Football greats Kevin Sheedy AO, Michael Tuck, Bob Murray and Doug Hawkins formed the most formidable line-up of special guests at Yarrawonga Mulwala Golf Club Resort last Wednesday since the Mornington Peninsula Home Hospice’s (PHH) three-day golf classic started here eight years ago.
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The event was in aid of palliative care with proceeds of successful bids over reserve prices in respect of two auctions going to Yarrawonga District Health through Helping Hands.
The first, silent auction, related to the wide range of impressive sporting memorabilia in the YMGCR’s foyer over the past few weeks; the second was a live auction conducted in fine style by local auctioneer Andrew Shell last Wednesday night relating to a variety of packages.
Kevin Sheedy was inducted into Sport Australia Hall of Fame in 2009. The 74-year-old played and coached a combined total of 929 games over 47 years from 1967 to 2013.
The tough defender played 251 games with Richmond, represented Victoria eight times, and played in three premierships before coaching Essendon to four flags over 27 years (386 wins, 242 losses, seven draws) before becoming the inaugural coach of GWS Giants.
Michael Tuck, 69, was a brilliant ruck-rover, multi premiership captain of Hawthorn who played 426 games (second to North Melbourne’s Brent Harvey) and represented Victoria on 11 occasions.
Bob Murray from Wangaratta, who loves playing golf in Yarrawonga/Mulwala, was Australia’s premier full-back, representing Victoria many times. Now 80, the St Kilda best and fairest played 153 games for the Saints.
Sixty-two-year-old Doug Hawkins and Victorian wingman captained the Footscray Bulldogs for four years during his 329 game career before adding 21 at Fitzroy for an overall total of 350.
Yarrawonga Mulwala Golf Club Resort President welcomed diners. “It does my heart good to see 146 here,” he said.
“We love the hospice charity event coming up here. We love having you come up here.”
Organiser extraordinaire Pat Randall added her welcome and specifically referred to locals Evan Droop and fellow Pro Shop staff, Bernadette’s administration and Rory in the chef department. “These are our lifeline at the resort,” she said.
Diners certainly heard a lot about and from the four special guests who discussed their backgrounds and careers over some three hours.
In something like television’s Front Bar, Hawkins, Tuck and Murray were asked questions by Sheedy whose questions emulated his toughness on the field.
Hawkins referred to the Channel 7’s Front Bar’s popularity saying it is a winner. “The Footy Show (Channel 9) lost its way going from ad lib to script,” he said. “It was great before with us turning up and never knowing what was going to happen. Eddie Maguire is the best MC in Australia. Sam Newman was the footy show.”
Hawkins was a tremendously talented teenager and walked straight into the Bulldogs line up. He rated Kelvin Templeton as the best player he played alongside. “When we only won five games a season, he’d boot a hundred one season, 97 and 80 odd. He won a Brownlow.” Gary Ablett senior, Leigh Matthews and Wayne Carey were the best players in his time.
Sheedy agreed with Ablett senior being the best in that period and of Matthews but not Carey because of not such great grand-final efforts.
Tuck found entrance into seniors much tougher than Hawkins. He made the grade after about 70 games in the reserves. But, when he became a ruck-rover, didn’t he make up for that longer-than-normal apprenticeship! A much decorated, lead-by-example team and premiership leader.
Murray stamped his authority at St Kilda and the state team after a successful switch from the forward line to full-back by coach Allan Jeans.
Before the move, his first four kicks for the seniors were goals! But at full-back, he was magnificent with his highmarking, beautiful drop-kicks when kicking out and general play.
In St Kilda’s only premiership, in 1966, in front of 102,055 people at the MCG, Murray flew high to take a wonderful and crucial mark. Seconds later the siren sounded to end the Saints’ 69-year wait for the flag.
Walking up and down the club’s Willow Room asking the questions, Sheedy loved being back in Yarrawonga Mulwala after taking Yarrawonga’s football training one night 40 years ago.
Established in 1984, PHH is an accredited not-for-profit community palliative care organisation based in Frankston.