July 2013 edition - Melbourne Cricket Club

July 2013 | No. 154 | ISSN 1322-3771see inside for our 175th anniversary celebrations!MCC NewsA grand old flagfor cricketers

July 2013 | No. 154 | ISSN 1322-3771club newsOpen Dayat the ’GThe MCG will be open for everyone onSunday November 17 to celebrate theMCC’s 175th anniversary.The free event will take place less than48 hours after the gala extravaganza onthe club’s actual birthday (see page 5) andwill be a great opportunity for members toshow off their club to families and thepublic on this special day. There will alsobe time for some rare access to theplaying surface.Many will recall the success of MCGOpen Week in September-October 2003as more than 35,000 people farewelledthe old Members Pavilion.While not expecting those numbers ina single day, the chance for the public tosee parts of the stadium and the MCCReserve that are normally off limits issure to be an attraction.There is much more to be told aboutthis event in the weeks and monthsahead, so keep an eye on all ourcommunication channels for updates,including our MCC 175 website page atmcc.org.au/mcc175.New vision boardsset for MCGTwo new, state-of-the-art vision boardswill be installed before the 2014Boxing Day Test as part of acontinuous upgrade designed to maintainthe MCG at the forefront of the stadiumexperience.The new vision boards will be approximately13 metres wide and 25 metres high, more thandouble the size of the existing screens. Thescreens are used to display replays, messages,scores, advertisements and live vision.As we went to press, a tender process toselect a supplier was in its final stages.Once the vendor is chosen, the complex taskof scheduling installation of the giant screenswhile minimising impact on MCG events willbe addressed.“Patrons will enjoy a larger screen format,with better technology, that will really enrichthe experience of watching sport at the MCG,”said MCC CEO Stephen Gough.MCG patrons have been well served byscoreboards since the early days. There was alarge board erected at the western end of theground in 1881 and a more sophisticated brickscoreboard replaced it in 1901.In 1907 another scoreboard, of timberconstruction and operated by a bicycle chainmechanism, was erected at the Punt Road endof the ground. It was later relocated to the cityend and informed spectators for more than70 years before it was replaced by thecountry’s first full-colour video replayscoreboard in 1982.MCC ContactsMail PO Box 175, East Melbourne, VIC, 8002T (03) 9657 8888 F (03) 9650 5682Country and interstate 1300 367 622Web www.mcc.org.auTwitter www.twitter.com/MCC_MembersFacebook www.facebook.com/melbournecricketclubEmail membership@mcc.org.auEditorial contact communications@mcc.org.auPublisher Herald and Weekly Times Pty LtdABN 49 004 113 937HWT Tower, 40 City Road Southbank VIC 3006Photography Unless otherwise credited,images provided by MCC, SDP Media,HWT Library or Getty Images.Copyright Editorial material inMCC News is copyright and maynot be reproduced without priorpermission from the Publisher.Our CoverSEE INSIDE FOR OUR 175TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS!MCC NewsA grand old flagFOR CRICKETERS• The MCC capped off astunning PremierCricket season in allgrades by winning theFirst XI premiershipagainst Ringwood atJunction Oval in March.NOTICE OF ANNUALGENERAL MEETINGThe 176th Annual General Meeting (AGM) of theMelbourne Cricket Club will be held at 8.00pmon Wednesday August 14, 2013 in the MembersDining Room. Full members are invited to attend.Two sitting members of the MCC Committee andfour nominees will offer themselves for election atthe AGM. Full members eligible to vote will alreadyhave received the appropriate papers with their2013/14 renewal notices.Charles Sitch and Mark Smith are the committeemembers standing for re-election by rotation.Thomas Hudson, John Mugavin, Stuart Stockdaleand Christopher Stoltz are presenting themselvesfor election at the ballot.Please bring your photo ID membership card togain access to the meeting. Parking will be availablevia Entrance A off Brunton Avenue.2 MCC NEWS July 2013

club newsFrom the PresidentPaul SheahanAt the time of writing we have reachedthe halfway mark of the AFL seasonand our nation’s cricketers are justdays away from commencing the first of10 Ashes Tests between now and Januaryagainst the old foe, England. While MichaelClarke’s team is a deserved underdog,there is nothing like an Ashes battle torekindle one’s interest in the sport onwhich our club was founded.I speak of the club’s foundationdeliberately, to remind and inform membersthat we are celebrating the MCC’s 175thanniversary throughout this year.There are several activities under way orin planning, and I encourage all members toinvolve themselves in celebrating thiswonderful milestone.The dinner to be held to coincide with theclub’s birthday on November 15 (see page 5)will be a gala, black-tie affair and willrecognise what the club and the ground havegiven to Melbourne over a century andthree-quarters.We have much of which to be proud, as wegrew from a meeting between five men in1838 to establish the MCC to a club of100,000 members and more than 225,000 onthe waiting list!The football season is progressingsoundly from a club and ground perspective.The playing surface has again beenpresented in immaculate condition andattendances have been encouraging, helpedno end by a resurgent Richmond.At this early stage, a finals seriespossibly involving the six largest Victorianclubs – Collingwood, Carlton, Essendon,Hawthorn, Geelong and Richmond – is atantalising prospect.One issue that continues to frustrateour management team is the presenceof seagulls on the playing surface duringmatches, which is primarily an aestheticconcern for broadcasters and thosewatching. We have tried several initiativesin recent years and the latest isinstallation of a series of wires well abovethe playing surface that, we are told, mayprove to be a deterrent. We, and theviewing public, will be watching theoutcome with interest!While on football, you will recall thatthe Melbourne Football Club returnedas an MCC Sporting Section in 2009.The football club has been going througha difficult time recently and changeshave been made and will continue to be madein an endeavour to reap success.The club makes a contribution to thefootball club’s finances, both in direct termsand “in kind” but I take this opportunity tostate that we do not see it as our responsibilityto commit the club to further financialassistance. That onus rests with thefootballing fraternity.There has been recent advice to the effectthat Cricket Victoria wishes to create its ownState Cricket Centre, which seems like asensible idea given that a number of otherstates have similar facilities, while the AFLwants to push the start of the football seasonback into March.We are taking a keen interest in this matterbecause of the effect on ground operations.Despite the fact that football provides adisproportionately large income to the ground,we are mindful that our name is theMelbourne CRICKET Ground and we will bemaking sure that cricket does not receivea raw deal.Ultimately, the State Government owns theground. We are simply the ground managers,despite the fact that almost all developmentat “The Paddock That Grew” has come aboutthrough the judicious use of membersubscriptions and other income.So, in some senses we will need to becognisant of the State Government’s view ofthe two codes. I can present no more detail atthis early stage.I am pleased to report on the considerableA crowd of 93,373 watched the ANZAC Daymatch at the MCG between Essendon andCollingwood. It was the third-highest homeand away attendance in VFL/AFL history.success tasted by our club’s cricketers lastseason. Since our last edition, captain-coachAndrew Kent led the First XI to the PremierCricket title with a fighting win overRingwood at the Junction Oval.It capped an extraordinary season thatsaw the MCC win the Club Championship,eight titles out of 13 available and a RyderMedal for the competition’s best player,Brenton McDonald. I congratulate everyoneinvolved within MCC Cricket on theseachievements.At committee level, Jane Nathan’stenure concluded in June. Jane was theclub’s first female committee member andshe has set the bar high for those whofollow. In addition to local governmentexpertise, she was a champion for womenin the club during her nine-year term.I take this opportunity to thank Jane forher valued contribution.Finally, I welcome four recent appointeesto the MCG Trust – Tony Stewart, IanCarson, Peter Costello and RichardMcIndoe. I look forward to a veryconstructive working relationship withthem and their fellow trustees as wecontinue to act in the best interests of ourmembers and the Victorian public for whomthe MCG is a much-loved icon.FINANCIAL SNAPSHOT – 2012/13MELBOURNE CRICKET CLUB AND CONTROLLED ENTITIESCONSOLIDATEDCONSOLIDATED2012/13($’000)2011/12($’000)2012/13($’000)2011/12($’000)REVENUEEXPENSESMembership 46,349 45,059 Admin and Departmental 64,774 64,859Event-related 28,248 33,452 Members’ contributions to the gate 12,656 13,950Commercial Operations 27,134 25,749 Depreciation 28,733 25,118NSM 3,653 3,517 Finance costs 18,270 19,465Other revenue 36,924 40,190 Total expenses 124,433 123,392Total revenue 142,308 147,967 NET PROFIT/(LOSS) 17,875 24,575Loans and borrowings at financial year end 266,352 280,383Cash principal and interest payments31,872 31,761on loans and borrowingsJuly 2013MCC NEWS3

