Almanac Memoir: 1955 – through the eyes of a child. Sporting Heroes.
I can’t begin to write about 1955 without starting with my Saints.
Once again I accompanied my Dad and his mates on the terraces at the Junction Oval. Les Foote had been appointed coach in 1954 after a stint at Berrigan in the Riverina and although no success came the Saints way in 1954 there was hope that things would improve.
I have to say that even the most positive of Saints supporters were a forlorn bunch by Round 11. No wins on the board but there was some hope as we travelled down to the Junction to play the Shinboners. Dad’s bricklayer mate Bob Brooker was playing for North that day so we had more than one interest. North had been a bit better than us during the year but only a little so there was a chance. We managed to win that game, the only success for the year. I clearly remember the feelings of football depression that spread through 45 Camden St Balaclava, the heart of the Saints supporter base. It was a dreadful year.
So this little boy in his sixth year of life found joy in so many other sports. I still had an interest in football overall so had a few favourite players outside of the Saints bubble, but first let’s explore my other sporting heroes of 1955.
Tennis was still not my favourite sport but was in the news often. It was hard to ignore the two kings of Australian tennis Lew Hoad and Ken Rosewall. It was the first time I took notice of Adelaide where the Australian tennis championship was played. I found it difficult to work out where Memorial Drive was. It took me a while to realize that was the name of the venue. Although I had become a Ken Rosewall fan of sorts, I remember my Grandmother and Mother being keen Lew Hoad fans. Their support for Lew was lost on me I’m afraid. Unfortunately for Lou’s fans Rosewall beat him in the Australian championships but they were a formidable duo in the Davis cup which was only becoming a glimmer in my sporting consciousness.
I began to take more interest in the Australian cricket team probably because I got a cricket bat for Christmas. I became fascinated by English fast bowler Frank (Typhoon) Tyson. I think the nickname was of more interest to me than his bowling at the time but as news came through about his bowling success against Australia the talk between my Dad and Grandfather lifted his profile in the household enough for me to be aware he was significant in Australia’s test defeats in the early part of 1955.
It was this test series in early 1955 that I first took notice of Keith Miller, possibly because my Dad had impressed upon me he had played for the Saints. Keith became an immediate hero and not to be outdone my Grandfather made sure I took notice of his favourite bowler the great Ray Lindwall.
I was still too young to understand the loss in the Ashes series as a major disappointment. I had found two new heroes in Miller and Lindwall and a formidable if not admired enemy in Typhoon Tyson. There were so many test series ahead of me as I formed my opinions on cricket and its heroes.
It’s interesting but I have not a great deal of memory about Victorian cricket in 1955 at least not until the annual Christmas game against NSW but this was probably because my focus was more towards the Australians against England and then later in the year in the West Indies. The idea of these far away islands and exotic cricketers absolutely fascinated me.
My Grandmother Dot was a keen cricket fan. I know it was her who alerted me to cricket being played in the West Indies. She talked about cricket a lot. I believe it was her more than anyone else who instilled in me a love for Australian cricket. I jump ahead a little here but still remember as clear as day her going to see the West Indies at the MCG in 1961. Accompanied by her sister in law Kath Boase they went to all days of the Test. I still laugh when I remember that Aunty Kath sent her treasured photos of the Windies to be developed only to find the film had not been wound on. The disappointment was palpable. I shouldn’t have found it funny.
The Test series in the Windies in 1955 exposed me to new heroes. I don’t remember listening to the tests on my crystal set as I was to do in later years but I soaked up the stories in the household. This was my first ever memory of Richie Benaud who scored a memorable hundred and at the same time a Victorian who I remembered seeing at the MCG was doing well. His name was Colin McDonald who was to continue as a hero of mine for some years to come.
I have no real idea how my Dad knew Arthur Morris but he did and spoke of him often. I have a very dim memory that Arthur visited us once when he came to Melbourne. Their friendship had something to do with Bondi beach as Dad had spent a lot of his childhood in Bondi and had become a better than average swimmer as a result. Perhaps they met in Bondi. They were only two years apart in age. Obviously Arthur Morris became an important hero to me. Unfortunately 1955 was to be his last year playing Test cricket but he will always be an important part of our family history be it ever so fleeting.
