A WORTHY SEVEN
Years ago, there was a popular movie, “Seven brides for seven brothers”. Here is a photo of seven brothers (with their sister, not their brides) from Yarrawonga. In the late seventies to early nineties came seven Dowling brothers to board at ACK and each contributed well to the life and times of Assumption.
Pictured from left are John, Chris, Jamie (Mary-Ann), Edward, Terry, Tony, and Danny. They had great parents who like many of earlier times came to visit on Sundays to enjoy picnics or barbeques in the plantation alongside the Main Oval. There were over 300 boarders in those days and it was a vibrant scene at weekends. Nearly all the Dowling lads have raised their families from working the land and all have been pillars of their communities. Danny’s wife Hannah (nee Cummins) called in with the photo the other day. She and her sister Lauren gave me wonderful assistance with the sports program in the early 2000’s. There will be many former students of this area who will remember being school mates of the Dowling boys.
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ANGE’S VISIT
It was great to spend some time with Angela Ryan at the weekend. She flew from her home in Northern NSW to be with the family of a young relative, only 15 and seriously ill. Formally a Johnson, Ange and a sister Imelda, and three brothers were day students at ACK in the seventies. The family homestead was on the highway next to the Wandong turn-off. Parents and children were highly respected and the mum (Bernie) worked as Principal’s secretary for quite a few years. Angela, a nurse, returned for a period to fill that role at ACK. Her husband Greg Ryan, from a fine Wandong family, was a very good First XVIII player in 1976 and twenty of that year’s footballers and cricketers travelled considerable distances to attend the special function at the MCG on November 29 last year. Many in the area will remember Greg Ryan’s brother Barry. The latter, wheelchair bound since a lad was very popular with many friends especially from the footy and cricket clubs of this area. Barry moved North some years ago to be near Greg and Ange and he found a happy relationship with a care nurse. The couple now reside near Bowral in NSW. Meanwhile, Angela and Greg’s large family has all progressed well in life and reflected the fine values of great parents and grandparents.
ROMANCE
There has long been a romantic view around lighthouses. They dot the coastline of all seaboard countries around Australia with their grand and historic “lights”. Today though they are not manned by keepers and their families instead being controlled remotely. There is one located on the southern tip of Tassie I believe that still has a keeper. There are countless tales down the ages of the stoic men and women who spent lonely years living in the lighthouse in remote locations.
STAR OF TWO TRADES
A Pyalong lady has been a star of contrasting occupations. Leonie Hennessy (nee Ryan) was for years a fine sculptor, and her work of the art adorns many mantelpieces across Victoria and beyond. She closed that chapter and took on working the generational family farm a few kilometers to the south of Pyalong. She has battled through good years and bad- such as recent droughts – with a great love of the land and the animals . Married to John, formally a schoolteacher and well known country “bookie”. Their son Tom, who graduated with honours from ACK in 2009 has been a valued part of the Ernst Young group. A keen cricketer he played in Assumptions 08 and 09 titles. On long service late last year he and friend Monique, a Whittlesea lass of horse-riding prowess, spent some adventure time in Africa where they climbed Mt Kilimanjaro. Sadly, very poor health has troubled John for some years now but Leonie soldiers on a true throwback in every way to the legendary pioneer “women of the west”.
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BLUEBAGGERS
Carlton’s opening round heavy defeat in Sydney must have saddened its army of faithful followers who are awaiting a return to the famous club’s halcyon days. It is an easy cop-out to keep blaming coaches but there must be internal deep seated issue that continue to plague the once mighty dark navy blues.
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THE KIWIS
New Zealand’s cricketers are about to play India in the World T20 final in front of a record 135,000 crowd in Ahmedabad. The cricket nation has punched above its weight for years on finances and resources way short of Australia’s. I believe the game in this country could learn much from the “Black Caps” who are flightless to the last ditch. More about this in next week’s column.