175th anniversaryMembership bringsa lifetime of memoriesThe club’s 175th anniversary is anopportunity to reflect and recollect, andthat’s exactly what transpired when weasked members to provide us with theirmemories of life as an MCC member.Understandably, given the club’s intrinsicrelationship with the MCG, many membersfondly recalled witnessing some of the greatmoments in our sporting history.“I especially savour the 1977 Centenary Testwith the heroics of Lillee, the gymnastics ofRandall and the atmosphere provided by thegreatest sporting stadium in the world,” saidPeter Pritchard.“We have many memories of the MCG...numerous Anzac Days and that incrediblefeeling of being part of something so big, sosilent and so moving,” said Robin and JohnNettleton. “If you haven’t experienced it youwon’t understand.” Indeed.Inviting contributions has also revealed someinteresting connections to important figures inthe club’s history.“My great-great-grandfather (mother’s side),William Haines, was one of the original Trusteesof the MCC and the first Premier of Victoria,”informed Ian Friend. “My great-greatgrandfather(father’s side), Charles Lawrence,was in Stephenson’s Eleven, the first Englishteam to play at the MCG in 1862.”From Bill Dubsky: “My wife Jane is thegreat-grand-niece of H.C.A. Harrison ‘thefather of Australian Rules Football’ andcousin of Tom Wills, who was an earlysecretary of the MCC.”Members also submitted some great photos,which we’ll be revealing on our website andother mediums throughout the year.The image above, submitted by WilliamTwycross, was taken by his father, John, in theMCC Members Reserve during the track andfield events at the 1956 Olympic Games.Four-year-old William and his eight-year-oldbrother, Peter, are seen peering over (or through)the steel picket fence that was synonymous withthe MCG.“The photograph is a nice window into theinformality of the Olympics in those days – ‘TheFriendly Olympics’, when small children couldbe right on the fence. It also shows that a visit tothe Olympics in those days was not dissimilar toa day at the footy,” said William.“The photograph is a nicewindow into theinformality of theOlympics in those days –“The Friendly Olympics”,when small children couldbe right on the fence.”– William TwycrossABOVE: William Twycross, aged four, and hiseight-year-old brother Peter watch the trackand field events at the 1956 Olympic Games.Finally, we received several anecdotesoutlining the personal impact MCC membership– and the MCG – has had on our members:“The MCC will always be a very special placefor me, as one of my best friend’s wake was heldthere,” said James Murphy. “It was anemotional day but it consoled me to think of allthe great times I had had at the place I love.”“My best memory is having the opportunityto take my mother (in her seventies and confinedto a wheelchair) into the Members Reserve justbefore the old members stand was demolished,”said Donald Firth.“It was only the second time she had been tothe MCG and never really had any connectionwith the ground. However, she was absolutelythrilled to go and said it was one of the besttimes she’d had in years.”MCC membership means many thingsto many people.Do you have your own anecdotes ormemories that you wish to share?Please send them via email tomembership@mcc.org.au.4 MCC NEWS July 2013

175th anniversaryA night of celebrationJoin us for a gala event on November 15to mark the MCC’s 175th anniversary.A spectacular evening is promised atthe MCG as we celebrate 175 years to theday of the formation of the MelbourneCricket Club.Showcasing different areas of thestadium, guests will commence on theground and be part of a unique momentreflecting the 175th celebrations.Dining will then take place in selectedrooms with the finale being a stunningpresentation never before seen onthe arena.Finally, the party will continue in theBullring Bar and surrounds with a liveperformance by top Australian artistsJames Reyne and Daryl Braithwaite.The night will be a celebration of ourhistory and a great opportunity to socialiseand reminisce. We would love to seegenerations of members put togethera table for this occasion, in the mannerof the Long Room farewell dinners of adecade ago.Members may each bring one guest tothis event. Tickets cost $200 per person.Bookings open on Monday August 20 at9.00am, so gather up your family andfriends for a night to celebrate being amember of this remarkable club.MCC 175th Anniversary GalaWhen: Friday November 15Time:From 6.00pmWhere: MCG (various locations)Cost:$200 per personDRESS: Black-tieBookings: Open August 20 at 9.00amMCC founder’s descendant calls inThe MCC was delighted to receive a visit inMay from the great-great-grandson of theclub’s first president, Frederick Armand Powlett(left).Robin Shawyer visited the MCG while onholiday from the UK, discovering thesignificance of the role Powlett played in theformation of our club 175 years ago. Powlettwas president from 1841-43 and also one offive recognised founding members who formedthe Melbourne Cricket Club in 1838 “for thepurpose of playing cricket”.After his visit, Shawyer (right) took the timeto correspond and shed some light on thePowlett family history.“Frederick Powlett had only one child, HoratiaPowlett, but she married a first cousin of hers,Admiral Armand Temple Powlett,” Shawyerwrote. “My grandmother, Katharine IsabellaPowlett, was one of their five children and mymother was Grace Katharine Powlett Smithbefore she married my father Andrew Shawyer.”The name Powlett, according to Shawyer,was originally spelled Paulet and was thefamily name of the Dukes of Bolton.“The Paulet family played quite a significantrole in English history, especially during theTudor period,” Shawyer noted. “The family wasconnected to the Temple family throughHoratia’s aunt and mother-in-law, AnneTemple. That family provided two archbishopsof Canterbury.”It’s also clear where Frederick Powlettobtained his fondness for cricket. Hisgrandfather, Reverend Charles Powlett, iswidely regarded as the founder of HambledonCricket Club, the oldest club in England. He wasalso a member of the committee that revisedand codified the Laws of Cricket in 1774.History lives … Robin Shawyer visits theclub his great-great-grandfather co-foundedin 1838.July 2013MCC NEWS5

175th anniversaryExclusive memberitems in ourmilestone yearThe club has released a commemorativerange of members’ merchandise in our175th year.High on the list of must-haves is alimited edition (only 175 available),MCC-branded leather Sherrin football.Also in this exclusive range is a set of sixwhite or red Krosno wine glasses,embossed with the club’s 175thanniversary logo, as well as MCC-brandedt-shirts, caps and polo shirts.With Father’s Day imminent, these aregreat mementos of the club’s anniversaryand a great way to show your club colours.These items are available online viamcc.org.au (using your member login toaccess exclusive merchandise page),at the MCG Superstore inside Gate 3 andthe store inside Gate 2 of the MembersReserve on match days.Look out for more great commemorativeitems being released throughout the year!A celebration revisitednew showcase has been installed in theA MCC Museum as part of the club’s 175thanniversary activities.As the club prepares to mark its big milestonewith a gala event on November 15, themuseum’s Pomp, Ceremony and Cricket displayfocuses on the club’s celebration of its centenaryyear in 1938 with the key themes of cricket,pageantry and charity.The prominent role that cricket played in thecentenary celebrations is featured throughout.Visitors can see the bat and blazer of MCCmember (later vice-president) Keith Rigg, whocaptained “The Rest” against Don Bradman’sAustralian Test team, and letters from theSydney Cricket Ground Trust and theMarylebone Cricket Club congratulating theMCC on reaching the milestone.The display also features a letter sent by theMCC to the Australian Board of Control forInternational Cricket requesting the availability ofthe Australian Test team for “a grand cricketmatch” to mark the club’s centenary.The exhibition reflects the lavish festivities thattook place to mark the centenary, featuring asouvenir program from the celebrations, a noticeissued by the MCC inviting members to attendthe celebrations and newspaper clippingsreporting the events.Also on display is a document which showsthe charitable donations made by the MCCfrom the admission fees for the centenary cricketmatch, plus thank-you letters acknowledgingthat several charities, including Red Cross, theRoyal Children’s Hospital and the DistressedCricketers’ Fund, shared in more than £500raised by the event.The MCC Museum is located on Level B1 ofthe Members Reserve and a visit is highlyrecommended.We would like to pass on our congratulations to the Melbourne Cricket Club onreaching such a significant milestone. We’re proud to be Icon Partners of the MCG,which stands here proudly by virtue of 175 years of passion, enthusiasm anddedication by the Melbourne Cricket Club, its members and its wider communitynetworks.Well done, MCC. We’re grateful to be a part of your history, present and future.6 MCC NEWS July 2013

club newsSports clubfor membersnearingcompletionfind outmorewhat:MCC-Kew SportsClubwhere:397 Barkers Road,KewWebsite:mcckew.com.auemail:info@mcckew.com.auphone:(03) 9817 3936The MCC’s vision for a social and sportsfacility for members away from the MCGis close to fruition, with a revitalisedMCC-Kew Sports Club scheduled to openin October.Last year the MCC combined with KewHeights Sports Club to embark on amultimillion dollar upgrade of the lawnbowls, tennis and clubhouse facilities at397 Barkers Road, Kew.The new clubhouse at MCC-Kew Sports Club will have large glassdoors opening onto a spacious deck and a new bowling green.The project is being funded by the MCCFoundation. Ownership of the site hastransferred to the foundation and a leaseestablished between the MCC Foundationand MCC-Kew Sports Club.The newly named entity will beresponsible for managing the improvedfacilities on a day-to-day basis.Following a tender process, IrelandBrown Constructions was appointed asbuilder and work has commenced.Much of the upgrade is internalrefurbishment but some external toucheswill give the club a welcome facelift.As these images show, the revampwill be a vast improvement on theexisting facility.A new clubhouse, revamped dining andbar amenities and a lighter and brighterinterface between the building,the bowling greens and barbecue facilitiesare all part of the plan.Opportunities will exist for MCCmembers and waiting list candidates toutilise the new club.To find out more, please contactMCC-Kew Sports Club via the contactspanel on this page.July 2013MCC NEWS7