Around the same time that my cricket interest was peaking my uncle Jack Kennedy was very happy that his mate Peter Thomson had won his second British Open Golf title. I remember he and another mutual mate Father Johnny Barker coming around to share a few bottles of beer with Dad and my Pa to celebrate the win. My Pa always loved a drink and this was the first time I was to see a Catholic priest have a drink if not several. It wouldn’t be the last time.
1955 was also to be the first year I had heard of an amazing race called the Tour De France. I had become fascinated with cycling but I don’t really know why. I listened intently to radio sports news and Russell Mockridge had become a hero. The power of radio is most probably the reason for my early love of cycling.
Mockridge was racing in the Tour De France so we as a family were interested in following his progress. He finished well down the line but for him just to be there seemed an amazing accomplishment. This was a great introduction to cycling and I have maintained a keen interest ever since.
My Grandmother lived with us, she had married young, had my father at a very young age and separated from my Grandfather who was never seen again. My Pa who lived with us was my step Grandpa but not step to any of us. He filled the position of Grandpa so very well. He was an important part of our sports upbringing. A proud South Australian born in Narracorte and growing up in Mt Gambier Col (Kelly) Mansell was a character larger than life.
My Grandma had lived through the late `20s and `30s as a single woman. I remember her following Fitzroy until later in the 1950s when she started following Melbourne.
She followed Fitzroy because she went out with two Fitzroy players that I know of during the 20s/30s. She must have been selective as both her boyfriends won Brownlows. They were Chicken Smallhorn and Haydn Bunton. I remember asking her once what Chicken Smallhorn’s real Christian name was. She just laughed and said I don’t know I just called him Chick.
I don’t know in which order she went out with them or whether the friendships were of a serious nature or platonic. She loved dancing so I can still see her in my mind right at home in the era. I remember her in later years doing a fairly good job of the Charleston dance.
I remember a time midyear which I now know as July when I saw her crying in our lounge room. Haydn Bunton triple Brownlow medalist had been killed in a car crash in South Australia. A tragedy for Australian football, Australian sport, and the Bunton family. Time stood still in our house that day as the family mourned the loss of a sporting icon of Australia.
Football in Melbourne went on as usual, St Kilda was hopeless except for Neil Roberts who was gaining top hero status. Melbourne and Collingwood were Grand Finalists. Melbourne won but I can’t say this was the biggest news that day. My memory is imprinted with the horrific collision between Frank Bluey Adams of Melbourne and Des Healey of Collingwood. I was listening to the radio and the picture the commentators created was horrific. Subsequent newspaper photographs are embedded in my my mind.
I took great interest in all VFL players. My scrap book of the era has team photos of all the teams. I found the VFL competition fascinating. Frank Adams for some reason was of great interest to me. I don’t know why, perhaps it was his fiery red hair and his athleticism that attracted me to him and Des Healey was a favourite of my Pie supporter uncles. My clear memory is about being anxious about both of them.
The 1955 Brownlow was won by Fred Goldsmith the South Melbourne Full Back. Fred was a fireman and a friend of some neighbours down the road. I remember meeting him once or twice when the neighbours got together. Camden St Balaclava was a wonderful community street in the early fifties. I remember Fred as being a larger than life person who often wore his fire brigade uniform. Young kids always love firemen. The next year he would be shifted to full forward. I have a memory of him having a chat over the fence with my dad and I at the Lakeside oval. I am not sure what year but was in the same era. As a six year old I thought Fred Goldsmith was a beauty. I certainly can’t remember any angst about Fred beating any of my Saints players for the Brownlow although Neil Roberts polling so well was a major highlight for me.
My much loved horse Rising Fast was back to compete in the Melbourne Cup. I was fascinated about everything about him. I was glued to the radio on race days and clearly remember him winning the Caulfield Cup followed by the McKinnon stakes the Saturday before the Melbourne Cup. To this day I dislike the loss of names such as this to sponsored races. I loved the feel of horse races named after people. The McKinnon Stakes and Derby day were part of my racing life from such an early age.
