our great sporting moments remembered - Melbourne Cricket Club

MEMBERS HAVEA BALL AT CLUBFUNCTIONSThe cooler months haven’tdampened the sprit of ourmembers, with a busy calendarof social events and functions for allto enjoy.It seems a long time ago, but onMarch 19 almost 350 members andguests attended the MCG Footy SeasonLaunch Luncheon in the MembersDining Room. ABC commentator andTV personality Gerard Whateley set thescene for the season ahead and gave awarm endorsement of the NationalSports Museum (see pages 12-13).Following what, in hindsight, was anoptimistic interview with Melbourne’sgeneral manager football operationsChris Connolly about the Demons’chances, a panel of retired footy stars –Nathan Buckley, Luke Darcy and BrianTaylor – discussed the big issues andmade their predictions for the season.The inaugural Young Members AnzacEve Ball was held in the MembersDining Room on Thursday April 24.This was the first time the club hadhosted a ball for young members agedbetween 18 and 40, and it proved to bea huge success with nearly 500 membersand guests in attendance.Hosted by MCC committeemanWill Fowles, the crowd was addressedby RSL appeals director Peter SmithOAM who gave a stirring addresshighlighting the incredible sacrificesAustralian soldiers have made in thepast, paying special tribute to the 90thanniversary of Australia’s victory atVillers-Bretonneux.Former Collingwood captain andcoach Tony Shaw also spoke of thesignificance of Anzac Day and hisspecial involvement in the traditionalAnzac Day match, speaking of howpowerful the day is for the players andcoaches of both clubs.Then it was time to hit the dancefloor. A great night was had by all andno doubt the function will become apermanent fixture on the MCC socialcalendar.The inaugural MFC/MCC MembersGame Day Luncheon was held prior tothe Melbourne-Hawthorn match onMay 25. A full house of 180 membersand guests enjoyed a pleasant pre-matchfunction in the Harrison Room andheard from former champion RobertFlower, Chris Connolly and retiringskipper David Neitz.As we went to print, two new clubevents were being held. A “Lunch with aLegend” saw 180 guests hear fromformer Essendon coach Kevin Sheedy inthe Long Room on July 1, whileOlympic gold medalists Russell Mark,Claire Mitchell-Taverner and MikeMcKay headlined a star-studdedOlympics Luncheon in the MembersDining Room on July 8.JULY 2008 MCC NEWS 17 19