Des turns 75
Des Campbell was always able to draw a crowd in his heyday as an elite sportsman, and it seems time hasn’t altered that ability.
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Some four decades after establishing himself as one of the Goulburn Valley’s greatest ever sportsmen — some say the best — Des was feted by hundreds of well wishers at his 75th birthday celebrations on Saturday.
Anyone who questioned whether 75th birthdays hold much significance was quickly defended by Des, who pointed out at his age, it was too much of a risk to put the celebrations on hold for another five years when, all going well, he will be 80.
But all those who turned out at the magnificent Parkland Golf Club’s spacious entertainment area in Kyabram for his birthday bash will agree, if he makes it to 80, it would be extremely doubtful whether the celebrations could top Saturday night’s festivities.
Des loves loyalty and he was gobsmacked by the people who have stood by him in his life who took the time to share this birthday milestone.
The celebrations arranged by his two sons Brad and Blake – more than handy sportsmen themselves in their day — was spiced with some side-splitting comedy from The Suburban Footballer, proved an occasion to remember.
A former star footballer, Mick Lovison, who was in Des’s Tongala’s two premiership GVL sides in the 1980s, told partygoers Des had the knack of bringing people together and never asked anyone to do what he wouldn’t do himself.
‘‘He always took it on himself to lead from the front,’’ Mick said.
In his thank you speech, Des made a revelation he hasn’t shared previously in countless interviews since his days playing with Melbourne Football Club and facing and mastering the likes of the fearsome Australian Test speed bowler Jeff Thomson in an exhibition cricket game between a county 11 and the Queensland side at Deakin Reserve in the 1970s.
Des said he had always been reluctant to single out any player in his GVL playing and coaching days who he thought was superior to all others ‘‘because there were so many good ones.’’
But he let the cat of the bag on Saturday night when he told a spellbound audience none were as good as one of his Shepparton United teammates — Trevor Eddy.
‘‘Trevor had won four best-and-fairest awards at tiny Wunghnu when I approachd him to play at United and I have told everyone who has been a recruiter never to worry about where they come from.’’
‘‘Trevor wasn’t big, but he was the complete player who could do anything,’’ Des said.
A judgment confirmed by Eddy’s 125 goals in 1973 and 114 in 1974 when playing with Shepparton United.
Lifelong mates
Plenty of Bomber blasts from the past were at Des Campbell’s 75th birthday bash last Saturday night.
The group of Melbourne-based players in the Campbell-coached 1993 Kyabram football side which went undefeated for the season and bowed out in straight sets in the finals again showed their love for the club and to remember their time at it.
Uncanny goal kicker Chris Stuhldreier, Russell Dickon, Andrew Johnston, Dean Corboy, Leon Edwards and Ashley Brown were members of that Kyabram 1993 side, who attended the birthday bash and voted it a great night.
Des even said lifelong friendships were not only made from premiership wins but also from losses.
Retired Cat on tour
Geelong fans get the chance to meet Tom Hawkins this Friday at the Echuca Workers Club where the Coleman Medallist and five times All-Australian will make an appearance on his The Record Breaker retirement tour.
Memorablia packages will be available.
It will cost adults $49 and juniors $29 and doors will open at 7pm.
Tickets are available via Evenbrite
Ready to tee off
Some big names are appearing at the Cobram Barooga Golf Club’s Murray River Festival of Golf, which kicks off next Tuesday, January 28, with a free one-hour Webex Women’s Classic.
On Thursday, January 30, the highlight of the festival, the Webex Players Series Murray River, which is expected to feature some of the biggest names in the sport, will be decided.
A nearest the pin and longest drive competition are added attractions at the festival which runs to February 2.
For more information, visit proshop@sporties.com.au
Thrilling country week clash
Cricket Shepparton and the Bendigo Cricket Association played out a thrilling inter-association clash at Shepparton’s Deakin Reserve last Sunday.
Bendigo got home with three balls to spare.
Shepparton batted first and made 250, with Connor Hayes top scoring with 81.
Kyabram’s Kyle Mueller made 15, Billy McLay, 5 and Charlie McLay, 13.
McLay took 0/26 off four overs in Bendigo’s innings, in which its captain, Glenn Waldron, top scored with 53 before being run out.
Roos heading to Shepparton
AFL club North Melbourne’s Community Camp will be held in Shepparton Wyndam areas this year on February 10.
One of the ’Roos newcomers, Matt Whitlock, picked up at number 27 in the November AFL draft, will be in familiar surrounds as he is a Shepparton boy.
Before the North Melbourne visit, Richmond will conduct a camp at Wangaratta on February 3.
Charlie top scores
Kyabram Fire Brigade Cricket Club’s Charlie Pekin was the star of the runner-up Goulburn Murray Cricket’s Under-14 side at the recent annual Northern Rivers Junior Country Cricket Week.
Charlie top scored for the GM side with a patient 29, but his team came up nine runs short in its 144-chase against the Murray Valley side.
New Lions president
Seymour Football Netball Club has a new president.
Peter Elliott, a member of Seymour’s 1991 premiership side, has taken the reins from long-serving president Gerard O’Sullivan, who spent a record total of 10 years in two stints in the role.
Elliott is confident the Lions will make their presence felt again on GVL ovals this season, despite a lower than expected finish to the 2022 season when they missed the finals.
Sports reporter