(Pictured at Footy Almanac lunch June 2024 (L-R) RDL, Damian Bourke, Rob Cameron, Greg Wells. Author’s photo.)
With the 2024 AFL Grand Final disappearing rapidly into the rear vision mirror and Cats’ fans ruing what might have been, this particular Cats’ fan trawled back over some other September near misses this week.
And then, the dial got stuck on 1989.
The dramatic component parts of this epic Grand Final are often recalled. Yeatsey got Dermott; Steven Hocking got a ruptured testicle; Buddha got Platten; Dipper got Buddha; Ablett got Dipper; Ablett got the Norm Smith but the Hawks got the chocolates. QED.
Yet despite the well-known brutal aspects of the encounter, there was an abundance of other forgotten cameo vignettes from understudies. For instance, second string Cats’ ruckman Darren Flanigan who played the game of his life would later say “I missed all that stuff in the first quarter so I came on at quarter time fresh as a daisy!”
Hawthorn’s Dean Anderson snuck under the radar quietly slotting four of the Hawks 21 goals. Who was supposed to be on him…Bruce?
St Arnaud’s favourite son, Shane Hamilton put St Arnaud on the map kicking two goals for the Cats in what would be his fourth final for the year from just six games.
St Arnaud was the old Mildura to Melbourne overnight Vinelander halfway “you’ll get home/I’ll get home in the morning” changeover connection spot for V/Line drivers and staff in the middle of the night.
And I always used to wonder why the nice V/Line man who woke me up with brekky in my sleeper carriage in Bacchus Marsh was different to the nice one who put me to bed in Birchip, so to speak. Just saying.
(Vinelander train, author’s photo)
But I digress.
David Cameron kicked two goals from the forward pocket including the last of Geelong’s 21 goals for the match with 29 seconds left on the clock but is forever overshadowed by Gary Ablett’s nine goals in a losing team.
John Kennedy would later reflect that it’s as well there wasn’t a replay the following week as large numbers from both sides wouldn’t have been available. Blokes in the seconds must have been licking their lips!
Despite all that, the $64 question asked by many of today’s fans is always “whatever happened to Damian Bourke?”
The 199 centimetre Bourke played 102 games as Geelong’s main ruckman between 1983 and 1992 including three years as captain between 1987 and 1989. He subsequently played a further 22 games with the Brisbane Bears between 1993 and 1995.
In the 1989 Grand Final, the injury prone skipper’s torn ankle ligaments were so painful he was required to withdraw from the game at quarter time. (Come on down Darren Flanigan.) Apparently, Bourke was so upset at his bad luck that he has never watched a replay of the match.
But to answer the $64 question, we tracked him down this week in Torquay handing out campaign leaflets for his wife Rebecca’s election bid for the Surf Coast Shire Council. He is an enthusiastic supporter of hers even though she warned him, “that’s great darling but there’s no pay and you’ll have to bring your own lunch.”
It seems that, like candidates in many other parts in the current round of Victorian municipal elections, she is campaigning as a no-frills independent focused on local rather than national or international issues.
“We should not be supporting activists’ groups who want to consume our rates without any worthy return,” she argues.
More attention to local roads and footpaths, libraries and sports grounds, garbage collection and school crossing supervisors would all be a good idea, she reckons. And restoring Australia Day celebrations and reinstating Christmas decorations are also high on her agenda.
Away from the campaign trail and Rebecca and the two kids, Bourkey is a busy solicitor with Bourke’s Law, a law firm he now owns and operates specialising in mediation and family dispute resolution.
He was admitted to the bar in May 2021 after patiently studying part-time for a law degree for 10 and years while working in property investments. His attraction to the law doesn’t come as a surprise. His father Owen was a Magistrate and his younger brother Tim, who played five senior games with Geelong, was appointed Victoria’s Deputy Chief Magistrate two years ago.
Bourkey’s property development portfolio provided a rollercoaster ride of solid investment returns punctuated by a frustrating series of disappointments. He survived to tell the story even though his first marriage ended during this period. Like many who have gone down that path before, he was left emotionally and financially wounded.
However, this story would be far from complete if it didn’t refer to Bourkey’s curious obsession with climbing Mount Everest. He had two attempts and they both nearly killed him.
(Mount Everest, photo supplied by Damian Bourke)
His first attempt in 2015 saw his party comfortably reach the 6,000 metre point of the 8,850 metre high mountain. Shortly afterwards, an earthquake followed by a double avalanche of ice and snow saw 19 of his party killed – yet Bourkey somehow survived.
Two years later, a second attempt saw his group reach 8,000 metres only 850 from the top. After clawing his way further to 8,500 metres he was hit heavily by a large dislodged rock. So very near to the summit only then just barely 350 metres further on and in partial view – but with a crippled arm, snow blindness and frost bite – he eventually surrendered, fearful of death and was helicoptered to Kathmandu Hospital.
But these days, the infamous “death zone” of Mount Everest over those last 350 metres where thin air and freezing gales regularly make further ascent a deadly proposition are safely parked in the family memoirs for fireside chats.
Even the footy memories of rucking against such tough opponents as Simon Madden – whose left handed awkwardness proved so difficult for Bourkey to counter – can be filed away for the grandkids.
“Very few people really understand ruck craft. And playing against left-handed ruckmen at the best of times was so hard because they do everything back to front. Simon was a real handful for that reason alone quite apart from his exceptional general ruck skills.”
For the here and now though, I rather get the feeling Bourkey, Rebecca and the kids are blissfully content in Torquay – even though he has to make his own lunch these days.
(2022 AFL premiership – the one that didn’t get away. Author’s photo.)
More from Roger Lowrey can be read Here.
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Roger Lowrey is a Geelong based writer who lists his special interests as reading, writing, horse racing, Roman history and AEC electoral boundaries. Some of his friends think he is a little eccentric.
