August - Melbourne Cricket Club

More documents

Recommendations

Info

club news THE DON RECALLED AT MELBOURNE A new book by MCC Library volunteer Alf Batchelder examines the master batman’s brilliant record at the home of sport It would be reasonable to assume that the millions of words written about the great Don Bradman had exhausted every possible avenue for authors contemplating another tome on the peerless batsman. Not so. MCC Library volunteer and club historian Alf Batchelder discovered when writing his magnum opus, Pavilions in the Park, that there was plenty of scope to further research Bradman’s performances in Melbourne, at the MCG where he thrilled the biggest crowds in the country on so many occasions. It didn’t take much encouragement for author Alf to get back into harness. The Don had fascinated him since childhood. “From age seven I was a regular listener to Kia-Ora Sports Parade every Friday night on 3KZ,” Alf recalls. “In late November 1948, they announced that the next program would be a Bradman Testimonial broadcast from the Melbourne Town Hall, and The Don would be there in person. I begged my father to get tickets and, being the cricket fanatic he was, I don’t think I needed to be too convincing.” A week or so later Alf sat in front of the Grey Smith Stand and watched his hero’s final innings in Melbourne. Sadly, The Don was out for 10 but for Alf his first visit to the MCC Reserve on a match day was “an exciting, unforgettable experience”. Decades later, the Bradman allure remained, research for his book taking Alf through virtually everything that was written about The Don in contemporary reports of his batting feats at Melbourne and the events surrounding them. “I think writers over the years have given undue attention to his performances in Sydney and Adelaide,” says Alf. “Melbourne and the MCG have been glossed over somewhat, yet it was at Melbourne that he played so many of his significant innings. “In Melbourne he made 19 centuries in 30 matches and nine centuries in 11 Tests at the ground. You were dead stiff if you missed out on him making a big score in Melbourne. He also made the most famous duck in Test history at the MCG in the most eagerly awaited encounter ever. “No-one has had the same hold over the Melbourne crowd. He is unquestionably the greatest drawcard the ground has ever seen and not only because of his batting. It also stems from the influence of radio, the press, newsreels and advertising. Bradman was the first Australian sportsman to be heavily promoted by these media elements.” You will have gathered that the enthusiasm for the chase was well and truly there when Alf embarked on his research in the MCC Library after the Bradman Luncheon in 2005. The resulting manuscript will delight all cricket lovers, and publication is being arranged to meet the Christmas market. Importantly, its release will usher in both the centenary of Bradman’s birth and the 60th anniversary of his last innings at the MCG. If you ask the old-timers about Bradman’s impact here, many will respond in part: “It seems like only yesterday…” So the book’s working title is entirely apt: Only Yesterday – Don Bradman at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. This year’s Bradman Luncheon will be held on Friday August 24. See page 18. TWO DECADES OF FINE FELLOWSHIP The MCC’s Long Room Wine and Food Society would have been hard pressed to find an author better qualified than Keith Dunstan to record the first 20 years of its activities. A wine buff who even today would be most comfortable at Jimmy Watson’s, Keith has done it all. He has written the history of CUB, the Bundaberg Rum company and Victoria’s best-known winery, Brown Brothers. At one stage he ventured into winemaking on the Mornington Peninsula and wrote a book about it. In 1992 he showed his pride and joy pinot, “Chloe”, at a society luncheon. Perhaps equally important, Keith has enjoyed countless luncheons and decades of fine fellowship at burgundy and beefsteak clubs and gatherings of like-minded people, such as the communal bottling of bulk wine. In his inimitable style he tells of the society’s genesis, the characters involved and how it has broadened its scope to the point where, in traditional MCC fashion, the waiting list outnumbers the membership. With a nod to Keith’s pioneering history of the club first published in 1962, the society’s 72-page history is entitled The Lunch Group That Grew. The author’s credentials ensure that it will have wide appeal and an order form can be downloaded from the MCC website. Alternatively, secretary John Champness can assist on email jchampness@aol.com. The cost of $25 includes GST and postage. 8 MCC NEWS august 2007