club newsDemons in good handsas the Crow fliesWith his elevation to vice-presidentof the club following theretirement of David Crawford,MCC Cricket chairman David Crow is in fora pretty busy summer.He’s now a member of the MCC executivegroup that sets the direction of the club whilemaintaining his role as head of our cricketers,whose astonishing success in 2012/13 will takesome emulating.David has been a fine contributor to clubaffairs since joining the committee in 1993 andhis vice-presidency was well deserved.Apart from his cricket service he has been astrong supporter of our heritage operationsand chaired the Tattersall’s Parade of theChampions project which produced the first10 statues of champion athletes that ringthe ground.Ironically, his cricket career with MCC waspreceded by his best-ever bowling return of8/44 in the Dowling Shield playing for SouthMelbourne against the Demons! GraemeHowarth and Clive Fairbairn soon made surehe came across to Melbourne but not before hecaptained an Australian schoolboys’ tour ofNew Zealand.His first game with MCC (as was BobLloyd’s) was in January 1968 but he was besetby back injuries and soon was languishing inthe Thirds. However, fate had it that MaxWalker broke down the following yearand David was recalled from the Thirdsto the Firsts, along with his back brace andcortisone injections.The big, brave fellow could obviously bowla bit, taking 19 wickets in half a season andwinning the bowling average, but his conditionwas chronic so he returned to the lower elevenswhere he enjoyed considerable success.David’s year of all-sorts was 1972/73 whenhe played briefly with the Firsts again, won aflag under John Lill in the Seconds (his onlygame in the Twos that season), represented theThirds and Fourths and also played in each ofthe three Club XIs. Any challengers?The much-admired cricket chairman andMCC committeeman Brian Watson askedDavid to lunch one day and he emergedas captain of the Club XI “C” team, crickettreasurer and convenor of the entireClub XI competition for the followingseason. Some lunch!But it’s a measure of David’s connectionwith the club that he feels indebted to Brian“for his trust in me and that certainly wasa key factor in my being invited to join theMCC Committee.”As for last season’s incredible results, hesingles out First XI skipper Andrew Kent andPremier Cricket chairman Michael Sholly forspecial praise. But David also was pleased toMCC vice-president David Crow, in his role asMCC Cricket chairman, addresses the First XIPremiership Dinner in May.play a major role in establishing our firstwomen’s cricket teams and in the rebirth of theClub XI competition and the MCC’sparticipation in it in 2012/13.All up, an admirable record and you can bethe’ll build on it as vice-president of your club.First lady bows outIt probably is a measure of the womanthat our first female committeemember, Jane Nathan, leaves the postas enthusiastic about the club and theground as she was on Day 1.She found her nine-year stint“energising and enlightening” and wasthrilled to get the opportunity to serve amembership of which her family hasbeen a continuous part since the 1880s.She was “excited, not daunted” whenjoining her all-male colleagues in 2004after being invited by president DavidJones to fill a casual vacancy. Herexperience in local government affairs (andsitting around many tables) was goodgrounding and brought a fresh perspective tocommittee deliberations.After an early realisation that some ladymembers felt a bit uncomfortable withouttheir partners, Jane resolved to make theclub more welcoming to women.“When I started you could walk throughthe Long Room on match day and you mightcount eight or nine women there,” said Jane.“Given that 17 per cent of Full members areDeparting MCC Committee member JaneNathan (left), with Dianne Burns (centre)and Caroline Wilson at the Norm SmithOration in June.women, it was poor representation. Today youmight see 30 or 40 in the room on a busy day.”Jane says several initiatives have helped tocreate an environment where women membersare “empowered”. Groups such as Women ofthe MCC, with themed events such as Womenin Sport and Women in Wine, have beenstrongly supported and have generated a socialcalendar of significance within the club.Male partners are invited, of course, and“it’s worked brilliantly. We now have womenambassadors for what the club has to offerits membership.”Jane says she was fortunate to beinvolved during a period of great change thatspawned such treasures as the NationalSports Museum as part of the northernredevelopment project and she wasparticularly impressed by the contributionof “our wonderful volunteers”.Another part of club life that Janeembraced was our special interest groupsand 12 sporting sections that “play such animportant role in the development of sportin Melbourne.”A Demon supporter from the outset (“Dadwas an MCC member for 64 years”), Janerecalls her football highlight – the 1964Grand Final – with glee but she ranks KerrynMcCann’s dramatic win in the 2006Commonwealth Games marathon equally.“An amazing scene with 72,000 on theirfeet and vocally carrying her across the line.Even the attendants were screamingsupport!”8 MCC NEWS July 2013

mcc cricketCricketers celebratea remarkable seasonWith a record 20th First XIpremiership, a Club Championship,two clean sweeps and eight of the13 titles on offer, there was much to celebrateat the MCC cricket presentation dinner onMay 10 in the Members Dining Room.In one of the most successful District/PremierCricket seasons in the club’s formidable history,captain-coach Andrew Kent and his men haveset the bar high. The Demons secured flags inall three formats in the first and third elevens,plus one in the Second XI.The First XI had to work hard to win its finalagainst Ringwood at Junction Oval. Havingdismissed the Rams for 234, the Demons wereheld together by a fighting 93 from youngopener Matthew Begbie, who batted bravely for280 minutes and 197 balls to steer his teampast the target and register a lead of 21.Set 174 to win outright, Michael Hill andAlex Keath showed their class as the Demonswon the match by seven wickets. Begbie’sperformance saw him awarded the JohnScholes Medal as man of the match.All-rounder Brenton McDonald took fivewickets in the first innings of the final, cappingan excellent season that culminated with theclub champion trophy. The red-headedleg-spinner’s 568 runs and 54 wickets alsosnared him the Jack Ryder Medal as best playerin the competition, just the second MCCcricketer (after Warren Ayres) to win the award.McDonald, younger brother of Test playerAndrew, was also named in Cricket Victoria’sPremier Cricket Team of the Year and earnedthe MCC Players’ MVP Award. Two-time FirstTOP: The MCC First XI celebrates its premiershipwin over Ringwood in the Premier Cricket Final.ABOVE: Women’s club champion CharlotteKilleen with head coach Robert Templeton.XI premiership wicketkeeper Ash Middlin wasnamed best clubman and Jack Paynter wasnamed XXIX Club young cricketer of the year.Kent’s effort to lead the club to the swag oftitles earned him the coveted Brian WatsonMemorial Award for the “most outstandingperformance by an MCC cricketer”.“Winning the treble in the First XI makesit such a sweet year,” said Kent. “We had a lotof players going from second to third-yearplayers and there was a lot of improvementin our group.”The performance of the Third XI, led bycaptain Jon Huddart, should not gounheralded. They, too, won premierships intwo-day, 50-over and Twenty20 formats,The late Geoff Swan (left, next to formerDemons footballer Neil Crompton) achievedmuch during his life.Man of manyhats farewelledGeoff Swan represented Victoria atlacrosse and basketball but he madehis MCC mark at football and cricket,receiving a Certificate of Merit in 1992 forhis service to both sports.Geoff, who died on May 20 aged 92, had theunique distinction of being team manager inpremiership years for both the MCC First XI(1981/82) and Melbourne FC (1964).This remarkable man had the great gift of“getalongability” in spades. He also was aborn leader, recalled eulogist JohnBrownbill, as evidenced by his elevation toCaptain during World War II and beingmentioned in despatches. Geoff laterreceived an MBE in the Military Divisionfollowing post-war service with the CMF.Later, he received an OAM for his servicesto youth through the Lord Somers Camp andPower House, an enduring interest, as wasLegacy. Geoff lost his father at 12 and becamea legatee during the Depression years.He repaid that “debt” many times over bydevoting endless hours to Legacy affairs andwas president of Melbourne Legacy in 1992.So we farewelled a fine MCC man on May27 at a packed Christ Church in South Yarra.Footnote: Geoff’s son Glenn also was aDemon. Something of a shooting star, in1973 he played 13 games for 21 goals, eightof which came in one match againstGeelong. Eight must have been his luckynumber because he bagged eight wicketsin the Seconds one day during a career thatyielded 32 MCC First XI games including the1975/76 premiership.underlining the enviable talent at the club.In an historic presentation dinner, the club’sinaugural women’s cricket teams were alsorecognised at the conclusion of their debutseason. Charlotte Killeen was crowned clubchampion, Teagan Parker was named youthcricketer of the year and Natalie Plane wasadjudged most valuable player by her peers.Head coach Robert Templeton has some talentto work with in this group and we lookforward to watching the improvement from theladies next season.The quality of the club’s home ground,Albert Cricket Ground, was also recognised,with groundsman Scott West again earning thecompetition’s best curator award.July 2013MCC NEWS9

