Crookwell Olympian “Missed Out”
John McCormack, of Crookwell, who went to Tokyo with the Australian hockey team, did not get a game because of a knee injury.
John left Tokyo at 9 o’clock on Friday night. After a 40-minute stayover in Manila, he reached Sydney at 7.30am on Saturday, and he was shearing on his parents’ property Red Hills, Wheeo, when the ‘Post’ telephoned him this morning.
He received the knee injury when playing with Australia against Pakistan before he left for Tokyo. “The injury became swollen whilst I was away, but it responded well to treatment. I thought I would have been fit enough for the last couple of games, but the manager, Charles Morley, of Victoria, thought otherwise” he said. “I considered he was pretty tough.”
John said that the brilliant West Australian forward, D Martin, was another who went to Tokyo and did not get a game. He said he was perfectly fit, and feelings ran high in the team because of Martin’s non-selection. Martin was a New Zealand star last year. He said the Australians, who finished third to win bronze medals, played magnificently. He paid tribute to the Japanese, who turned out hockey fields “as good as any bowling green in this country”.
He said he would continue to play local hockey, “but my representative games are over” he said. “I’m getting too old and just can’t put my time into the training.”
Source: Goulburn Evening Post, Monday 26 October 1964, p.1.
John McCormack, of Crookwell, who went to Tokyo with the Australian hockey team, did not get a game because of a knee injury.
John left Tokyo at 9 o’clock on Friday night. After a 40-minute stayover in Manila, he reached Sydney at 7.30am on Saturday, and he was shearing on his parents’ property Red Hills, Wheeo, when the ‘Post’ telephoned him this morning.
He received the knee injury when playing with Australia against Pakistan before he left for Tokyo. “The injury became swollen whilst I was away, but it responded well to treatment. I thought I would have been fit enough for the last couple of games, but the manager, Charles Morley, of Victoria, thought otherwise” he said. “I considered he was pretty tough.”
John said that the brilliant West Australian forward, D Martin, was another who went to Tokyo and did not get a game. He said he was perfectly fit, and feelings ran high in the team because of Martin’s non-selection. Martin was a New Zealand star last year. He said the Australians, who finished third to win bronze medals, played magnificently. He paid tribute to the Japanese, who turned out hockey fields “as good as any bowling green in this country”.
He said he would continue to play local hockey, “but my representative games are over” he said. “I’m getting too old and just can’t put my time into the training.”
Source: Goulburn Evening Post, Monday 26 October 1964, p.1.
Do you know any Crookwell Olympians? Please share your memories (and photos if possible).
Located on a hill at Bungonia is St Michael’s Catholic church. Building began in 1839, but as to the present church being the same building, history is unsure. Bishop Polding visited Bungonia in 1840, and placed much emphasis on the building of a church in his sermon. The church was finally opened by Bishop Polding in 1847.