On Melbourne Cup day we always went in to Aunty May and Uncle Arch’s house for the call of The Cup. They had a boarding house at 47 Camden St Balaclava. Some of the boarders were fascinating to a little boy. May and Arch’s surname was Radonich. A nephew John owned Buy-rite Electrics in later years. For years we bought our electrical appliances from him. May’s maiden name was Murphy and her brother lived in the sleepout next to our back fence. There was a gate between our two houses near the sleep out so I spent some time speaking to this very interesting but flawed character. I don’t think my mother was that happy with me seeking out his company. Poor man was an alcoholic which was obvious to me even at such a young age but he also had a host of sporting stories which he delivered with much flair.
Other boarders included a photographer called Don who took many family photos of the era. Some of them are still in family collections. The other boarder I remember was Bob Gleeson.
He went to every race meeting city and country always by train from Balaclava station. He was friends with journalists, jockeys, trainers and owners. My love of horse racing can be traced back to Bob Gleeson and the Radonichs who were keen racing fans. There was always a sweep happening for both Cups and a few keen punters among the boarders not to mention my uncles and other extended family. Although both parents were not punters I was to have a keen interest in horse racing.
On Melbourne Cup day we gathered in the boarding house surrounded by family and boarders, all to listen to the great race. I had drawn a horse called Toparoa in the sweep. My Mum had Rising Fast. I wasn’t happy although my favourite jockey Neville Selwood was on Toparoa. I still wanted Rising Fast to win.
Rising Fast was beaten on the post by Toporoa. The race caller mentioned a likely protest but nothing was to eventuate. I was told much later that the owners decided not to protest. Whatever the outcome there was much discussion later when Neville Selwood was suspended for causing interference to Rising Fast. I don’t have a happy memory of collecting the sweep winnings just a tinge of anger towards Neville Selwood for causing my Rising fast to lose. I switched jockey allegiances to Jack Purtell who had ridden Rising Fast to victory in 1954.
Athletics was still of great interest to me. My Dad would usually go to Stawell as Uncle Jack Boase would be running in the sprint races. It wasn’t a trip I got to go on. All the Boase cousins and my Dad together! There were many stories of bookies, plunges and failed plunges on Jack and other runners.
There was a lot of talk about the coming Melbourne Olympics. My dad who was a bricklayer got plenty of work as he got involved in a number of projects including at the future Olympic village.
Shirley Strickland broke Marjorie Jacksons World record for the 100 sprint metre or yards I don’t remember. My six year old world was confused by the mix of yards and metres when it came to Athletics. The 1500 metres and the Mile had me quite confused.
A very young man called Murray Rose had emerged in swimming. He was so young I could almost relate to him. He was just 17 and had taken the swimming world by storm. My other favourite Lorraine Crapp continued to break records. Australia was expected to do well at the coming Olympics in Melbourne.
Jack Brabham continued on his winning way and down near Luna Park all these rally cars left a garage to go on a drive round Australia. I remember going with Dad to watch them leave. I think it was called Redex or something similar. The very big personalities involved were not yet on my radar. That was to come.
As the year came to an end I remember Dad taking me to the MCG for the annual Victoria v NSW Christmas Sheffield Shield game. I remember Len Maddocks made a hundred but not much else happened as I recall. We went to the game, but I don’t remember anything after Christmas so I’m guessing the game was washed out. I loved the annual Victoria v NSW games.
Playing in that game but not so obvious to me at age six was a Victorian leg spinner called Jack Hill who played a few tests for Australia. I was to work with Jack many years later. I played the odd work social game with him. I remember in my early twenties keeping to him. He was hampered by injury and age but when he bowled you could hear the seam fizzing as the ball came down the wicket. That was the first I experienced that degree of spin on the ball.
1955 came to an end with me dreaming of a Saints success somewhere in the distant future and some real excitement about the coming Melbourne Olympic Games,
A change as yet unknown to me was on the horizon.
You can read Allan Grant’s 1956 story on Alan Killigrew HERE.
Dips O’Donnell’s father John O’Donnell won the 1955 Stawell Gift. Read about him HERE.
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What a terrific yarn Allan. What shines through is the love of sport because it was sport, not because it was a product. Simpler times (though I wonder if it seemed like that in 1955), simpler sport. Footy, cricket, racing, the Tour de France, athletics. The richness of it all. It was all part of the rhythm of things.