Yes Roger, as a former Geelong supporter I recall Damian Bourke.
He had big wraps on him when he first arrived at the Cattery, though was cruelled by injuries. I reckon it took him until his sixth season to play a double figure tally of games in a year.
Certainly a very good tap ruckmen. Speaking of tap ruckmen both Justin Madden, and Damian Monkhorst, had close encounters with his ability to tap.
1989 saw Darren Flanigan play a sterling Grand Final, but like a few other players that day his time at the Cattery was limited. Two of my favourites who you mentioned, David Cameron also Shane Hamilton ended up in Brisbane with Damian Bourke. Darren Flanigan finished his career with St. Kilda.
Memories.
Glen!
Wonderful story, Roger. So well written by a passionate Cats’ man.
It’s my view that Damian Bourke is one of Geelong’s most under-rated players; his career severely hampered by ankle and other leg injuries.
My opinion, I believe, is backed-up by the fact that he was appointed Cats’ captain at the delicate age of 21. – in an era which featured the likes of Gary Ablett, Billy Brownless, Mark Bairstow, Paul Couch, Barry Stoneham, Andrew Bews, Mark Yeates, Garry and Steve Hocking etc.
His sensible, no-frills leadership qualities have been on open display over the past few weeks in his role as campaign manager for his wife Rebecca who is standing for election to Surf Coast Council.
Like many decent women who seek public office in an effort to make the world a better place, she has copped it pretty rough on social media recently. Damian is the perfect settling influence. (And look out if he catches up with any of the perpetrators).
Great story & photos Roger.
1989 was a classic Grand Final.played by Gladiators from both clubs.
At that time VFL members were allowed to sit in the MCC members for finals.
Damian’s career was blighted by injury.though he played over 100 games & was an excellent Captain and courageous ruckman for TGTOA.
Good luck to he and his wife Rebecca, in her quest for election to the Surf Coast Shire Council.
Stephen Wells is/was a gun recruiter and an integral part of the Cat’s success.
Glen and John Craven provide additional enthralling insights.
Recently I was in Geelong to visit the Sports Museum and buy John C’s book ‘The Conquerors.
Both are masterpieces.
Chapter 1 features Lindsey Hassett: Larrikin, Warrior, Statesman.
There was a close connection in Geelong between the Hassett and Schofield families.
Does anyone know if George and Albert Schofield are relatives of Will?
My first Geelong guernsey was bought at Bright & Hitchcock and was like a dress, with no 40.
Now I have a Sekem one with no 5.
I’m sure Roger & John C will recall the Bon Accord restaurant, Timm’s pies and the Covent Garden in Moorabool st.
There was also an excellent pizza place in Market lane, up from Speaky’s surf shop.
And in 1974 we wagged school to watch the Geelong Cup won by Special Test
What a life. Footy seems the least of it. Proves to me that we need to risk it all and die to ourselves (in several senses) in order to truly live.
Rebecca seems to embody what Labor was before it was captured by corrupt union gangsters and single issue trendies; or Liberals before evangellcal fascism. More power to both their arms.
Great read. Thanks RD.
Lovely story Roger. Strangely enough I recently met Damian’s other younger brother Paul who played in the GFL. He came to Ballarat to have his Indian Motorbike serviced and came with one of my old Werribee team mates Michael (Mixer) McMaster. We had a terrific lunch and Paul, who has had a successful career in finance has been riding his bike around Australia. His last trip prior to the service was 17,000 kms and recently has been back up to the NT on a footy fundraising mission to collect boots and Sherrins for indigenous kids in the Top End. One of the nicest blokes you could ever meet. Cheers
We should have been a republic years ago but who really cares.
Big business governs Australia now and Elected representatives many lengths behind.
I wish we could export our constitution,, dud parties, pollies, apparatchiks, fascists(qld) , paedophile priests & import A Swiss model, but a far gentler one.
The so called current direct democractic model we have is bollocks and well past its use by date.
Perhaps Damian & Rebecca have serious contributions to make. ??????
Good read Roger thanks . However i reckon Donald was the the changeover town for the Vinelander crews .
The ‘railway towns ‘ up that way were Donald ,Wycheproof and Korong Vale and were identified by the number of railway houses built for employees near the station .
The biggest railway town in Victoria was Seymour with rows of look alike railway houses .
Thanks for this RD. I had no idea that Bourke had this marvellous post-footy story. Incredible. Always rated his ruck work. His injuries must have been immensely frustrating.
I’d vote for Rebecca everyday of the week. Local people dealing with local matters!! Bravo. Leave climate emergencies and international politics to the absurdly expensive and incompetent world bureaucracy.
What a lovely bit of writing, Roger. (And I recall the Vinelander with a shudder).
Many thanks for your kind comments everyone. It was certainly one of the more interesting backgrounds I have delved into. RDL
This is a ripper of a piece, RDL.
RDL, Damian may be an excellent choice as guest speaker for a future Geelong Footy Almanac lunch.
Thanks Col. There’s certainly enough material there to work with! I’ll see where I can take it.
RDL
Thanks RL, for a fantastic snapshot of Damian Bourke post footy life, challenges and successes! Another reminder to the footy focused like me that even the great heights of our game (such as the 89 GF) can pale compared to other endeavours. You know, like climbing Mt Everest. Twice! At what age? Wow. I ran into David Cameron in the most unlikeliest of ways. We both work/ed in disability employment services. I was presenting at a forum in Brisbane back in 2019 and he introduced himself. We had a good chat and laugh and as a good Hawks supporter, I didn’t mention who won even once. Okay, got me, I did. Cheers
Cracking yarn RDL ….and his outstanding footy prowess is the least of it ……Everest ….twice if you don’t mind