MCG EVENTSFabled full-forwardflies high againThe sporting world almost ran out ofadjectives to describe the legendaryJohn Coleman, Essendon’s brilliantgoalkicker of the 1940s and 1950s, such washis impact on the game and the fans who cameto see him – Essendon supporters or otherwise.Many of those who watched him play claimhe was the best footballer of all time and fewof the contemporary players or supporterswould disagree.He was so good that a wave of fans andphotographers would move from end to endafter each term simply to watch him performat close quarters.And he was so popular that most ofMelbourne cried with him when he wassuspended on the eve of the 1951 grand final,certainly costing the Bombers a flag.No wonder we’re saluting his greatness bycommissioning a statue of him for the MCG aspart of the Australia Post Avenue of Legendsproject!Aged 20 and recruited from Hastings in1949, the university student kicked anunprecedented 12 goals in hisfirst match, booted 100 forthe season and quicklyearned a Sporting Liferating as “probably themost sensationalhigh-flier since BobPratt.”Not only that: “He can make even thedullest game interesting. He leads out withgreat pace to take a pass, weaves and turnswith the skill of a much smaller man and hishandball and unselfish passing to teammatesstamp him as, above all, a player who strivesfor his side.”Lis Johnson, whose statue of Norm Smithdrew such high praise last year, accepted thischallenge with glee (she’s a Bombers fan) andshe’s confident that the photograph she workedfrom – leaping clear with legs bent, armsoutstretched reaching for the ball, torso slightlytwisted with number 10 prominent – capturesthe man to a tee.It will be difficult to see his face from groundlevel, but it’s unmistakably Coleman aloft.Modern-day fans would be surprised thatthis champion 6ft 2in (188cm) forwardweighed only 80kg, his mighty spring comingfrom powerful inner leg muscles.“His physique was difficult to match when itcame to choosing a life model,” recalled LisJohnson, who delivered the clay model to thefoundry in early July for an unveiling inSeptember.The talented sculptor has now embarked onher third MCG statue, that of Neil Harvey,after Louis Laumen’s contractualcommitments saw him unable to meet2013/14 cricket season deadlines. It isscheduled for unveiling early in 2014.MCC event operations manager Lisa Priceaccepts her Certified Facility Executive(CFE) qualification from fellow CFErecipient and former Venue ManagementAssociation president, Tim Worton.She’s simplyPriceless!Having helped deliver some of theMCG’s biggest events over the past20 years, MCC event operations managerLisa Price has a resume bursting withachievements.Price is a senior figure in an EventsDepartment that each year overseesmore than 50 AFL matches, a suite ofinternational and domestic cricket andone-off events such as the MelbourneMarathon, concerts and the MelbourneVictory v Liverpool FC match in late-July.Always looking to extend her experienceand knowledge of the event industry, Pricehas recently added another accolade – oneshe shares with only 14 other Australians.In April she completed the CertifiedFacility Executive (CFE) program, aqualification issued by the InternationalAssociation of Venue Managers torecognise excellence in the professionaldevelopment and competence of publicvenue managers. With rigorous criteria,only a handful of people are eligible toapply and even fewer are successful.“As a venue manager there are noformal qualifications you can obtainspecifically related to the industry,”Lisa explains.“The CFE is the highest achievementavailable for a venue manager and moreimportantly it is judged by your peers in theindustry who understand the complexitiesof working in such a dynamic andchallenging environment.”Obtaining a CFE is a four-stage processnot for the faint-hearted. Only individualswith a certain level of points based onindustry experience, personal developmentand education can apply.Lisa passed with flying colours and hernext goal may involve heading back touniversity.“I have a Masters in event managementthrough Victoria University, so perhaps adoctorate is next on the list.”Congratulations, Lisa!10 MCC NEWS July 2013

mcg eventsCricket’s oldestrivalry returnsMembers will be very familiar withthe much-vaunted England line-upby summer’s end, with AlastairCook’s men playing MCG matches in allthree formats including, of course, theBoxing Day Test.With the battle for the Ashes already underway in the UK, public interest in theAustralian summer hinges largely on theperformance of Michael Clarke’s teamin England.A solid showing is likely to lead tobumper crowds by the time the teamsarrive in Melbourne for Christmas.In addition to the Boxing Day Test,Australia will also host England at theMCG in a 50-over one-day internationalon January 12 and a Twenty20 internationalon January 31.MCC visitor tickets and reserved seatsto these matches go on sale on FridayOctober 11.Due to expected demand, members willbe limited to one visitor ticket on Day 1of the Test, two per member on Days 2-3and four per member on all otherinternational cricket days.Further information will be available onmcc.org.au in the weeks ahead.2013/14 internationalcricketMCGBoxing Day TestAustralia v England (December 26-30)One-Day InternationalAustralia v England (January 12)Twenty20 InternationalAustralia v England (January 31)Squash historyon the recordThe MCC Squash Section has recordedits early history for posterity with theproduction of a high-quality, 52-pagebook which documents the on-courtcareer of every player in its 44-yearspan.Titled Down the Walls, which is where youhit the ball consistently when playing well,the publication was the brain child of KenMitchell, “father” of the section and secretaryfor its first 15 years.Ken is springs and autumns ahead as theMCC’s most durable performer on 1136games … and counting.Foreword to the book was written by DavidJones, MCC president from 2003-07. Davidplayed for the squashies in the early yearsand has been very generous in helping tofund the project.Copies of the book are available for$28 (inc. postage) through Ken 0408 172 836or email mitchellkv@gmail.com.It’s an interesting read, no matteryour sport.Become a Star Gazer at the ’GWhile the Ashes series will rightlytake top billing next summer, thethird instalment of the T20 Big BashLeague (BBL) returns to the MCG forthose members keen on cricket’sshortest format.As we went to press, we were awaitingconfirmation from Cricket Australia of thedates that the Melbourne Stars will play itsfour BBL home matches at the MCG, likelyto be in mid/late-December andthroughout January. Organisers will behoping for a bumper crowd for the derbyagainst Melbourne Renegades after lastseason’s all-time domestic record of46,581.The Melbourne Stars have tailored amembership package – the Star Gazer –for MCC members wanting to support theMCG’s home team in the BBL this season.The Star Gazer membership is a nonticketedsupporters’ membership allowingMCC members to show their colours atStars matches.Membership includes a merchandise packand the option of including entry to the Stars’away derby against Melbourne Renegades atEtihad Stadium.for more informationFor more information, or to becomea Star Gazer, please visitwww.melbournestars.com.au/membershipor call 1300 MELB STARS.July 2013MCC NEWS11

MCG EVENTSMCG sleepoverfor a great causeOn April 18 more than 500 heartysouls chose not to sleep under thestars but instead to sleep inside theMCG in the name of charity.The MCC partnered with Melbourne CityMission (MCM) to host Sleep at the ’G,an event designed to raise money andawareness of the issue of youthhomelessness in Victoria.On any given night, thousandsof homeless people sleep on thestreets in our state and city. Thisevent aimed to replicate theirexperience by providingparticipants with an opportunity to sleep out inthe elements for one night, albeit within theconfines of a stadium.With only cardboard to sleep on and soupand bread rolls for dinner, participants bravedthe cold conditions sleeping on the MCG’sinternal concourse.Despite the single-digit temperature, spiritswere high as the group enjoyed entertainmentfrom local street performers and live music.The night proceeded without any trouble,and all participants were relieved at the sight ofa morning coffee before departing the ’G forwork or home, better for the experience.In total, the event achieved its fundraisingtarget of $300,000, an outstanding effort foran event in its first year.Sue Parkes, MCM’s director of fundraising,marketing and communications, couldn’t havebeen happier with the result.“The event exceeded all expectations andraised much-needed funds for MCM’s workwith homeless young people,” Parkes said.MCC president Paul Sheahan was alsodelighted with the result and recognised that anumber of participants were regular attendeesof the MCG.“Nearly half of the Sleep at the ’Gparticipants were regular MCG visitors,” Paulnoted, “and we are particularly appreciative oftheir efforts.”Money raised from the evening will be puttowards programs to support at-risk youth andhelp break the cycle of homelessness and plansare already in motion to make the event biggerand more ambitious in 2014. Stay tuned!12 MCC NEWS July 2013

mcg eventsThe MCG has been stomped!We can confidently say we’ve not seenan event like it in the ground’s longhistory, and those who took partwill be talking about it for quite some time.Australia’s longest consecutive stair climbchallenge, Stadium Stomp, was held at theMCG on June 16, attracting more than 1500participants for a personal test of fitness andendurance.A joint initiative of the MCC and specialevent management company KingPerformance, the event challenged participantsto climb up and down the grandstands on thetop and bottom level of the MCG to raisemoney for their nominated charities. Thosewho embraced the full course took more than7300 steps – not for the faint hearted.One man, though, stood out from the rest ina performance that had to be seen to bebelieved. Jeremy Riley, from the Elite FieldObstacle Course Racing League, set out tocomplete six laps of the gruelling course toraise funds for Reclink Australia. More thanseven hours and 44,000 steps later, he hadachieved his goal. What a mighty effort!“I had planned to pace myself early on tosave some energy, but the excitement ofstarting in the first-ever wave of StadiumStomp kicked in,” Riley recounted afterwards.“Before I knew it I was finishing the first lapahead of a quick marathon runner!”“It was great to see a huge turnout ofstompers as I headed into my second and thirdlaps. The atmosphere inside the ’G had neverbeen so good with so little happening on theground! Everyone was chatting and taking inviews that you would otherwise rarelyexperience.“By the fifth lap the participants werestarting to thin out so I had to dig deep to pushon, and heading into the sixth lap my bodywas ready to stop. But with plenty of energyHundreds took up the challenge to stair climbthe MCG in Stadium Stomp on June 16. Amongthem was Jeremy Riley (main) who completed thegruelling course six times!and determination to reach my goal, I joggedover the finish line some seven hours after I hadstarted.“I look forward to seeing everyone nextyear! Get stomping!”Well done, Jeremy, and to all participants inthis inaugural event we hope to see you backagain next year.Packed house to see Victory tackle LiverpoolThe MCG will have added another notchto its major event belt after hosting asoccer friendly between English PremierLeague club Liverpool FC and A-Leagueteam Melbourne Victory on July 24.Victorian Major Events Corporationensured Melbourne won the battle withSydney to secure the event, part ofLiverpool’s first-ever visit to Australia.Public demand to see the likes of StevenGerrard and Luis Suarez was very strong,with more than 30,000 tickets sold in thefirst hour of going on sale in April. Acrowd of more than 80,000 was expected.As part of the contractual arrangementswith Liverpool, members and their guestshad normal first-in, first-served walk-upaccess in the MCC Members Reserve.As has been the case for recent special eventsat the MCG, members were required to pay asubsidised admission fee ($45) to enter theReserve. Members were also able to purchasevisitor tickets for guests at a very competitiveprice in comparison to public ticket prices.As we went to press, members were beingadvised that entry tickets and visitor ticketswere unlikely to be on sale at Gate 2 on thenight of the match, indicating a packed housefor another major MCG event.For trivia buffs, the first known soccer (or“football”) match played at the MCG wasbetween Victoria and Tasmania on July 17,1912. Since then, there have been more than45 soccer matches at the ground, rangingfrom friendlies through to World Cupqualifiers and Olympic competition.Some of the most famous soccer teams inthe world have graced the MCG turf,including Manchester United (1999), Brazil(1999), France (2001), Greece (2006) andArgentina (2007). We can now add Liverpoolto that list.July 2013MCC NEWS13

