Summer fun for members, functions in full swing

It has been a hectic schedule of sport at the MCG and the club’s function’s calendar has been no less frantic, with a wide range of events for members and guests to enjoy.

On November 26 and 27, the club hosted the annual gathering of its 50-Year members in the Members Dining Room. The combined attendance was more than 500 members and we now have more than 3000 on the 50-year list. Among those present were sporting luminaries Ron Barassi, Neale Fraser, Noel McMahen, Brian Dixon and former Western Bulldogs player John Westacott.

The luncheons continue to provide an excellent opportunity for our long-serving members to get together with life-long friends and enjoy an afternoon together, whilst for some, it may even be the catalyst for reacquainting themselves with old friends. We were delighted to have along the club’s seventh longest-serving member, Maurice Smith, who joined the club way back in 1934.

A few days later the club hosted many of the newly elected 50-Year members at a special luncheon in the Long Room. Among them were former Melbourne captain and five-time premiership player John Beckwith, former Geelong player and commentator Brian Brushfield and former Victorian baseballer and cricketer Eddie Illingworth.

Former New Zealand captain and new Melbourne Stars coach Stephen Fleming was the star of the show at the Members’ Dinner on December 3, attended by more than 300 members in the Members Dining Room.

Hosted by Tim Lane, the dinner first heard from former senior Cricket Australia public affairs executive, Peter Young, who proposed the toast to cricket. He began by placing two cricket balls on the lectern – the new controversial pink ball to be used at the Adelaide Test and the traditional cherry red Kookaburra, with comments to the effect he was putting his views on the line!

Peter praised cricket and its ability to survive and bring people together. He spoke about the many changes that Australian cricket has undergone over the past decade – including the introduction of the BBL, women’s cricket and enormous growth at participation level.

“Australian cricket needs to continue to attract young women to the game,” he said, “as well as drawing on the multicultural backgrounds of many Australians – drawing a diverse range of people together for a common love.”

A self-confessed “non-speaker”, Fleming was genuinely humbled and honoured to be asked to address our members. He was particularly anxious given the quality of speakers at this who’s who of cricket since its inception in 1994.

This led him to select his “MCC Members’ Dinner Cricketers XI” from the list of previous speakers. And what a lineup it is.

Matthew Hayden and Graham Gooch opened the batting, with Sunil Gavaskar at number three and Greg Chappell at four. Former England captains David Gower and Lord Cowdrey rounded out the top six.

The allrounder was Sir Richard Hadlee, followed by Ian Healy as wicketkeeper. At number nine was England’s Geoff Miller, not necessarily for his on-field achievements, but for providing the greatest contribution in his role as a selector.

At number 10 was Wes Hall, with the team rounded out by former Australian Prime Minister, John Howard, as the final bowler and who was also given the captaincy. At this point Fleming asked the audience to turn to their screens to see the famous news clip of Howard bowling to Australian troops. The clip rounded out Fleming’s XI beautifully.

Within weeks it was time for the festive season and the Boxing Day Test. Christmas Day Lunch in the Members Dining Room and Long Room was well attended, setting the scene for the next few days.

The Boxing Day Breakfast was held amidst the backdrop of a rainy start to the Test. Hosted by Damien Fleming, the morning commenced with a chat to Victorian and Australian batsman Aaron Finch, before a surprise visit from Hollywood actor and big cricket fan, Hugh Jackman.

After breakfast, guests heard from former West Indies captain and great fast bowler, Courtney Walsh, who is also a Test selector. The man who took 518 Test wickets lamented the plight of cricket in Caribbean but also demonstrated his belief that the island nations could again rise to the top of world cricket.

The following day, more than 350 members and guests enjoyed the spectacular surrounds of the Members Dining Room at the Women in Cricket Test Breakfast.
Members and guests were first treated to a panel discussion involving former Australian player Melanie Jones and two Melbourne Renegades – Molly Strano and Danielle Wyatt – regarding the success of the inaugural women’s Big Bash League that was underway around the country.

Former Australian batsman Simon Katich took to the microphone just after breakfast, answering questions from host Angela Pippos with honesty and humour. As was noted by media scribes present, he also took a little jibe at his former teammate Michael Clarke, with whom he fell out with during their playing days.

To round out the summer, the annual Australia Day Luncheon featured former Supreme Court judge The Hon Frank Vincent AO QC as guest speaker.

With more than 150 members and guests in attendance, the day featured a number of musical performances by soprano Shauntai Batzke and pianist Simon Bruckard, before a powerful address by Vincent.

The former judge and chair of the Victorian Adult Parole Board spoke passionately about the power of education and that it should not favour the wealthy, but be available to all Australians, because there are both personal and national benefits to a strong education system.

He found that too often throughout his career in dealing with criminals that he continued to see the same pattern of them having a background of disadvantage. He referred to his time on the parole board as “picking through the pieces of shattered lives”.

Vincent concluded by referring to Australia as a country of opportunities. We still have some way to go in improving our childhood services in order to give our children the best opportunities, and work is still needed to help our indigenous communities, but we are a proud and developing society committed to helping others.