our great sporting moments remembered - Melbourne Cricket Club

More documents

Recommendations

Info

CLUB NEWSIT’S AN ACTION-PACKEDEXPERIENCEOne of the most appealing features of the NationalSports Museum is the use of sound and action footageto bring various displays to life.On opening day, as one of the Legends of the Sport AustraliaHall of Fame, Betty Cuthbert was able to see footage of herselfhurtling down the track to win gold at the Games in 1956.A few metres away, there was a priceless cache of her medalsand equipment on display in the Olympic exhibition. Bettythought the new museum was “just wonderful”, a couple ofwords that also describe our Golden Girl’s achievements andher ability to battle on despite long-term disability.In the huge football exhibition, Australia’s Game, championEssendon ruckman Simon Madden saw himself tapping the ballperfectly in the 1984 Grand Final.And Ron Barassi was chuckling as he watched an old World ofSport clip of the handball competition, where his effort with theleft hand failed to even hit the board, let alone the bull’s-eye!Around the corner, guests were listening to early footballbroadcasts at the push of a button, a simple device but illustrativeof the impact modern technology can have in today’s museums.The message is that the NSM is a non-stop entertainmentexperience, as reverent or as racy as you want it to be, full ofpriceless material but also full of fun.We suggest you plan a visit soon.A GENEROUSGESTURECommissioned by David andDiana Jones and generouslydonated by them to the club,Alex Zubryn’s painting of the newMCG captures what the ground is allabout – providing the finest facilitiesfor people to watch sport.The work is large (3.5m x 2.5m)and commanding, drawing the viewerwith a sense of fun as Great SouthernStand terrace patrons watch thecricket and take in the new grandstandbeyond. The painting is hangingprominently near the lifts on Level 3.The function to unveil the paintingwas an opportune occasion to presentformer president David with anembossed photo album featuring imagesfrom his time at the helm and theredevelopment work under his watch.FREEMAN STORYFEATUREDPerhaps our most charismatic femaleathlete for decades and a NationalSports Museum ambassador,Catherine Freeman is well representedat the MCG.On display in the Olympic exhibitionuntil September 30 is the Swift SuitCatherine wore winning the 400m atSydney, while a temporary exhibitiontraces her life from school days.The Freeman story is one of triumphover adversity, a journey from outbackQueensland to international stardom, butit’s the next phase of her life that Catherineis now keen to promote.She has established the CatherineFreeman Foundation with a charter to“create pathways to a brighter future”,specifically through fostering thedevelopment of indigenous athletes andstarting with the kids on Palm Island, towhich her mother’s family is closelyconnected.The Freeman display includes somemarvellous photographs and objects froma stellar career. There’s the outfit shewore when lighting the flame at Sydney,the Edwin Flack Award for services toNSM guides John Kerley (right) and 50-yearmember Bruce Gregory admire CatherineFreeman’s Swift Suit, on display in theOlympic exhibition.athletics, childhood trophies and even thekey to the City of Bundaberg! It’s wellworth a look.14 MCC NEWSJULY 2008
MCC SPREADS ITS WINGSThe MCC has furtherestablished its cricketlinks in Asia followinga successful tour of Japan andHong Kong in May.The primary aim of thetour was to promote anddevelop the game in Japanthrough coaching, education,promotion and the playing ofmatches. It was also awonderful opportunity tovisit our reciprocal club, theHong Kong Cricket Club,while in the region.Japan is an associatemember of the InternationalCricket Council (ICC) and issituated in the ICC East Asia-Pacific (EAP) region, alongwith Australia. The MCCFoundation’s charter includesa commitment to fosteringthe development of cricket athome and overseas and inrecent years has workedclosely with the ICC EAPregion to develop strategiesto enhance that commitment.They have includedcollections of used cricketequipment during the BoxingDay Test matches, hostingplayers from developingcricket nations and touring,such as the visit to Vanuatuin 2006 and now Japan.Led by MCC cricket andsporting sections coordinatorSteven McCooke, a 17-strongtouring party that included amix of current and formerMCC Premier cricketers andMCC members who playwith other Premier clubs,departed Australia on April30 and spent a week inOsaka and Fuji in Japanbefore visiting Hong Kongon the way home.The visit was also a timelyone, given the City of Osakawas celebrating the 30thanniversary of its sister cityrelationship with the City ofMelbourne.The mayor of Osaka, MrHiramitsu, and Osaka CityCouncil president MrAshitaka were generous hostsand the club returned thehospitality when the mayorvisited Melbournein July.The City of Osaka leant itsfull support to the JapanCricket Association inassisting the set up of twocoaching clinics run by theMCC touring party, plus anevening session and a fullday of cricket activitiesattended by 80-100 localcitizens, mainly teenage boysand girls.The MCC played twomatches against the Japanesenational team in Fuji,providing them with valuablematch practice in their leadup to an internationaltournament.According to McCooke, thetour was a raging success.“We achieved ourobjectives and forgedrelationships which were athree-way thing between theMCC, JCA and City ofOsaka that will be invaluablein the future.“The tour was a wonderfulexperience for our youngercricketers to be involved ingrowing the game in aforeign country.”And how good are thecricket skills of the locals?According to Steven, cricketat the junior level is still in“the embryonic stage ofdevelopment” but itsnational team was still goodenough to win one of the twomatches.The tour was rounded offwith a high-quality matchagainst Hong Kong CC, wonby the hosts in the final over.Their hospitality lived upto its legendary first-classstatus!NEW COACH A TOP APPOINTMENTThe MCC has appointed formerAustralian and Queenslandbowler Adam Dale as captaincoachfor the next two years.Adam played two Tests for Australiain 1998/99 and 32 one-day internationals,while also compiling five SheffieldShield/Pura Cup victories with Queenslandafter moving from Victoria early inhis career.Since retiring from first-class cricket,Adam returned to Victoria after oneseason as coach of Queensland’sWynnum Manly Cricket Club (2002/03).He then forged a successful playing andleadership record at Bundoora OldParadians in the Victorian Sub-DistrictCricket Association.“Adam brings many skills to the club,including his ability as a bowler and aproven on-field leader of people,” saidMCC cricket chairman Bob Lloyd. “Weare confident he will complement thecurrent group of talented players at theclub as we strive for the ultimate goal ofa First XI premiership.”The First XI will be looking to atonefor last season’s spectacular finalsfadeout whenthe PremierCricket seasoncommences onOctober 4. Theclub will need tocover the loss ofits wicketkeeperPeter Nevill,who has accepteda two-yearcontract withNew SouthWales.JULY 2008 MCC NEWS15
Page 5 and 6: FOOTY’S HALL OFFAME FINDS ITSRIGH
Page 8 and 9: CLUB NEWSHE’S ALWAYS BEENA LEGEND
Page 10 and 11: CLUB NEWSGIFFEN, HEALYENTER HALL OF
Page 12 and 13: CLUB NEWSMANY TREASURES AWAITVISITO
Page 16: CLUB NEWSHARMAN CALLED UPTO THE BIG
Page 20 and 21: FUNCTION NEWSFUNCTIONS CALENDARDAY
Page 22 and 23: MEMBERS’ NEWSNEW MCC WEBSITEMembe
Page 24: MEMBERS’ NEWSYOUR 2008 AFL FINALS

our great sporting moments remembered - Melbourne Cricket Club

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

Delete template?

Save as template?