WALKING WITH THE GODS

IT WAS a long time ago in the mid-50s. A teenage pal and myself travelled by train to Melbourne to watch the Australia vs England Test. It was a real adventure for a couple of bush kids who had never ventured far from home. We were both Mortlake club cricketers and mates at Terang High. As the train neared Spencer Street, we gazed in awe at the city “skyscrapers” then all of 20 storeys high – far short of today’s hundred or so. Booked in at a Spencer Street pub for four shillings a night including a cooked breakfast, we only had to walk round the corner to Flinders Street to board a tram bound for Jolimont and the famed MCG. There was no ticketing like today and we had to get to the ground very early and join the long lines waiting for the gates to open. At the time the northern stand was being built, and capacity was restricted to 65,000. Packed crowds watched the five days of an enthralling battle contested in near stifling heat (must have been global warming). At the end of the fourth day Australia only two down looked like victors on day five but an incredible burst by express bowler Frank Tyson routed the Aussies prior to the lunch break. Thousands were still milling outside the ground as the final wicket fell. England went on to win the series with victory in Adelaide.

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My pal and I loved every moment of the Test – the packed crowds. The atmosphere was sensational. On day two we were walking through the park to the MCG with hordes of fans and found ourselves just behind England’s captain Len Hutton and legendary cricket writer Neville Cardus.

Hutton was a boyhood hero – from the Yorkshire village of Pudsey St Lawrence he was one of England’s all-time “greats” – ranked with Jack Hobbs and Walter Hammond. Hutton’s 364 against Australia at The Oval, London, in 1938 still stands as an Ashes record. Injured in action in World War 2, Hutton virtually “carried” England in the post-war years. Neville Cardus was a unique writer on cricket and music for the Manchester Guardian. He described Bradman’s 252 in the 1930 Lords Test as “a throne room innings rich in majesty and robed in purple”.

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As we neared the members gate to our surprise Hutton and Cardus turned to us and signed program booklets. That capped the day for two bush kids for whom the experience had been like “Walking with the Gods”.

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ACK FOOTBALL

Pictured are Assumption’s 2026 First XVIII coach Nathan Thompson with captains Cruz Young and Jack Wunderlich. They are at the helm of the college’s 126th team. The new coach, who played for Hawthorn, is also currently at the helm of Broadford FC, now playing in the Bendigo league. Assumption football, like its cricket, has a long and colourful history. Before admission to the AGSV in 1959 it played against mostly men’s CYMC teams in Melbourne with annual clashes against St Pat’s Ballarat, Parade College and St Kevin’s. Games versus the latter were several times in the twenties and thirties played at the MCG in front of large weekday crowds. Coached by Marist Brothers, the team enjoyed much success.

In 1926 the sports editor of the then Herald spent a weekend living in at the college to check out an obvious success story. W.S. Sharland watched a game against St Pat’s and interviewed Brothers and boys which led to a four-page liftout. Fast forward to 1993 and the centenary year for both ACK and St Pat’s Ballarat. The two teams faced off at the MCG in a memorable encounter won narrowly by Assumption. I was lucky to take over both footy and cricket Firsts teams built on strong foundations. I worked hard over four decades to ensure the traditions were maintained.

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Assumption has won 39 premierships in the AGSV and in the years 1980 to 2008 were premiers in the prestigious Herald-Sun Shield competition at the MCG 12 times and runner-up on four occasions.

VARIA

The long ago trip to the Test had highlights other than the cricket. In those times there was no sport on Sundays, so we wandered around the city and entered an Elizabeth Street café for lunch. It was a fine meal – soup, a roast, apple pie and a cup of tea – all for two shillings and sixpence. The same “feast” today would cost around $50.

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After the meal we walked to the renowned Windsor Hotel where the Aussie and Pom teams were staying. There was quite a crowd gathered outside hoping to see the players as they came or went. A fair number were girls or young (and not so young) ladies who were very excited when Keith Miller, Neil Harvey or Denis Compton appeared. This trio had great charming and matinee idol looks Miller, Australia, and Compton, England, had been fighter pilots in the Battle of Britain.

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On the Saturday night we were gawking outside the Tivoli Theatre on our way home from the MCG. There were lots of old guys there with field glasses. I asked one of them “Have you come from the cricket?”. “Nah” was the reply – “We are here to watch the talent on stage – lovely girls to see up close”.

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VARIA

Long-time Kilmore resident Dorothy Yarwood was farewelled from this life with a requiem mass at St Patrick’s last week. Her husband Alan predeceased her. Three of their sons attended ACK in the 60s and 70s. A daughter Anne Sevior and Anne’s husband Charles sent son Luke and daughter Emma to Assumption. In a splendid eulogy, Anne spoke lovingly of her mother, outlining a life well lived with its sunshine and shadow. Relatives and friends came from distant parts to honour Dorothy and there were many memories shared at refreshments in the Neale Daniher Pavilion at ACK. Family members were involved in the mass.