sports heritageChampion mare celebratedThe National Sports Museum and theAustralian Racing Museum have joinedforces to celebrate the achievements ofchampion Australian racehorse Black Caviarwith a special display, The Glow of Legacy:Black Caviar’s Perfect Record.Open until the end of January next year, thedisplay features trophies from the great mare’s25-win career. There’s also the snuff boxpresented to owners after Black Caviar showedthe world why she is regarded as the greatestsprinter of all-time with a courageous win in theDiamond Jubilee Stakes at Ascot in 2012.The trophies feature alongside the racingsaddle used by jockey Luke Nolen on BlackCaviar for their TJ Smith Stakes win in Sydneyin 2011, and the iconic jockey colours designedby Shannon Wilkie, whose parents arepart-owners of Black Caviar.Now that the sprint superstar’s four-yearracing journey has ended, her owners can sitback and smell the roses.“It’s fitting that Black Caviar’s trophies arenow displayed in Australia’s greatest showcaseof sport at the museum,” said Black Caviar partowner,David Taylor. “The racing side of thingsmight be over, but exhibitions like this allow usto continue to reflect on her success and enjoy itfor life.”Black Caviar’s achievements have earned hernational and international acclaim. She wasvoted Australian Champion Sprinter andAustralian Horse of the Year in both 2011 and2012 and this year she was inducted into theAustralian Racing Hall of Fame, which is alsolocated within the NSM.“We are honoured to showcase this collectionof prized items and tell the story of BlackCaviar’s incredible feat,” said NSM manager JedSmith. “Black Caviar’s tale will go down in theAttractive newentrance toMCC Museumnew look at history: The MCCA Museum is a superb stroll throughthe 175-year story of the club. Now, itsentrance door on Level B1 of theMembers Reserve has been enhanced toincrease its visibility and aesthetics formembers and their guests on matchdays. Next time you’re at the football orcricket, pop down and revel in themarvellous history of this great club.history books and we’re absolutely delightedto share these pieces highlighting herachievements.”ABOVE LEFT: The Black Caviar display paystribute to the world’s greatest sprinting mare.Richmond legendKevin Bartlettgets a standingovation at theMCG for his400th game.Record holdersmade their markOn August 27, 1983 KevinBartlett played his 403rdand last game of VFL football atthe MCG. It was also his 200thgame at the ground, and he isstill the only footballer to achievethis feat.To acknowledge the 30thanniversary of Bartlett’s uniquemilestone, the MCC Library hasinstalled Making their Mark: TheMCG’s Record Holders, anexhibition of items relating toBartlett’s record and other VFL/AFL records and record holdersat the MCG.The largest stadium inAustralia has held football’sbiggest attendances and, sincethe first match at the MCG in1859, many individuals andteams have excelled here.Among objects exhibited arethe MCG’s stile books that recordthe ground’s official attendancefigures. These show theAustralian record attendance of121,696 for the 1970 VFL GrandFinal, as well as the home andaway record of 99,256 for theQueen’s Birthday game betweenMelbourne and Collingwood in1958.Similarly, John Longmire’s 14goals are unofficially recorded bya supporter in a Football Recordalso on display. MatthewRichardson (most VFL/AFLcareer goals at the MCG),Hawthorn (highest score andgreatest winning margins at theground) and Norm Smith (mostgames coached at the venue)also feature in the exhibit.Making their Mark: The MCG’sRecord Holders is on view onLevel 3 of the MCC MembersReserve, outside the library,until the close of the 2013 AFLseason.14 MCC NEWS July 2013

sports heritageWinmar’s stand takespride of placeAs Australia’s only true repository forsport in this country, the National SportsMuseum pays homage to the sports, peopleand moments that define our history. Twodecades ago, footballer Nicky Winmar made apowerful statement as significant as any otherthat had come before.On April 17, 1993 at the conclusion of theCollingwood-St Kilda game at Victoria Park,Winmar turned to Collingwood fans, raisedhis St Kilda jumper, pointed at his stomachand said: “I’m black and I’m proud to beblack,” in response to racial taunts.For the remainder of the year the NSMreflects on the impact of Winmar’s protestwith a showcase titled Black and Proud: Astand against racism.The exhibition features never-before-seenimages captured of Winmar before and afterhis momentous gesture, as well as a selectionof images and objects that demonstrate howthe moment continues to be relevant today.On display is a collection of posters,artworks and photographs that reflect thegesture, including work from Melbournebasedstreet artist Regan Tamanui, paintingsby Indigenous artists Hudson Dinah and DanKelly and cartoons by Rocco Fazzari andPeter Nicholson.The Aboriginal All Stars guernsey ofMelbourne Football Club player Neville Jettahas also been included as a symbol of whatWinmar’s legacy has meant for others.“It is fitting that on the 20th anniversary ofWinmar’s powerful gesture, the NationalSports Museum celebrates the impact thatWinmar’s action has had both on sport inAustralia and as a symbol of pride forIndigenous Australians,” said MatthewKlugman, guest curator of the exhibition.“It’s hard to think of a more importantpopular Australian image over the last twodecades. It’s up there with the 1968 BlackPower Salute as a defining image of race andsport, and its enduring significance can beseen in the way it continues to be shown overand over again.”Despite the TV cameras missing themoment, photographers Wayne Ludbey andJohn Feder captured the gesture on film andtheir poignant images, which nowfeature in the exhibition, werepublished the following day inMelbourne newspapers.“It was a very courageousand symbolic thing thatWinmar did,” saidLudbey, a recent MCGMedia Hall of Fameinductee who was aSunday Age photographerat the time.Australia’ssporting coloursuncoveredAustralian sporting teams have beenwearing the green and gold for morethan a century, but those colours have notalways been the first choice of Australiansporting teams.From late-July the National SportsMuseum will showcase a rare and valuablecollection of artefacts illustrating theevolution of green and gold as Australia’snational sporting colours.More than Green and Gold: Australia’sSporting Colours will capture the longjourney of “green and gold”, from 19thcentury experiments with the nationalcolour palette through to the contemporaryuse of the colours to define the broaderAustralian identity.In addition to featuring rare Australiansporting uniforms from the past 130 years,the exhibition also demonstrates how thegreen and gold colours have extendedbeyond sport to be adopted in commercialproducts, political campaigns, artworksand costumes.John Howard’s green and gold tracksuit,the 1999 “yes” republic campaign and the“Australian Made” symbol are just some ofthe examples included in the exhibition toreflect the broader use of the colours.“Our national colours, green and gold,owe their origins to the Australian cricketteam back in 1899, so it’s fitting that theexhibition’s opening coincides with theAshes series in England,” said NSMcurator Helen Walpole.“Interestingly, the oldest knownexisting piece of Australian team uniformis a pink and black sash from theAustralian cricketers of 1880, so theexhibition really illustrates the journey ofgreen and gold as Australia’s officialsporting colours.”Coincidentally, 2013 marks 30 yearssince the green and gold boxingkangaroo received national andinternational prominence when itserved as the symbol for the successfulAustralian challenge for the America’sCup in 1983.Access to view More than Green andGold: Australia’s Sporting Colours isincluded in standard museum entryand is open from July 29 untilApril next year.left: This AustralasianRugby Leaguerepresentative honourcap, worn by Bob Craigin 1910-12, combinesthe colours of NSW,Queensland and NewZealand.March July 2012 2013MCC NEWS15