My old man (JD O’Donnell) won the 1955 Stawell Gift (his brother Frank ran third in 1970). His story is worthy of a novel in itself. Struggle, doubt, intrigue, characters, betting plunges and losses, epic journey’s. It’s magnificent. He knew your uncle Jack Boase as I remember him talking about Jack (my father died in 2016). We still go to Stawell every year to watch the Gift. Its a pilgrimage.
Thanks for the memories.
I was born very late in ’55 in SA, so for me this was a great snapshot of the sporting world in Victoria at the time. Your grandma sounds most interesting. Thanks very much Allan.
Dips. Thanks for your comment. I spoke to my cousin Jack Boase’s daughter Kathryn today. She remembers your Dad. She called him Johnny O’Donnell and says she can’t wait to visit Jack and tell him about our link. She and the Boase family obviously had a great connection to your Dad. Thanks for your kind comments about the memoir. Those wonderful people in my life in 1955 have given me a great insight into sport overall. I’m not so sure I will continue to thank my Dad for instilling in me such a love for the Saints. It is very character building.
Daryl Schramm. Thanks for your comment. My Grandmother was one of the most interesting people you could meet. Unfortunately long gone but her legacy lives on. Her husband my step pa was a very proud Sth Australian. Off the top of my head were you either a player or umpire at high level.. I seem to remember your name . Cheers
Allan
G’day Allan
Yes the old man was called Johnny by a few. I think he called Jack, Jacky Boase? That’s my recollection. It was a brotherhood.
Would love to hear more about the connection when Kathryn visits Jack.
Fabulous stuff
Dips She has printed out my story and yours to take to him in his nursing home. I will pass on any stories.
This piece was a joy to publish Allan. It so captures a moment in Melbourne and Australia. I love the comments it has teased out. I have added a link to Dips’s eulogy of his father Johnny O’Donnell.
I am really looking forward to the series of years which I believe you have been preparing.
What an excellent memory you have Allan, from when you were a young child. It was very informative, with great attention to detail.
I happen to know Camden St Balaclava well because as a child and an adult, I have visited the Carlisle St shopping centre in Balaclava near Camden St, on a number of occasions.
I am so happy that you eventually were old enough to remember the Mighty Saints winning their 1st and only flag to date in 1966, although you were too modest to mention it yourself.
Hoping that St Kilda can win another flag in our lifetimes, hopefully sooner rather than later. They have been close in 1971, 2009 and the 2010 Drawn Grand Finals especially.
I’m sure you still remember 1955 like it was yesterday. Great to hear all about it.
Football Analyst. Yes I do have a great memory. Reinforced no doubt by the scrapbook my Dad kept on my behalf and which I contributed to . I still have it, very tatty but treasured. I was lucky to be surrounded by sports loving family and friends. To be honest O put far more effort into Sports history and later military history than I ever put into schoolwork. I did well at English and History. Forget the rest, just wasn’t interested. Yes I did enjoy the Saints win in 1966 but devastated by 1965, 1971, 2009 and 2010. Very devastating. I often joke that I still haven’t got over the 1913 Grand Final either.
Thank you Allan for taking us back to 1955. Evocative reading.
I was only 1 year old in 1955 but the sporting culture and characters of that era, that you have so wonderfully described, are familiar to me. Fred Goldsmith captain coach at Albury..,Rising Fast…Murray Rose who visited my school in the ‘60s … Grandma’s and aunties who loved their sport… sleep outs and friendly boarders…the annual Christmas Shield game between NSW and Victoria which was almost as big as a Test match…anyone who drove fast was ‘Jack Brabham’ …Des Healey coaching Wodonga…the Stawell (Easter) Gift… Peter Thompson’s Open victories…the struggling Saints who always had some great talent…etc.
Great memories. Thanks Allan. That trigger so many other great memories for me. As much a social history of the times – the Australia that was – as the sports stars and events.
Mum & Dad married in 1953 in Adelaide honeymooning at Healesville and meeting a Melbourne couple (Neil and Nan Ferguson) who stayed lifelong friends. They went to Windy Hill together just to see John Coleman – and he remains the greatest to Dad and was a matinee idol to Mum. Neil was a real “character” as they say and sports mad (diehard South Melbourne). They had a boarding house on Manningtree Road in Hawthorn and also had interesting boarders. The “danger” to me was several (men and women) were gay when that was little understood. I took the train over to Melbourne alone on school holidays to stay with the Fergusons when I was maybe 15. I was infatuated with ALP history via Frank Hardy’s Power Without Glory and Kevin the male boarder took me around all the sights in the book – Victoria Park, Trades Hall, Raheen – Archbishop Mannix’s residence & John Wren’s nearby Kew Mansion. I’m sure he was on strict instructions – but I remember his intellect and kindness.
