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 24 and 25, the club hosted the annual gathering of its 50-Year members in the Members Dining Room. The combined attendance was more than 530 members of the 3000 people on the 50-year list.Among those present were Peter Thomson, Neale Fraser, Ron Barassi, David Parkin, Ian McDonald, Noel McMahen, Brian Dixon, John Lord, Hassa Mann, Frank Adams, Norm Carlyon and John Westacott.
Between them, those present had played 51 first-class cricket matches, 1788 VFL/AFL games for 36 premierships, coached 1175 VFL/AFL games for eight flags, won five major golf championships, one grand slam singles tennis title, 16 doubles majors and four Davis Cup victories!
Also in attendance were regular MCG attendees Brian Little, Anthony Hubbard and Peter Sparnon, who between them had attended 197 events at the ground since the previous year’s lunch. Bravo.
A few days later the club hosted many of the newly elected 50-Year members at a special luncheon in the Long Room.
Former New Zealand captain Jeremy Coney returned for an encore performance when he responded to the toast to cricket at the Members’ Dinner on December 13, attended by more than 350 members in the Members Dining Room.
Hosted by Tim Lane, the dinner first heard from former SBS and Channel 10 media personality, George Donikian, who proposed the toast to cricket, drawing on some wonderful and personal stories of his association with the game. He spoke passionately about his love of the game and what it meant for a young boy with Greek and Armenian heritage – truly a game for all Australians.
“Cricket is not only a game I have played, but a gamer I have loved my whole lifetime,” George told the audience. “It taught me a lot about life. Even though I was born and raised in Sydney, I didn’t feel I really belonged until I played cricket.”
Coney was the first person in the history of the Members’ Dinner to be invited back to deliver the response to the toast to cricket for a second time, which speaks volumes to his popularity. And he didn’t disappoint.
The first man to lead New Zealand to a Test series win in Australia, and then England, captivated for more than an hour. His ability to tell a story, and to draw all those in attendance into the story and truly join him on the journey, is unparalleled.
He recalled in his typical, self deprecating manner his experience facing fast bowlers in the seventies and eighties the likes of Thomson, Lillee, Holding, Marshall, Garner, Croft, Roberts, Patterson and Willis.
“Genuine fast bowlers can elementally be very discomforting,” he said. “The faster the ball comes, the more primal it becomes. Spin bowlers can tangle you in a web of deceit, but fast bowlers open the nerve endings.”
At one stage it seemed he was drawing to a close, when he asked the crowd if they would mind if he told them his favourite story. The members unanimously agreed he should plough on, which he did with renewed passion and enthusiasm.
Within weeks it was time for the festive season and the Boxing Day Test. Christmas Day Lunch in the Members Dining Room, Long Room and Committee Room was very well attended, setting the scene for the next few days.
Hosted by Damien Fleming, the Boxing Day Breakfast commenced with a chat to MCG curator David Sandurski, along with historian and author Dr Greg de Moore who spoke about the significance of the 150th anniversary of the Aboriginal XI v MCC match at the MCG on Boxing Day in 1866.
After breakfast, guests heard from former Pakistan fast bowling great, Wasim Akram. The man who took nearly 1000 international wickets (Test and ODI) gave a rare insight into the Pakistan team that was about to take the field.
The following day, more than 350 members and guests opened Day 2 of the Test in the Members Dining Room at the Women in Cricket Test Breakfast.
Members and guests had the good fortune to hear from two wonderfully engaging speakers – British broadcaster Alison Mitchell and former Australian batsman Chris Rogers.
Alison had joined ABC Grandstand to cover the summer’s Test action in Australia and has brought a wonderful perspective and real passion for the game to her commentary. At the breakfast, she told host Angela Pippos of her love of the game from a very early age, and subsequent rise up cricket’s broadcasting hierarchy.
Rogers then took to the microphone and spoke of his challenging career, including Test call ups and near misses. He spoke with great humour and humility, elaborating on some of the stories contained in his recently released autobiography, and his experiences in world cricket. Chris very kindly conducted a book signing in the MCC Library following the function.
The annual Australia Day Luncheon was held for the 12th consecutive year, this time featuring Australian Olympic team Chef de Mission Kitty Chiller as guest speaker.
With more than 150 members and guests in attendance, the day was again hosted by Ian Cover and featured a number of musical performances by soprano Cleo Lee-McGowan and pianist Rhodri Clarke.
During her address, Chiller not only shared her experiences in the recent Rio Olympic Games, but also her experiences as an Olympic athlete. She spoke passionately about the importance of sport in Australian life; its role not only in terms of maintaining a healthy lifestyle, but its impact on mental wellbeing and giving all Australians, young and old, a fair go and promoting fair play.
To round out the summer, almost 150 young members and their guests enjoyed themselves at a function in the Hans Ebeling Room during the T20 international between Australia and Sri Lanka on February 17. It was the first of several functions and events being held for young members in the coming weeks, including a bowls night and a yoga class on the MCG.