Melbourne Grammar School have ensured the legacy of former Headmaster and past MCC President Paul Sheahan AM by naming an oval in his honour inside the school’s main sports complex.
The full-sized oval located inside Edwin Flack Park – the school’s sports facility based in Port Melbourne – has been renamed the Sheahan Oval in recognition of his vision to establish the facility.Paul played a key role in establishing Edwin Flack Park when he was Melbourne Grammar Headmaster between 1995 and 2009 and said it was a proud moment to have the oval named in his honour.
Edwin Flack Park is named after Melbourne Grammar’s first Olympian and Australia’s first Olympic Gold Medal winner, Edwin Flack, from the 1896 Games held at Mount Olympus in Greece.
“I do feel extremely proud to be recognised in this way on a fantastic set of playing fields that I had a part in bringing to fruition,” Paul said.
“If these fields play a role in leading to a healthier, more balanced lifestyle to generations of young people, then that will also bring a great sense of satisfaction.”
Paul served on the MCC Committee for 28 years from 1987 to 2015, spent eight years as Vice-President and became the Club’s 26th President in 2011.
He was awarded Life Membership of the Club in 2017.
An outstanding cricketer, Paul is a first XI premiership player for the MCC, a member of the MCC’s Team of the Century named in 1999, represented Victoria for almost a decade and played 31 Tests for Australia between 1967 and 1974, scoring 1594 runs.
He also represented Australia in three One-Day Internationals before retiring from international cricket to pursue his teaching career.
On behalf of everyone at the MCC, the Club congratulates Paul on this richly-deserved accolade from his former employer.