| 75th
ANNIVERSARY GALA BALL |
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75th ANNIVERSARY GALA BALL
Saturday July 14 2007
"I want to pay tribute to a few fellows
who have really set this club up. One is George
Malcolm who started the club. That is Don's
father, and he was the manager when I first started
playing. Don to this day has a clock on his mantlepiece
that was presented to George by the players in
appreciation of his efforts in getting St Mary's
into the Grand Final in 1936, which they won.
I would also like to pay tribute to Jim Hill.
Jim still gets along to matches, and played all
those years ago. He was a real stalwart through
the tough times. John Mason was a great
full forward for us who gave us great service
on and off the ground...... Ray Leman's efforts
on the committee. He was one of those people that
when there was a vacancy you could always say
'why don't you take that on' and he would always
say 'yes, I'll do that'. It was all voluntary.
When you look at the old team photos, we were
always standing in different places because we
always got different jobs for that particular
season....Now I don't have to talk to you about
Don Malcolm, you all know what he has done
over these last ten or twenty years. Well, he
was the same thirty and forty years ago. It has
been a privilege to know Don all my life."
Albert Vickery
"Over the years I played with some great
players. I played in the 1975, 1978, 1979 and
1980 Premierships and in 1981 we were runners
up. I have had a very lucky career because at
that time we had a great group of players ......
I have been very lucky to play with St Mary's.
It has been a fantastic family club, and by the
look of the crowd here tonight I would say that
it is going to go for a long, long time. I congratulate
the people who are running the club now. I congratulate
Albert Vickery, Don Malcolm....people who have
been around for a long time."
Colin Bellinger
"A couple of weeks ago on a Thursday night
I went down to watch the boys train. It was amazing
to walk into the room...the comaraderie, the way
they trained, the way they socialised afterwards,
listened to the coaches talk... it was an amazing
atmosphere. The current coaching group is doing
a fantastic job, and I am sure that if you guys
stick together, the rewards will be there for
you."
Brian Perry
OH WHAT A NIGHT!
by Don Malcolm
WOW, what a night Johnny O'Keefe, Big
Harro and his band , Elvis, good food plenty
of liquid refreshments and hosted by the immaculate
Norm Graetzer.
Speeches by Albert Vickery, Colin
Bellinger and Brian Perry outlining
the Saints progress from 1932 to the present
day. Well done.
The huge raffle supported extensively by sponsors,
the attendance of many sponsors to enjoy the
convivial atmosphere and to get a feel of how
we at St.Mary's enjoy one another's company.
The Hawthorn supporters singing group with their
rendition of "When The Saints…".
Lovely ladies in their finest, men in their
smart gear, a good band and the night was swinging.
The communal toilets when the lady's suffered
a blockage, the fellas came out smiling.
Many a fancy step on the dance floor and the
inevitable roving cam recorder.
Great to see so many past players make the effort
to attend from many country areas and interstate.
Approx 280 turned up and really stretched the
available space at the venue.
Altogether a great night of club loyalty, entertainment
and no doubt a return to the days of long ago.
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