GREAT FINALES
AFL and NRL (rugby) fans were certainly treated to great Grand Finals. Both were “cliffhangers” and attracted huge TV audiences. At the MCG classic Kylie Minogue proved a winner in the pre-game entertainment stakes. In Sydney at the packed Olympic Stadium the costly pregame song and dance was not on display, instead the rugby bosses donated one million dollars to assist underprivileged youngsters to play sport. It also provided an emotional salute to young star Jai Arrow only recently diagnosed with the dreaded MND. He and his family may well follow in Neale Daniher’s footsteps and continue the magnificent example of Neale and his family.
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WHERE THERE IS HOPE
Young West Indian test captain Shai Hope is a superb player and outstanding bat. His two centuries in the three game series of ODIs in India recently were outstanding especially his unbeaten 129 as his team chased down the home sides 355 with 10 balls to spare. They have some other good players in the XI but West Indies cricket has been hampered for years by the fact a number of cricketers can only afford to play franchise cricket. The game in the small scattered Caribbean Islands could return to its glory days if it had even a fraction of the money that the likes of India, England and Australia have.
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HOPE AND PROMISE
Across Australia secondary school is drawing to a close for many thousands of VCE/H.S.C students who will be full of hope and expectation in so many cases. The years seem to pass so quickly there seems hardly time as they say, “to smell the roses”. Best wishes to all local area students for their final exams and their futures.
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FIELDS OF DREAMS
Another cricket season is underway across Australia as thousands of teams and half a million players of all ages pad up. In the cities, regional towns, and country villages the summer game has been a ritual for a century and a half. It is good to see the S.D.C.A going well despite the loss of Eastern Hill, Broadford and Kilmore clubs to the powerful Gisborne and District Association. Key figures again the Seymour and District comp will be Yea’s Cameron Armstrong and Tallarook’s Lachlan Watts – two very fine players who have given much to the game. The Gisborne and District competition has more than one hundred and sixty teams and is one of the largest outside the capital cities. Gisborne Cricket Club has long been powerful and it will remain so. It has signed Lancashire captain and England player Keaton Jennings (34), who is still in his prime. Women’s cricket continues to grow and there are six extra teams in their section this summer in the Gisborne Competition.
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Kilmore, Wallan, Broadford and Eastern Hill (Seymour) are again fielding multiple teams at senior, junior and women’s levels so “good luck” to all for an enjoyable season.
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Meanwhile it is great that twenty thousand Kiwis have booked in for the Melbourne and Sydney tests. I think the New Zealanders will be tough opponents. Then of course there is the 150 years commemoration test in March versus the old enemy England. Ticket sales are very strong and there will be bumper crowds with many coming from across Australia and around the world. It will be a great occasion with virtually all living Australian and English test players – men and women attending.
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THREE OF A KIND
Bill Brownless wasn’t the only member of the family to kick 100 goals in a season at ACK. Bill, who played 198 games for Geelong (kicking 498 goals) booted 155 for Assumption in 1984- he was then followed by Blair who notched the “ton” two years later then Anson – 114 in 1990. It was a memorable season for players and supporters in the 90s with the side led by Jason Smith winning the AGSV title, Herald-Sun Shield at the MCG, Phoenix Cup (all schools) at Melbourne University and Australian Championship – defeating the top Perth College at Geelong’s Kardinia Park.
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VARIA
After nearly three years wait the new and very modern “Bowser Bean” petrol station and café is up and running. Situated in Kilmore opposite Coles, it is the new face of its half century old predecessor.
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I met up briefly with a great teenager the other day. Edie Marchant is completing year 12 at ACK where she and her twin brother Robert have both made a fine contribution to the life and times of the college. They are Hidden Valley residents and have a bright future ahead. Edie apart from her studies has a beautiful singing voice.
