The Australian Over Sixties Cricket carnival was held Nov 15-19. Three Baysidieans joined the Australian Cricket Society’s Eleven to experience the Apple Isles delights – Chain Saw Taylor, Squadron Leader Jenvey (recently demoted from Wing Commander for fielding dismeanours), and yours truly, the ECT.  Much fun was had and the cricket was passable, in view of the advanced age of us all.. The highlight was , once again, the big V’s winning of the John Hammer Shield in first division.  Beating a Queensland side that boasted four ex Sheffield Shield players, was no mean feat. (more…)

Bayside’s 2008/09 season started on October 5th. Unfortunately I did not participate. My morning on that day, started very early in a steamy Port Moresby. A week on the Kokoda track had taken its toll, and I missed the next few games also. Some weird virus had removed my hunger and seven kilos. My kidney function had shut down, and I was lucky to make it.

Finally the great day came. On November 9th, the once feared “Head Hunter of Dandy High” re-emerged onto the green sward. However there was another twist to the tale. I arrived at the Highett West ground to find I was one of fourteen Bayside players. Fortunately our opponents Whitehorse were understaffed. So three Baysidians joined them I was one of them. (more…)

The local paper has generally had a minimum commitment to sport. Depending on the journalistic energy expended, it wavers between one and four pages per edition. Sporting news seems to be a begrudging means of putting a gap, a break, to separate the ceaseless flow of ads – the Classifieds and Real Estate Ads.

In this particular edition in October 2007, a heading caught my eye which seemed out of place in the Sports section. “Never Too Old”.  The article started off with a name our now know to be synonomous with Over 60’s cricket.  John Hammer. (more…)