club sportShooters onworld stageTwo members of the MCC’s TargetShooting Section have been chosen torepresent Australia in the FederationInternationale de Tir aux Armes Sportivesde Chasse (FITASC) World Sporting ClayChampionships in Spain in July.Renae Birgan, 29, and 19-year-old JackGibbs will head to Castillejo de Robledo tocompete against a field of around 1000target shooters from 34 nations.For the experienced Birgan (picturedhere), it will be her 11th FITASCchampionships. She will be hoping to goone step further than her most recentappearance, when she missed out on thegold medal by just one shot.“I have been looking forward to thesechampionships since firing my final shotat last year’s world championships, aftercoming so close to achieving my ultimategoal,” Birgan explained.Gibbs is the current world championin the junior field having won gold inlast year’s junior FITASC World Cupin Chicago.Many happy memoriesas “Doc” enters thenervous ninetiesMCC Honorary Life member Ian“Doc” McDonald was one ofVictoria’s leading anaesthetists formore than four decades but, turning 90 (July28) and relating some of his extraordinarylife experiences, he wouldn’t put anyone tosleep.The Doc has been part of the MCC scenesince his grandfather took him into theReserve to watch the cricket as a six-year-old.His cousin Keith Rigg, later a Test playerand MCC vice-president, was 15 or so yearsolder and presented young Ian with a pairof wicketkeeping gloves when he was stillat Glen Iris State School, so his path was setfrom an early age.From secondary school Ian won ascholarship to Scotch College and thenanother scholarship to Melbourne Universitywhere he studied medicine and played cricket,opening the batting several years before hisyoung “nipper” Colin and so preparing theTest match path for “CC”.After graduating, he transferred fromUniversity to the MCC and in 1948 wasselected to play for Victoria. He sat behindthe stumps for five years, retiring in 1953 totake up a post at Oxford to further his careerin anaesthesia.In England he played, inter alia, with SouthOxfordshire Amateurs. “The standard ofcricket wasn’t great,” recalled the Doc, “butthe amateurs were noted for their magnificentend-of-season dinners which always featuredtop-line speakers.”The seed had been sown and on return toMelbourne in 1955 Ian, who took on theMCC Second XI captaincy, was keen to createHockey masters step upWith more than 1000 hockey matchesbetween them, three veryexperienced MCC Hockey Section players- Janet Driver, Fay Stow and CarolynAyres (pictured) - flew to Auckland torepresent Australia in the 2013 TransTasman Hockey Masters Challenge in May.The biannual event between Australiaand New Zealand comprises six women’steams and five men’s teams competing ina number of age divisions.Fay Stow and Carolyn Ayres both cameaway from the challenge with a goldmedal in the over-60s division and saidthe dream to represent their countrywouldn’t have been possible without thesupport of the hockey section.a similar environment. So, with the assistanceof newly appointed secretary Ian Johnson,recently retired from Test cricket, the MCC’sXXIX Club made its debut in 1956. Itremains a leading social cricket organisationto this day.The annual dinners started with a bang,with Lindsay Hassett, Bob Menzies andArthur Calwell among the early speakers.“For obvious reasons Johnno was a great helpin attracting our speakers and I suspect thesuccess of the venture was why I was asked tojoin the general committee,” was Ian’s modestassessment.The good doctor served from 1957 to 1965and it was quite an experience. “They seemedvery old. The president Charlie Simmondswas over 90 and I was 30 years younger thanany of them.”The McDonald list of accomplishments islong and distinguished. Not only did he foundthe XXIX Club, he also was the principalbehind the establishment of the MCC HockeySection in 1961, having been introduced tothe game during his time at Scotch.Today there are more than 350 XXIX Clubmembers and the hockey numbers arestunning – 400-plus registered players fromages four to 77 turning out for the section in26 teams, which means Doc has endowed theclub generally with quite a legacy.First and foremost, however, he was ananaesthetist, a senior man in his field with aparticular affinity with the Royal Children’sHospital where he was engaged “full-time,half-time or part-time” throughout his career.But that’s another story. Happy birthday,Doc.“We would specially like to thank thesection and the MCC for their continuedsupport of masters hockey. We couldn’thave reached this level without theirbacking.”Congratulations, ladies!16 MCC NEWS July 2013

function newsSmith Oration is forginga fine reputationThe Norm Smith Oration in the MembersDining Room on June 5 was anothertop-of-the-ladder treat for footballaficionados.Honouring one of our finest footballers andthe legendary coach of Melbourne during itsgolden years, the annual oration is a tribute toour great national game. Hosted by Tim Laneand watched on by Norm Smith’s son Peter andgranddaughter Felicity, this year’s speakers bothdeserved three votes for their contribution.Acclaimed breakfast radio host RossStevenson’s proposal of the toast to football wasmuch anticipated and this brilliant teller of taleskicked goal after goal for an appreciativeaudience.Not so his current hero, Buddy Franklin,however, who has “the goalkicking skills of RayCharles”.In a touching love letter to footy, the Hawkloyalist recalled his days as a centreman with“the Uni Reds … the softies” who played in theamateurs competition but were never opposedby the likes of Old Scotch with their manicuredovals.“No, we were in F Grade – clearly there wasno G Grade – and we were playing at placeslike Glenroy and Thomastown. I remember wehad to play at Coolaroo in the only year thatside played before being kicked out of thecompetition.”The recollections went on, always withhumour and underscoring his love of the gameand all that surrounds it. He thanked footy forgiving us the expression “yeah, no” as theanswer to every question.One day his coach asked the players to lineup on the wing alphabetically and in order ofheight. He thought today’s match review panelwas “the AFL’s answer to the Marx Brothers”and the video review system for goal umpiresreceived a similarcanning.It was anoutstandingaddress, as wasDavid Parkin’s,albeit without thewisecracks.“Parko” startedby recalling hisdays as arusted-onDemonssupporter from the age of seven.He subsequently enjoyed eight finals seriesand five flags (“How good was that?”) beforezoning decreed he was recruited by Hawthornas an 18-year-old.He recalled meeting all the Melbourneplayers as a kid and being mesmerised bywatching Norm Smith on a match day. “All theplayers loved him and he loved all his players.”Given his continuing role as supporter, player,coach (four clubs), AFL adviser andcommentator, David has happily been in theembrace of the VFL/AFL system for more thansix decades and has attended 65 consecutivegrand finals, including two replays. Beat that!“I’ve been sacked as coach four times andlost three grand finals, but my passion for thegame has never dwindled.”The voice level started to rise at this pointand we geared up for the vein-popping,evangelistic outpouring that is typical of theman who thinks so deeply about the game thatLEFT: Our guest speakers at theNorm Smith Oration, David Parkin(left) and Ross Stevenson (centre),with MCC president Paul Sheahan.ABOVE: Parkin graces the stage.most of us simply watch and enjoy.A few points to take away: Football is “themost difficult invasion game in the world” andconsequently it was “the most difficult game toumpire”. Despite some negativity, “more peopleare playing than ever before.”He supports any rule changes to protect theplayer, particularly around the head – “it’s atough enough game as it is” – and noted thatwhile some players used to run about 20kmduring a game, rotations had nearly halved thatnumber. However, their time on the ground wasrun at a much more hectic pace.A final concern was about clubs takingplayers “too young at 18, when a kid’s stillstudying.” Leave him until next year, when he’sgrown up a bit more, was the message. And “wemust prepare players for life after footy from thefirst day they come to the club, and not enoughclubs are doing that.”Well played, Ross and David.A great night with GrossiAfter two highly successful celebrity chefdinners in 2012, the club was delightedto offer members and guests the opportunityto attend this year’s Long Room Dinner withGuy Grossi on June 27.With close to 350 registrations for thedinner, the club conducted a ballot toconfirm the lucky 160 diners who had theprivilege of enjoying the exceptionaltailor-made menu presented on the night.Grossi put together a mouth-watering,five-course menu with matching wines, pluscanapés and petit-fours. The Long Roomcomplemented the menu beautifully andeach table was adorned with a colourfulwooden crate of fresh market produce andwild flowers.Members and guests had the opportunityto hear from Grossi in a question and answersession following the fourth course.He spoke passionately about hischildhood in Melbourne and hislove of food and cooking, sayingthat he would be the only kid on thestreet to immediately put the footyor cricket bat away when he heardhis mother calling him for dinner.Genuinely humbled by theinvitation to prepare a meal at theMCG, Grossi also spoke about theinspiration behind the evening’smenu and how it was acombination of enjoying foods thatare in season, along with dishes that arealways popular at his Grossi Florentinorestaurant in Melbourne’s CBD.As his incredible “La Mela di Murano”dessert, inspired by the glass blowers ofMurano, was served Grossi took the time towander through the room and speak to thediners. There was no doubt that his culinarypassion transcended into the delectable mealhe prepared on the night.Renowned chef Guy Grossi (second from right)and his team prepared a gourmet offering fora Long Room filled with members and guestson June 27.July 2013MCC NEWS17

function newsAnd a good time was had by all...We take our hats off to the MCCfunctions people for the tremendouswork they do in providing such a widevariety of quality events for members to attend.In the past few months we’ve dined with anexpert football panel, laughed with comedians,remembered the fallen, enjoyed the companyof MFC members, revelled in the offerings of aleading chef, saddled up for the footy with ourracing mates at the VRC and prepared to headto Flemington for a raceday function.Something for everyone among that lot,we suspect, and they’ve been roundlysupported by members.The MCG Footy Season Launch Luncheon inMarch boasted a star-studded cast at compereTim Lane’s disposal – Port Adelaidepremiership coach Mark Williams, Geelongpremiership skipper Tom Harley, broadcasterBruce McAvaney and journalist Sam Lane,Tim’s daughter.On April 12 we staged the second ComedyBlockbuster at the ’G in the Members DiningRoom where more than 500 members andguests spent a side-splitting hour or sowith our top comedians in Dave Hughes,Peter Helliar, Rachel Berger, Colin Laneand Claire Hooper.A full house also attended the first Comedy@ the ’G for 2013 on July 6 in the lead up to theGeelong Cats v Hawthorn blockbuster.Xavier Michelides got the ball rolling as hostand soon had the crowd well and truly warmedup for the introduction of comedian LindaBeatty. Linda’s amazing vocal talents andharp-playing skills, combined with her comicgenius, had the crowd in hysterics. FinallyLawrence Mooney hit the stage and kept thecrowd laughing all the way to the starting sirenwith his wit and uncanny impersonations.It’s more than a pity that Melbourne has hadsuch a turbulent and unsuccessful season fromthe outset. However, the three events for MFC/MCC dual members on April 13 (West CoastEagles), May 19 (Richmond) and June 29(Western Bulldogs) were well supported andthis has proven to be a most worthwhileinitiative.The Jim Stynes Room functions featureluncheon or dinner with afternoon tea orsupper, pre-match drinks and first-classentertainment. Former Demons RobertFlower, Stephen Tingay, Rodney Grinter andGeoff Case were just some of those whoaddressed the audience at these events.Similarly, an MCC/VRC Members’ Lounge isa joint venture aimed at forging closerrelationships between the reciprocal clubs. Itoffers a varied, fun package and memberscould bring up to four guests for a great dayat the footy, again in the Jim Stynes Room.An impressive 340 attendees attended thefunction on May 5 prior to the Carlton-Melbourne football match. A mix of MCC andVRC members and their guests cheeredpassionately for both teams, creating a greatatmosphere in the room.The now almost-traditional YoungMembers Ball was held on Anzac Eve, asell-out affair as usual, but before the revelrygot under way members and guests listenedrespectfully to a thoughtful Anzac-themedaddress by Dr Robert Webster, a Vietnamveteran and senior vice-president of RSLAustralia.Speaking of the links between the fourgenerations of our diggers and theimportance of mateship through war, DrWebster highlighted the great work done byour current and past servicemen and women.He also touched on the importance ofensuring that the legacy of Anzac Dayremains an integral part of Australians’ lives.And as we went to press an MCC contingentwas planning a day at headquarters withtheir VRC counterparts under the WinterRace Day banner. Good punting!18 MCC NEWS July 2013

