Salute to country cricket
The recent Johnstone Shield cricket final, Broadford v Wallan showcased country cricket at its best. In glorious weather both sides scored over two hundred with Broadford’s 6/227 edging out Wallan’s 9/225.
Standard of play was high with some of the batting, bowling, and fielding of high order. The neutral umpires praised both teams for their approach to the game, and the host club for its presentation of the final.
Attendance was very good, and a good profit was taken at the Kiosk. Way back in the 1930’s a prominent author, Hugh De Selincourt wrote the best seller “The Cricket Match”.
it centred round a game between two rival villages in the Sussex heartland. Each player was profiled-their occupation, why they loved the summer game and what it meant to them. Wives and girlfriends also featured, showing the key roles they played in supporting the players and the respective clubs. The author captured the essence of why sport, especially team sport plays a central role in so many people’s lives. De Selincourt could have written in similar vein of this modern-day country final.
Sophie fights back
Schoolgirl cricket prodigy Sophie Molineux from Bairnsdale burst on to the international scene in her teens and played for Australia in front of nearly ninety thousand in the 2020 World Cup final. She was made captain of the Renegades but then came serious injuries, a broken foot followed by a ruptured ACL. It was great to see her return to the big time and win “player of the match” in the recent IPL final in a packed Delhi stadium. Sophie is a really lovely person and it is so good to see her back.
Vale Bruce Ireland
Longtime Wallan resident Bruce Ireland (latterly of Attwood) who passed from this life recently was a good man. Much loved by his family and friends and highly respected. Bruce had a long debilitating health battle. Borne stoically his wife Angie is a highly regarded school principal.
The Ireland’s three children Adrian, Mark and Peta attended ACK, and all impacted on the life and times of ACK. Adrian was a key member of the 2000 and 2001 premiership XVIII’s.
Mark sadly succumbed to illness only a couple of years back- a sad blow to the family. Dad Bruce was a very good friend of Assumption footy and on several occasions gave me a bag of gold coins which helped buy new footballs and items for the team. I well remember a First XVIII premiership celebration at the Ireland home in Wallan in 2001.
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Title contenders
As AFL teams have evened up quite a bit in recent years it has become tougher to pick the likely premier. In an 18 team elite competition three ingredients are required if a team has the chance to “go all the way”.
Quality of the playing list, lack of injuries to key players and the element of luck are paramount. Sydney and GWS jumped out of the blocks early whilst reigning premier Collingwood had its worst start since 1989. But who knows? It shapes as an interesting season.
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Varia Cairns visitors
A Cairns couple paid a visit last week and it was lovely to catch up with them. Laurie Moulsdale and Dee Vukalovich. Laurie is a skilled “tradie” whilst Dee is a psychologist.
No shortage of work for them in the tropics. They found Kilmore’s 20 degrees a “bit cool”. Laurie has connections on my father’s side and this was partly the reason for the visit. They are well aware of the youth crime prevalent in Cairns, Townsville and other parts but feel it is similar in Melbourne.
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Tony and Lynn Ottobre continue to enjoy success with their racing “Jenni’s” and this success could not come to a finer couple. The former ACK student goes way beyond the call of duty in helping people- a genuine philanthropist who places giving way beyond receiving.
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Congratulations to local golfers Nick Wogan and Jim Ioannidis on taking out the Kilmore Cup at the town club recently. Both are long time keen golfers who love the sport.
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Great coverage of the area cricket by Max Davies in the “Review”. His weekly stories are much appreciated throughout the region.
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Assumption’s annual house athletics sports on a perfect late March day on the main oval was reminiscent of the carnivals of a decade and more past when former deputy Peter Jongebloed was the chief organizer. New principal Paul Finneran joined in the activities along with a number of staff.