I borrowed Russell Mockridge’s autobiography from the Yorketown Library around the same time. His spectacles and bookish appearance appealed to a skinny kid. The tragedy of his training death random and inexplicable – in my world where the goodies triumphed in the end. I couldn’t understand how he couldn’t dominate the TDF like Bradman dominated world cricket. Dad tried to explain team riding and tactics to me but it seemed foreign that the best didn’t automatically win.
I was born in 1955 and so my memories of the year are not as clear as yours. But Dad was a bank clerk and he also kept leather bound bank ledger scrap books of all the great sporting events of the times carefully cut and glued from the pages of the Argus (colour!); Sporting Globe (pink!) and Adelaide Sunday Mail. I know Hoad and Rosewall featured along with all the SANFL stars of the period – Bob Hank, Lindsay Head, Len Fitzgerald, Ken McGregor. I devoured them growing up – but they were unfortunately lost in one of the many moves that is the lot of the country bank manager.
Thanks Allan,
Interesting to read a suburban perspective.
Always back to the Saints, who were the new recruits in 1955?
St Kilda had gone to the country – did Allan Jeans come down that year from Finley?
Did Les Foote get Brian Gleeson down from Berrigan?
Les Foote was the Mr Magic in the VFL in the fifties.
Bet he got less to coach St Kilda than Berrigan…
The Saints were building… can’t wait to you do the 60s!!!.
A wonderful read, Allan. Thanks.
Some lovely memories there.
Dr Rocket. Your questions are interesting. Brian Gleeson once told me that Les Foote influenced his decision to go to St Kilda. I never thought about it at the time. I just wrote it in a story I called The Boy from Berrigan, which if you Google it still appears under an AFL logo. I have often wondered now if it was the other way around. Brians brother Terry had been I think signed by Melbourne so Brian had to make a decision. It was 1953 and Les Foote was coach of Berrigan . Brian came to St Kilda in 1953 and Les Foote followed in 1954. I still believe Les Foote thought St Kilda was a better choice. Why is a bit of a mystery to me as Melbourne we’re clearly a better side. Perhaps Foote thought 18 yr old Brian would have more of a chance at the Saints. I remember talking to John Lord once about his decision to play for Melbourne not St Kilda. Lords father was Secretary at St Kilda in that era. A Saints committman asked Lord senior why he had allowed if not pushed Lord to Melbourne. Apparently he just pointed at the positions on the ladder. So history has Brian coming to the Saints the year before Foote. Maybe some historians out there have a better knowledge than me. I’m pretty happy with my memory that Brian said Foote influenced his decision but it still puzzles me a bit.
Players to come to the Saints in 1955. I have to say my favourite was Max Stephenson who lived 2 doors down. My neighbor and a boy I was in awe of was a St Kilda player. He didn’t play many games but Killigrew kept him on the list in 1956 so he must have shown something. You are right Alan Jeans was recruited from Finley in 1955. A scan of other players to arrive in 1955 does not unearth any players of note.Gerry Burton, Ron Byron, Stuart Lennie, Bill Gleeson, Jim Jewitt, John Reeves, Peter Allan, Allan Mennie, Alan Osborne, Brian Gilmore, John Nelson, Jim Camm, Merv Dihm, Ian Drohan, Milne McCooke and Jack Suttie, All played only a handful of games but they wore the Red White and Black so Saints for life and in my mind childhood heroes. I did a bit of a series for Saints.com up to about 1960, but I lost most of my archives when a hard drive died. St Kilda as far as I know didn’t keep an archive of them but I still remember most of what I wrote so I will try to weave Saints stuff into my memoirs continuing. Thanks for your interest.
Smokie..Thanks for your interest.
You write so well Allan, this is a wonderful yarn.
The imagery in your words allows a reader to visualise the scenes. Fred Goldsmith in his fireys, uniform, listening to the races on the radio, the priest enjoying good company and cold beer all are wondrous images.