function newsJuly 2013MCC NEWS19

function newsThe Bradman Luncheon Plenty of laughs at the ‘GFormer Australian leg-spinner Stuart MacGill will be our guest speakerat The Bradman Luncheon in the Members Dining Room on August27, the day on which “The Don” would have celebrated his 105th birthday.In another era, MacGill would arguably have forged an even moreimpressive Test career than his 208 wickets from 44 matches. As it was,he was a fine understudy to the great Shane Warne, his record including12 five-wicket hauls.Hosted by Gerard Whateley, this all-inclusive three-course luncheonhonours Australia’s greatest cricketer and is not to be missed by anycricket enthusiast.Bookings opened on July 9 and, as we went to press, a limitednumber of spotsremained. Bookingscan be made via theclub’s website or inperson at theMembership ServicesOffice.the bradman luncheonWHEN: Tuesday August 27TIME:12.00pm for 12.30pmWHERE: Members Dining RoomCOST:$110 (members)$125 (guests)Looking to ease your pre-match nerves before theblockbuster between Hawthorn and Collingwood onAugust 16? Then head along to Comedy @ the ‘G and laughalong with some of Australia’s top comics while enjoying atwo-hour, pre-game snack food and beverage package.Jeff Green, Zara Swindells-Grose and Kevin Kropinyeriwill grace the stage in the Hans Ebeling Room prior to the footy.Members may bring a maximum of one guest and mustensure that their guests have purchased a visitor ticket forentry into the Reserve. A reserved seat on Level 2 to watchthe match is included in the package.Bookings arenow open, soget in quickly ascomedy @ the ‘Gthis functionis sure to be asell-out.WHEN:TIME:Friday August 165.40pm (match commencesat 7.50pm)WHERE: Hans Ebeling RoomCOST:$40 per personyour Functions calendarThere’s a broad range of entertaining functions to cater for members during the next six months.Please mark your diaries and keep an eye on the club website, email newsletters and social media for updates during the year.DAY DATE FUNCTION BOOKINGS OPEN VENUESaturday August 10 Young Members’ Footy Function (Rich v Bris) Book now Jim Stynes RoomWednesday August 14 MCC Annual General Meeting n/A Members Dining RoomThursday August 15 Long Room Wine and Food Dinner – all MCC members Book now Members Dining RoomFriday August 16 Comedy @ the ‘G (Haw v Coll) Book now Hans Ebeling RoomSaturday August 17 Women in Football Function (Rich v Carl) Book now committee RoomTuesday August 27 The Bradman Luncheon Book now Members Dining RoomMonday September 23 Brownlow Dinner with the Coodabeens august 6-8 Members Dining RoomWednesday September 25 MCC XXIX Club Annual Dinner n/A Members Dining RoomFriday September 27 Grand Final Eve Dining Book now Members Dining Room/Long Roomcommittee RoomWednesday November 13 MCC Sporting Sections Annual Dinner n/A Members Dining RoomFriday November 15 MCC 175th Anniversary Gala august 20 MCGWednesday November 20 Members’ Golf Day october 1-18 Victoria Golf ClubThursday November 28 Annual 50-Year Members’ Luncheon n/A Members Dining RoomFriday November 29 Annual 50-Year Members’ Luncheon n/A Members Dining RoomTBC tBC Members’ Dinner october 15 Members Dining RoomWednesday December 25 Christmas Day Luncheon Book now Members Dining RoomThursday December 26 Boxing Day Breakfast october 15-17 Members Dining RoomFriday December 27 Women in Cricket Test Breakfast october 15 Members Dining RoomFor bookings and the latest information on club functions, please visit mcc.org.au or contact the club on (03) 9657 8888.20 MCC NEWS July 2013

function newsBoxing Day Breakfastthe place to beThere is no better way to prepare for the first day of the MCGTest than to enjoy breakfast in the Members Dining Room onBoxing Day morning. It’s the perfect way to begin our biggestday of cricket for the year.While a guest speaker is yet to be confirmed, the annual eventalways produces some top-notch entertainment. Last year ourguest speakers included former Australian all-rounder DougWalters and current paceman James Pattinson.Being an Ashes year, it is expected that this function will beextremely popular. To ensure all members have an equalopportunity to attend, a ballot will be conducted. Registrationswill be acceptedfrom TuesdayOctober 15 at9.00am untilThursday October17 at 5.00pm.Level 2 reservedseats are includedin the package.Members maybring one guestand are remindedto purchase visitortickets prior to thefunction opening toensure groundentry, as they areexpected to sellout before thebig event.Boxing Day BreakfastWHEN: Thursday December 26TIME:7.30am – 9.30amWHERE:Members Dining RoomCOST:$85 (members)$95 (guests)Pad up forMembers’ DinnerThe Members’ Dinner returns later this year, with anothermemorable night in store in the Members Dining Room.This annual event is a members-only, black-tie occasion and is amust-attend for cricket connoisseurs.While a date for the event had not been confirmed as we went topress, bookings will open on Tuesday October 15 at 9.00am.The list of speakers since the function’s inception in 1994 is a who’swho of cricket. Last year Matthew Hayden gave a personal andpassionate account of his experiences within the world of cricket, fromthe friendships he made through to how life on the road enhanced hislove of life and food.This prestigious evening will include canapés on arrival and athree-course meal with fine wines and beverages. Guest speakerannouncements will be made via the MCC website in the coming weeks.Tickets cost $125 per member and bookings will be accepted on afirst-in, first-served basis.Women in CricketTest BreakfastThe annual Women in Cricket Test Breakfast will again be held inthe Members Dining Room on Day 2 of the Boxing Day Test.Last year attendees were entertained by former Australianwicketkeeper Ian Healy, who shared some entertaining anecdotesfrom behind the stumps, and two of our most talented femalecricketers, Meg Lanning and Jess Cameron.While this year’s line-up is yet to be confirmed, it is sure to beanother entertaining occasion.Members are welcome to bring up to two guests (of either gender).The breakfast package includes a reserved seat on Level 2 of theMembers Reserve.Bookings will be taken from 9.00am on Tuesday October 15 on afirst-in, first-servedbasis. Members mustensure they prepurchasevisitortickets for theirguests as a functionbooking does notadmit guests into theMembers Reserve.Forget Crown Palladium. On Brownlow Medal night the MCG isthe place to be with the Coodabeen Champions filling theMembers Dining Room with their usual mixture of football banter,satirical songwriting and role-playing hilarity.Members may each bring up to four guests for this annualblockbuster, which includes a three-course meal, non-stopentertainment and live crosses to the Brownlow Medal telecast.What better way to kick off grand final week!Due to theoverwhelmingpopularity of thisfunction, a ballotwill be conducted togive all members afair chance ofattending.Registrations willbe taken fromTuesday August 6 at9.00am untilThursday August 8at 5.00pm via theclub website orby phone on(03) 9657 8888.Women in CricketTest BreakfastWHEN: Friday December 27TIME:7.30am – 9.30amWHERE:Members Dining RoomCOST:$80 (members)$90 (guests)Coodabeens are BIT(Back In Town)Brownlow Dinnerwith the CoodabeensWHEN: Monday September 23TIME:7.00pm for 7.30pmWHERE:Members Dining RoomCOST:$120 (members)$140 (guests)July 2013MCC NEWS21

