TENNIS MEMORIES
Kevin Ryan, a Darraweit Guim farmer provided some interesting stories of tennis in this area well over half a century ago. Newspapers in his possession told of Pyalong men’s team at Country Week in 1939. Members were W and S Rainey, W and B Shanahan, J Greenshield and P Ryan – all names that still resonate.
Tennis thrived up until and after World War II. Kevin recalls the high number of clubs across the region and also the annual St Patricks tournament held at Assumption with 16 courts provided on the college main oval. There have been a number of lovers of the sport in recent decades like Eric and Jeanette Salter and family. Eric competed in many Country Week tournaments and in fact was close to Davis Cup standard.
Tennis has been neglected sadly in recent times. Today apparently across Australia there are only half the courts there were in the 1950’s despite the population having trebled. Many believe Tennis Australia has neglected the sport which produced “legends” like Hoad, Sedgman, Rosewall, Laver, Emerson, Rafter, Hewitt. Despite massive crowds and huge profits from the Australian Open and its TV rights it doesn’t appear much is ploughed back into the grassroots game across the nation but there are plenty at the top on huge salaries.
A great friend of mine, former AFL umpire John Harvey is a key figure at Sunshine Tennis Club and really loves the game. I’m sure he wishes the “big boys” would do more.
To return to Kevin Ryan, he also gave me the names of the Kilmore and Pyalong ladies at Melbourne Country Week all those years ago. They were as follows: – Pyalong: Miss Wallis, Miss Heywood, Mrs Vin Zoch, Mrs Maher, Mrs Rainey.
Kilmore: Mrs McNab, Mrs Cavanagh, Mrs Boyd, Mrs Clancy and Mrs Davies.
Kevin Ryan was born in Pyalong and attended the primary school, thence SHC Seymour and finally St Vincents Bendigo as a boarder. Mostly a sheep farmer he has been a fire brigade member in Darraweit for 60 years – 10 years as captain. He spoke glowingly of the late Pat Clark and the latter’s great friend Bernard Clancy. Kevins favourite sports have been tennis and golf and he belongs to the army of magpie supporters.
TIMELESS SCENE
Cricket has been played at Assumption for 125 years. The game has enjoyed much success- in the local association till 1959 and the prestigious AGSV competition ever since. Its history tells of fine teams, very good and ever great players. The iconic Main Oval has seen a myriad of wonderful games and exemptional batting bowling deeds.
It was good to visit the scene a week ago to watch Assumption play Yarra Valley. The playing surface was superb – you could play a test on it. It was a day of glorious sunshine and the white clad figures on the emerald green ground made it a postcard picture.
Assumption First XI had started the season well with a good win at Geelong College the previous Saturday. The opening competition clash versus the “Valley” saw the Dark and Blues win well, dismissing the visitors for a decisive victory after compiling 191. ACK player Flynn Bush wrote himself into the college’s cricket history books by taking seven wickets including a “hat-trick”. He bowled superbly and gave the Valley bats no respite. I watched the game with 1996 ACK captain Marcus Hill who has since played for Essendon, Glenelg (SA) and Wembley Club in London. He has two young cousins playing for Y.V – their dad captained the Australian Blind XI on tours to England, Pakistan and West Indies.
YEA IS TOPS
Yea is the epitome of a fine “bush” township. Set in delightful countryside it has a great High Street which is enhanced by the considerable through traffic to Eildon in summer and Mt Buller in Winter. The township is surrounded by fine farm fields.
Many lads from the Yea and Alexandra area have attended Assumption with names such as McCarthy, Pollard, O’Brien, Armstrong, Hauser, Leatham, Evans, Tossol generational names.
I met up with a group of them recently and it was good to see them their lives have progressed well. One of the “lads” was Matt Dundas who played for Fitzroy and Richmond. All recalled their college days fondly and rejoice in the lasting friendships. Matt asked in particular how Kilmore resident Wally Arnott was going. Most of the above had played both First XVIII and 2nd XVIII and recalled Wally’s voluntary contribution in coaching the Reserves XVIII for over twenty years with much success and providing great assistance at first level. Wally, a renowned primary school teacher and principal had a real impact on the boys and girls he taught at Kilmore and Darraweit state schools.