The memories of the long forgotten Vic V NSW Christmas shield clashes @ the M C G , the Redex rally, the great run of Australia in the Davis Cup.
These images, and memories, paint a great social history of a time prior to me. My mother left Corowa in 1954 coming down to Western General Hospital to do her midwifery. She was here for the only Footscray flag of her lifetime. My father must have been somewhere in the Western Suburbs as they married a few years later, then I arrived. Good seeing mention of Berrigan as it’s another place with family links.
Keep up your writing/articles Allan, I enjoy them.
Glen!
Gday Glen
Thanks for your nice comments.That Footscray flag in 1954 must have been special for your mum. What a great team with Charlie Sutton, Jack Collins, Norman Ware, Teddy Whitten. Must have been great to be a Dogs supporter in 1954. Berrimah of that era must have been a great place for Football as well. Cheers
I played golf in Perth yesterday at Seaview with a Melbourne Demon supporter Chris Melville. I asked where his love of the Dees came from as it’s uncommon in Perth. He told me his dad Ken played for them in the 50’s under Norm Smith and was in the 1955 and 1956 premiership teams.
I asked why he finished up so young in a dominant era – assuming it must have been injury. In 1956 Ken had finished his theological studies and become an ordained Presbyterian Minister and the church sent him to London to begin his ministry.
Those were the days – not sure anyone would give up a professional career for a life calling. Chris said the family returned after a couple of years and his Dad refused Melbourne’s offer to resume a league career because of the time commitment, but he played over 300 games in the Amateurs.
Neale Daniher became “The Reverend” at Melbourne because of his hot gospelling fund raising when the club was faced with a merger – not because of religious ministry. There was Pastor Doug Nicholls at Fitzroy in the 30’s who became an ordained Church of Christ minister.
Any others Knackers?
Allan, I refer to my previous comment of St Kilda winning another flag in our lifetimes, as 1 flag and 27 wooden spoons in 124 years of playing in the VFL/AFL is totally unacceptable for St Kilda fans. Of course, as you are a historian of the St Kilda Football Club, I know I need not have mentioned this but unfortunately it’s true.
As a premiership success starved St Kilda supporter, or in other words a very long suffering St Kilda supporter, over the years, I have started to believe in omens, if only it means St Kilda winning its second flag.
For example, Geelong went for 44 years from 1963 without winning a flag. They were runner up 4 times in 1989, 1992, 1994 and 1995 before breaking their premiership drought in 2007, 12 years after their previous Grand Final thrashing of around 10 goals by Carlton in the 1995 Grand Final.
Next year, 2022, will be 12 years after St Kilda’s last Grand Final thrashing of around 10 goals by Collingwood in the 2010 Grand Final replay. I know once again it’s not nice to mention it but obviously it’s done for a reason. As you are aware, St Kilda, like Geelong have been runners up in 4 Grand Finals since their 1966 flag in 1971, 1997, 2009 and the 2010 Grand Final replay. I didn’t mention the 2010 Drawn Grand Final because St Kilda didn’t actually lose that match.
Therefore, I am one of the very few true believers who think like the St Kilda President, Andrew Bassat, that St Kilda’s premiership window will start from 2022. It could be a St Kilda flag in 2022, if they have luck with less long term injuries to their best players, a good strong bodied centre half back to replace Carlisle, a continually improved game plan and a good 2nd ruckman as Ryder is getting on with age. It’s not too much to ask, is it? I know it’s wishful thinking. Don’t forget that Richmond after a 36 year flag drought, came from nowhere to win the flag in 2017. Three more flags of course would be brilliant for St Kilda, but all St Kilda fans will be happy with just one more flag soon. I am very envious of the Western Bulldogs who won their 2nd flag in 2016, after 62 years, having not appeared in any Grand Final for 55 years, St Kilda’s current premiership drought in years. Of course, it took St Kilda 69 years to win its 1st flag when they entered the VFL in 1897.
I am also envious of Sydney/South Melbourne who after a 72 year flag drought, won another flag in 2005 and 2012.
Anyway, let’s go back in a time capsule to Back to the Future for the year 1955, like they did in that film and you did in this article, so that St Kilda are guaranteed of winning a flag 11 years later in 1966!