TAPES ARE JUST FOR THE RECORD MCC identities record their reminiscences for posterity As part of the MCC’s ongoing audio-visual archival program to record the views and recollections of people important to the club and the ground, seven eminently worthy subjects have been interviewed by Tony Charlton (pictured above) over the past few months. First was John Lill, secretary from 1983 to 2000, who was originally interviewed in 1995. Much had happened in the interim. John had dealt with several critical issues such as virtual advertising, the access rights of media, ownership of the electronic signal and a new ticketing contract. Other highlights during John’s time include the rebuilding of the Great Southern Stand, introduction of an arena sand profile and portable cricket pitches as well as the installation of the MCG light towers. Bruce Church (president 1997–2003) also took on many of John Lill’s issues, including all of the initial planning associated with the northern stand redevelopment and the Commonwealth Games. Former Premier, current MCG trustee and MCC Honorary Life Member John Cain has a unique perspective on issues concerning the ground and the club and the relationship between the various stakeholders. His forthright views will make interesting archival material for future generations of researchers. David Jones, with the presidency so fresh in his mind, was able to recall a multitude of pleasant memories as he guided the club through the redevelopment years. His recruitment of our first lady committee member was especially satisfying. On a lighter note, MCG Media Hall of Fame broadcaster Bill Jacobs was asked to relate the highlights of his interesting career as a cricketer, Australian team manager and commentator. Encyclopaedic recall ensured a flood of fascinating anecdotes. Curator Tony Ware had interviewer (and gardening enthusiast) Tony Charlton entranced. “Why is it that in all my walks across the oval I’ve never seen anything resembling a weed?” inquired Charlton. He had his answer about five minutes later after references to the plant and its environment, fertiliser use, watering practices and a host of other semiscientific considerations. Ware’s take on the Commonwealth Games arena makeovers was of particular interest. The final session turned the tables on the interviewer. Tim Lane had kindly agreed to quiz Mr Charlton about his memories of the MCG, which began with his involvement in GTV9’s telecast of the Olympic Games in 1956. “I can still see Bobby Morrow running away with the 200 metres. He ran 20.6. And Cuthbert … Cuthbert!” And so it went on. The tapes are not available for general reference at this stage. Some of them won’t see the light of day until all parties mentioned are no longer with us. But those who follow will applaud the club’s initiative in preserving the thoughts of these leading lights in MCC life. AUSTRALIAN SPORT’S NIGHT OF NIGHTS The advent of the National Sports Museum has seen the club forge a much closer and productive working relationship with The Sport Australia Hall of Fame (SAHOF). So we are pleased to advise that MCC members and guests are invited to attend SAHOF’s annual dinner, a gala event on the Hall of Fame calendar to be held on Thursday October 11 at Crown Palladium Ballroom. The dinner attracts the who’s who of Australian sport who’ll witness the announcement of new inductees into the Hall of Fame, as well as the elevation of a member to Legend status. Other awards announced on the night include the Don Award, the Team Sport Australia Award and the Spirit of Sport Award, which the MCG won last year for its “redevelopment and transformation to stage the 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games and its status as an iconic rallying point for Australian sport”. MCG Trust chairman John Wylie (right) and former MCC president David Jones are pictured here accepting the award at last year’s dinner. The annual function also serves as a reunion for Hall of Famers, making it the biggest regular gathering of Australia’s sporting greats. No wonder the evening is regarded by many as our premier sporting function. For a booking form and function details, please visit www.sahof.org.au or phone (03) 9572 4600. august 2007 MCC NEWS 9
Page 1 and 2: NO. 136 • august 2007 • ISSN 13
Page 3 and 4: from the president As we move into
Page 5 and 6: SOCCER BLOCKBUSTER SET FOR SEPTEMBE
Page 7: AFL WORLD COMES TO THE MCG The Nati
Page 11 and 12: STOP PRESS! THE POLICE TO ROCK THE
Page 13 and 14: TO THE SAME OLD TUNE fallen at Gall
Page 15 and 16: CRICKETERS TIE UP FOURTH XI FLAG Th
Page 17 and 18: FUNCTIONS CALENDAR DAY DATE FUNCTIO
Page 19 and 20: WE’RE RACING INTO THE SPRING CARN
Page 21 and 22: august 2007 MCC NEWS 21
Page 23 and 24: WE’RE HERE TO SERVE YOU The club

August - Melbourne Cricket Club

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?