life a fortnight ago. Both were fine people, well loved.
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Maureen Murphy was farewelled by a large crowd of family and friends including many former teaching colleagues. She had been a highly regarded teacher at Rosanna and St Patricks Kilmore. Eulogies paid tribute to a much-loved mother and colleague. Maureen was proud of her two sons Greg and Bernard. Greg has for years been a leading figure in Kilmore Fire Brigade. Maureen was laid to rest at Eldorado in Northern Victoria.
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Jana Harding was married to well known identity Bill Harding who predeceased her some years ago. Jana worked for years at Kilmore veterinary clinic. She is survived by daughter Alex and the latter’s several children. Alex was a popular college girls captain at Assumption and during her college time Jana and Bill often hosted ACK sports teams for much appreciated BBQ’s. Jana will be much missed by family and all who knew her.
