Sports Association celebrates its centenary
The Melbourne University Sports Association concluded its centenary year of celebrations with a gala dinner at the National Gallery of Victoria in April.
The dinner coincided with the awarding of the 2004 Blues – the 100th year that the sporting Blues have been awarded. Blues are awarded to students for outstanding performances for the University at Australian University Games and Championships.
Nearly 400 people attended the dinner, representing many eras of sport at the University, including the two oldest Blues, Dr Phil Law (BSc 1939, MSc 1941, DAppSc 1962), 93 and Dr Jim Peters (MBBS 1937, MSurg 1946), 92, both of whom represented the University in the 1930s.
Many of the University’s rowing crews also attended including the 1949 crew which included Sir Rod Carnegie (BSc 1954) and Sir James Gobbo (BA (Hons) 1952), the 1956 intervarsity crew, and boats from the 1960s and 70s.
Other guests included: Olympic Gold Medallists Peter Antonie (BBldng 1976) and Ralph Doubell (BSc 1967); Olympians Margot Foster (BA, LLB 1981) and Adrian Costa; President of the Court of Appeals and former Hawthorn and University Blacks, Justice John Winneke (LLB 1961); and, cricket administrators Malcolm Gray and Tony Steele. They joined Chancellor Ian Renard and Lord Mayor John So (BSc 1970, GradDipEd 1972) and representatives from nearly all of the University’s 45 sports clubs.
Guests at the Sports Centenary celebration (back) Lord Mayor John So, Ros Crommelin, Chancellor Ian Renard, Lady Mayoress Wendy Cheng, Justice John Winneke, (front) Sue Winneke, Mark Richards, Belinda Hoff (President MUSA), Professor Michael Crommelin (Dean of Law School), Diana Renard.
“For me, it is the esprit de corps that is the most treasured part of my experience of representing the University in sport. Tasting the sweetness of success and the bitterness of defeat with my team mates has forged friendships that will last well beyond the final whistle”, said Belinda Hoff (LLB (Hons), BA 2003), President of the Sports Association.
“Founder of the original Sports Union, Sir Baldwin Spencer once remarked that there is nothing like sport for fostering the bonds created by striving, as a team, for excellence.
“It was wonderful to have had such an impressive turn-out from so many sports and so many eras to celebrate the Sports Association’s Centenary Year”, Belinda said. “It is at events like this dinner that the esprit de corps described by Sir Baldwin Spencer nearly a century ago, becomes the overwhelming flavour of the evening.”
A highlight of the evening was the auctioning of a number of classic Sports Union blazers which were framed and surrounded by photos and the personal signatures of a number of the University’s sporting legends – University Blacks and VFL footballer and Brownlow medallist, Dr Don Cordner (MBBS 1945), and Olympic Gold medallists Kathy Watt (BSc 1986), Nick Green (BA/LLB 1980), Peter Antonie, and Ralph Doubell.
The 100th Blues Awards were made to 121 student athletes in front of their families and friends. The 2004 Sports Awards were also made including Club of the Year – Football Club, Male Athlete of the Year – Cameron Rahles-Rahbula (Skiing) and Female Athlete of the Year – Mollie Hill (Rowing).
Cameron, a Physiotherapy student, was also awarded the Lazer-Law medal for outstanding contribution to University sport. Cameron represented Australia at the 2004 World Disabled Skiing Championships, winning two gold medals and a silver medal. He represented the University at the Australian University Snow Sport Championships where he won a gold medal. Cameron was also recognised as 2004 Young Victorian of the year for his sporting achievements and work with disabled children.
To follow the progress of all of the University's sporting clubs, or to find out more about the services and facilities available to all graduates through Melbourne University Sport, phone +61 3 8344 5405 or visit www.sports.unimelb.edu.au
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