From the Boundary with Ray Carroll – December 16, 2025

ABOUT ANGELA

Angela Ryan (nee Johnson) travelled a thousand miles with husband Greg to be at the MCG function. Both families have been well known in this area in former times.

The 1993 Centenary Annual paid tribute to the former student and later college nurse.

Angela Ryan (Johnson) attended the college during 1975 and 1976 when ACK was known as an all-boys’ school and was undergoing the early stages of change to a coeducational school.

Hers was the first Year 11 class to include girls. She studied English literature, English, politics, commercial and legal studies, and biology in Year 12. She was on the Student Representative Council and played netball and cricket.

In 1980, Angela completed her General Nursing training at St Vincent’s Hospital in Melbourne. During this time she married Greg Ryan, an ex-ACK student, and over the next four years worked at diabetic, asthma, and cystic fibrosis camps with children, and nursed part-time in private hospitals in Melbourne.

Angela returned to the Kilmore area to raise a family and daughters Seana and Brigid were born. In 1984 she moved into her family home.

in Kilmore to nurse her mother Mrs Bernadette Johnson, who, after a long struggle with cancer, died in 1985.

Mrs Bernie Johnson was a long-standing employee of ACK, working as the principal’s secretary.

Angela worked as an ACK nurse for several years before moving north with Greg and the family. Both were welcomed rapturously by the many ex-students of their time in the crowd.

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There were many notable speakers at the event, and it was a hard job to follow them. I tried to cover many aspects of life and times across the decades at ACK.  Not just the happy times but also the sad ones when current or recently graduated students lost their lives. I reflected on the enormous spirit the brothers, staff, and students that had built up over more than a century. Spirit is priceless and there was plenty of it in the MCG room.

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At the end of my address there was a brief tribute to Neale Daniher who could only stay for a short time. I received a copy of his second book, just released called “The Power of Choice” it is a brilliant read and I’m sure will have massive sales.

TRIBUTE TO NEALE

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Neale is a truly great Australian. He has been a champion all his life. His impact on the football and cricket fields was exceptional. If he hadn’t gone from college straight to Essendon – and had chosen cricket he could have reached test level. Neale was loved by his peers and hero worshipped by the young students.

His grasp of the practice and tactics of both sports was so good I thought he would make me redundant. I met Neale’s mum and dad several times and once made the long trip to Ungarie to visit them. They were great people of faith and fortitude and it was easy to see why they produced such fine sons and daughters.

Jim and Edna were truly people of the real Australia. So to Neale, Jan, Bee, and all the clan – you have made millions proud.

VARIA

Young Broadford lad Harrison Wood became the youngest player to debut for the club’s First XI when he was included in the team to play Romsey last round.

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It was great to see quite a number of local area folk at the MCG function – Paul Rea, Mark Clancy, Des Langdon, Brad Ryan, Mark Carboon, Bill Schrama, Archie Baines and son Alan, Robbie and Katia Fowler and family, Peter Cleve, Pat Burgess and daughters, Judy Watson and daughter Sharne to list a few also a blast from the recent past in Jason Mancini and Peter Crowley.

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Ray and Marie Scott drove more than eight hours from there sheep station way north of Balranald in the wide blue Riverina. Stoic people of the real Australia their and previous generations life stories could have come from the book of Mary Grant Bruce.

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Prominent racehorse owner Tony Ottobre, one of the speakers gave a moving address. He had earlier in the day watched two of his “Jenni” stable horses win in the city.

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Many of those present made contact in days afterwards commenting on the enormous spirit in the venue generated by the 600 plus present. A fair number were unable to get tickets. The rousing war cry just about brought the “house” down. It was a three-quarter time feature for over a hundred years.

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Brother Doug Walsh a prolific charity worker made a really brave appearance. Only a fortnight earlier he was so desperately ill he had been given the “Last Rites” of the church.

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AFL GESTURE

AFL supremo Andrew Dillion presented a superb, framed message which is much appreciated. Andrew is a fine person much in the mould of the 80’s “boss” Jack Hamilton who was tragically killed in a car accident.

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It was great to see England’s Joe Root finally score a century in Australia. Despite scores on three previous Ashes tours here the “ton” had eluded him. Rated one of his country’s greatest of all-time, alongside Len Hutton and Jack Hobbs, the quietly spoken Yorkshireman is a superstar of the game. He played in a Sheffield senior XI with his dad when he was only 12.

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Meanwhile full marks to champion left arm speedster Mitchell Starc who is now the greatest “leftie” of all time in cricket having gone past Pakistan legend Wasim Akram.

LONG AGO CHMAPIONS

Before joining the AGSV (colleges) competition in 1959 Assumption cricketers played in the local men’s competition with great success, winning multiple titles. The picture shows the unbeaten XI of 1931-32. Descendants of two of the players, Dave Joss and Ted Maroney caught up with me recently and it was great to speak with young relatives of ACK sporting legends.