function newsYou’re all invited!As part of the MCC’s 175th anniversary celebrations, the Long RoomWine and Food Society is staging a special dinner in the MembersDining Room on Thursday August 15 and all MCC members are invitedto attend.It will be a double celebration because the wines are coming from thehighly regarded Grampians Region, which is celebrating its own milestoneof 150 years since the first vines were planted at Great Western in 1863.The Grampians Wine Region includes household names such asSeppelt, Best’s and Mt Langi Ghiran and smaller wineries will also berepresented.Guest speaker at the dinner will be winemaking legend Ian McKenzie,perhaps the most senior wine judge in the country.The Epicure chefs are excited by the challenge to prepare amenu befitting the occasion so you can count on extraordinary cuisineto match theimpressive line-upof wines.All MCC membersmay bring a guest andbookings can now bemade online via the clubwebsite.Long Room Wine andFood Society Dinnerfor MCC MembersWHEN: Thursday August 15TIME:7.00pm for 7.30pmWHERE: Members Dining RoomCOST:$120 per personLunch at the ’Gon Grand Final EveLimited space remains in the Members Dining Room and LongRoom for the traditional Grand Final Eve Luncheon on FridaySeptember 27. The Committee Room is now booked out.On the eve of the biggest day on the AFL calendar, members andguests are invited to enjoy a three-course lunch and three-and-ahalf-hourbeverage package comprising beer, wine, sparkling andsoft drinks. A post-luncheon cash bar will operate in the PercyBeames Bar.Please note that the normal Members Dining Room/Long Roomdress regulations apply.Cost is $102 per adult and $66 for children. For bookings andenquiries, please ring the club on (03) 9657 8888.Spoil the family withan MCG ChristmasWhile Santa entertains the children, parents can relax this Christmasby leaving all the festive duties in the capable and creative hands ofEpicure at the MCG.Held in the Members Dining Room on the eve of the Boxing Day Test,members and guests can enjoy a menu jam-packed with Christmas Dayfavourites such as seafood, turkey, pork and plum pudding.The three-course lunch will comprise a plated seafood entrée, a choiceof two plated main dishes and a buffet dessert accompanied by finewines, sparkling, beerand soft drink. Themenu is available toview now on the clubwebsite.Bookings are nowopen and will be takenuntil Friday December13 unless sold outbeforehand.CHRISTMAS DAY LUNCHWHEN: Wednesday December 25TIME:11.45am for 12.30pmWHERE: Members Dining RoomCOST:$170 (adults)$135 (children 12-17)$40 (children 4-11)Infants free of charge22 MCC NEWS July 2013

MEMBERS’ NEWSCricket duohonoured onQueen’s BirthdayTwenty-two MCC members werehonoured in the 2013 Queen’s Birthdayhonours list, with two notable cricketidentities among them.Former MCC vice-president andchairman of cricket, Bob Lloyd (right),was awarded a Medal of the Order ofAustralia (OAM) for “service to cricket asa player, coach, and administrator”.When measured on that score, few aremore worthy of recognition.Among his lengthy list of cricket duties,Bob served as chairman of selectors(1991-2002), coached the club for sixseasons, played almost 100 First XImatches, was a member of the MCCCricket Sub-Committee for nearly 30 yearsand was a long-standing Cricket Victoriadelegate. He was also a member of SouthAustralia’s 1963/64 Sheffield Shieldwinningteam and was vice-president ofCricket Victoria from 1993 to 1997.Robert “Swan” Richards was awardedhis OAM for service to cricket and to youthafter presiding as the co-founder,administrator and director of the CrusadersCricket Club since 1977. Universally knownin cricket circles as “Swan”, Richards wasinvolved with the establishment in 2006 ofthe Crusaders-Merv Hughes Foundation,a coaching and development program foryoung cricket players across the westernsuburbs.The full list of MCC members in this year’shonours list appears below:Members’ GolfDay returns toVictoriaThe club’s next Members’ Golf Day willreturn to Victoria Golf Club for the first timesince 2007 when it is held on WednesdayNovember 20.Victoria was ranked the ninth-best coursein the country in last year’s Australian GolfDigest’s Top 100 Australian Courses andmembers are invited to tackle thechallenging layout.After a tough day competing for thePresident’s Plate, participants can relax andenjoy a gourmet barbeque, drinks and prizes.Members may choose between a morningand afternoon session. Entrants must holdeither a club, VGA or WGV official handicap.Registrations open on Tuesday October 1and close on Friday October 18 at 5.00pm.Should numbers exceed capacity in eithersession, a ballot will be conducted.Please visit the MCC website for further details.AO (General Division)CATO, Dr Kenneth WillisFREEMANTLE, James MalcolmAM (General Division)AIKEN, Phillip StanleyASHLEY, Hon Justice David JohnGALBALLY, David Norman QCPOWELL, DesmondOAM (General Division)COLLETT, William JamesCRAWFORD, SueHAWKINS, Phoebe RuthHAWLEY, Dr Douglas ElwynLLOYD, Robert GrantleyMcINNES, Assoc Prof Ian EdgeworthNICHOLAS, Joan MargeryPROCEL, HarryRICHARDS, Robert Milton SwanTUDOR, Edward RichardWHITE, Peter EverettWHITNEY, David GrenfellPSM (Public Service Medal)LYNCH, Dr John Adrian (Victorian)NELMS, James Williams (Victorian)Australian Police Service Medal (APM)GREEN, Supt Philip RichardAustralian Fire Service Medal (AFSM)HOWLETT, Andrew MelvilleMembers’ Golf DayDo you know of an MCC member featured in this year’s honours list who is notacknowledged here? If so, please email us at membership@mcc.org.au.WHEN: Wednesday November 20tee TIME: 8.00am or 1.00pmWHERE: Victoria Golf ClubCOST:$160 per memberFather’s Day jewellery offerFor almost two centuries the MCC has beenan integral part of Melbourne life.Comprising members from all walks of life,each is proud of their membership and proudto pass on the tradition to their sons anddaughters.Continue the tradition with an MCCjewellery gift this Father’s Day and thank dadfor all those precious shared times.Each item of exclusive MCC jewellery ishand-crafted locally and takes 4-5 weeks tocreate. For Father’s Day gifts, please placeyour order as soon as possible to ensuretimely delivery.Special offer: To commemorate theMCC 175th anniversary, Signet Circle,official licensed MCC jeweller, is offeringfree engraving on rings – “2013 - 175Years” on the inside of the band or theMCC 175 logo on the outside of the ring.View the full range on display at theMembership Services Office insideGate 2 or online at mcc.org.au usingyour member login.Orders and enquiries are invited viaSignet Circle on 03 9509 5803 or emailinfo@signetcircle.com.au.July 2013MCC NEWS23

MEMBERS’ NEWSYour 2013 Afl Finals arrangementsGrand FinalThe Members Reserve’s capacity of about22,500 will be available for the 2013 AFLGrand Final on Saturday September 28and Full members are strongly encouragedto support the match. Please check detailsof seating arrangements and the reservedseat ballot in the information sheetaccompanying your recent renewalnotice mailing.While Restricted members are ineligibleto attend the grand final, if the Reserveappears likely to be at less than capacity, alimited number of entry tickets may be soldeither in the week leading up to the grandfinal or on the morning of the match.The Reserve will again be split intoapproximately 55 per cent reserved seats and45 per cent walk-up seats for the grand final.About 12,500 pre-purchased reserved seatsare set aside for successful applicants in arandom computer ballot and the remainderwill be available for walk-up members whengates open at 8.00am.Early FinalsThe Reserve will operate as per the home andaway season during the first three weeks ofthe AFL finals series, starting on FridaySeptember 6, with the majority of seatingavailable on a walk-up basis. Reserved seatswill also be available.Visitor TicketsThe number of visitor tickets available forearly finals will depend on the expectedpopularity of each game. Up to four permember may be available.Tickets will go on sale at 12.00pm on theMonday preceding the weekend’s game/s.They will be available through Ticketek orfrom the Membership Services Office at theground (9.00am-5.00pm, Mon-Fri) and,subject to availability, at the members’entrance on match days.Reserved seatsMore than 5000 reserved seats on levels 1 and4 will be available for members and theirguests for matches in the first three weeks ofthe AFL finals. The reserved seats will go onsale to members at 12.00pm on the Mondaypreceding the weekend’s game/s.DiningBallot registrations for the Members DiningRoom will be taken via website or phone from9.00am to 5.00pm on the Tuesday precedingthe particular match/es in the first three weeksof the finals series. For the grand final, the ballotwill be held on Monday September 23 from9.00am to 5.00pm.Members are only entitled to one registrationin the ballot. Duplicate registrations will beexcluded. A reserved seat on Level 2 is part ofthe Members Dining Room package during theearly finals but this does not apply for thegrand final.All other dining conditions that existedduring the home and away season will applyduring the finals.Long Room and Balcony PassesDepending on the expected popularityof matches, the club may releaseLong Room and Balcony passes forsome finals matches if we believe thesemember-only areas could comfortablyaccommodate some guests.If this is the case, members will beadvised via email that advance applicationsvia the website will open at 9.00am on theTuesday preceding the weekend’s game/sand close at 5.00pm the same day.As the finals draw closer, you can stayabreast of the latest information throughthe club’s website and email updates,as well as our Twitter and Facebook pages.MEMBER INTAKE FOR 2013/14At its meeting in July 2013 the MCC Committeeelected to Full membership existing Restrictedmembers who were nominated on the waiting listbetween July 1, 1989 and December 31, 1989inclusive.Waiting list candidates nominated from November1, 1995 to March 31, 1996 inclusive have been offeredRestricted or Restricted Junior membership.MEMBERSHIP RENEWALSExisting financial members for the 2012/13 season should already havereceived their renewal notice for the coming season, which commenceson September 1, 2013.Payment of subscription renewals is due from September 1.Those wishing to attend matches on the weekend of AFL Round 23(Sunday September 1) and finals matches in September must pay theirsubscription at least two business days in advance for their membershipcard to be valid at the turnstiles on match day.24 MCC NEWS July 2013