DA's Australian Sports History | Podcast on RSS.com

DA's Australian Sports History

DA's Australian Sports History

by DA

Season 2026

1968 Swimming Michael Wenden

Michael Wenden is an Olympic and Commonwealth Games champion. His swimming career spanned from 1966 to 1974. He represented Australia in two Olympic Games and three Commonwealth Games winning two Olympic Gold medals at Mexico City and nine Gold medals in Commonwealth Games competition. That included winning the 100m (110 yd) freestyle sprint event in three consecutive Games. Post his time in the pool, Michael would spend the next twenty years as a volunteer in Sports Administration. He served on the Boards of both the Australian Olympic Committee and the Australian Institute of Sport. Quite properly, Michael was recognised for his contribution to Australian sport by having him as one of eight flag bearers at the Opening Ceremony at the Sydney Olympic Games. Michael Wenden is not high profile. He in understated and deflects conversations to other athletes.. Here is some of his story, which I trust you will enjoy. If you want to give any feedback, you can email "idealinsport@gmail.com" That's stumps.. Thank you balls boys, thank you Hawk Eye.

1967 Tennis Gerald Patterson

Gerald Patterson, the wonderful Australian tennis player of the 1920's passed away on 13 June 1967. We look back at his career and life. It was more than just tennis. Gerald was a war time hero being awarded the Military Cross for gallantry. He was the nephew of the Australian icon Dame Nellie Melba and father of racing car driver and businessman - Bill Patterson. Gerald won the Wimbledon singles title on two occasions, an Australian Open singles crown, multiple Grand Slam doubles titles and was a member of a winning Davis Cup team. He did so adopting a power game with an unmatched huge serve. The Melbourne born Patterson seemed to excel at everything he turned his hand to. That included other sports, family and business. Trust you enjoy this short story of tennis legend - Gerald Patterson (the Human Cannonball). For now, that's stumps. Thank you ball boys, thank you hawk eye.

1966 Cricket Sheffield Shield

We take a look back to 1965/66 and the premier domestic cricket competition in Australia - the Sheffield Shield. Four day matches with large crowds and Test players involved. It was an opportunity for the public to watch their star players in person. NSW had dominated the competition but Western Australia and South Australia were to have big seasons.. A talking point was the points scoring. The team that was undefeated for the year did not win. A side that lost half of its matches did win. Go figure!. Players like Ian Chappell, Doug Walters, Bob Cowper, Grahame Thomas, Tony Lock, John Inverarity & Johnny Martin would all be at the fore. This is a snippet of Australian cricket in the mid sixties. Whilst much is written at test level - there is much less so for the Sheffield Shield. Hope this gives a flavour of the times. Trust you enjoy the episode. If you wish to comment, feel free at "idealinsport@gmail.com" That's stumps, thank you ball boys, thank you Hawk Eye.

1966 Rugby League St George

We look back at Rugby League in Australia as at 1966. At that time the premier competition was the New South Wales Rugby Football League comprising ten teams - all from New South Wales. The mighty St George team were on a 10 consecutive premiership run - but how would they fare in 1966 with the retirement of Captain-Coach Norm Provan. It is a brief look at the league, the Grand Final and the four "immortals" who all played for St George in the 1960's. Norm Provan, Reg Gasnier, Johnny Raper & Graeme Langlands. Trust you enjoy the episode. Thank you ball boys, thank you Hawk Eye.

1966 Australian Rules Football St Kilda

In 1966, the game of Australian rules football was very different. The premier competition was the Victorian Football League. Twelve teams based in Victoria all playing on a Saturday afternoon on suburban grounds. Grounds that were often muddy & wet. The game controlled by one umpires was a stop / start affair.. Players playing in set positions on the field. Drop kicks, flat punts and the coaches message .......... "do not handball on the backline" This episode is simply a snap shot of the game at a point in time. Who were the clubs & their supporter base. How had they fared to date. Who were favoured in 1966. It turns out the best teams of the year were Collingwood, St Kilda, Geelong & Essendon. Who would prevail and how was the game broadcast to the fans. Brings bad fond memories of childhood. Trust you enjoy the episode Thank you balls boys, thank you Hawk Eye. DA

1965 Golf Peter Thomson

Peter Thomson is remembered for his five British Open and three Australian Open titles. His legacy to the game of golf is however far greater. than just as a player. He took the game to all parts of the world where he excelled. He was an administrator, a journalist, commentator and course designer. Born in suburban Melbourne and raised in the post war era, he was a self taught player who first played on the local municipal course access the road from his home. He remained grounded and humble in assessing his outstanding career which extended beyond three decades. His great love was the links styled golf of Britain and Australia. That is where he played his best golf. Never a long hitter of the ball, he was strategic in his play and sought to avoid trouble. This enabled his great success in Europe where the courses and conditions could be less than perfect. Peter's finest win came in 1965, in a British Open field that included Jack Nicklaus & Arnold Palmer. It demonstrated to any doubters that he could beat the best in the world. Trust you enjoy a short tour of Peter Thomson's career. Thank you ball boys, thank you Hawk Eye.

1964 Swimming Dawn Fraser

Dawn Fraser is considered Australian greatest Olympic champion and greatest female athlete. Dawn won gold medals in the 100m freestyle event at three successive Olympics. She made history as the first female to swim the event under one minute and held the world record for the event for 15 years. Famously, Dawn has also courted controversy. She was banned at age 12yrs through no fault of her own then after the Rome Olympics and finally after the Tokyo Olympics which ended her career. Dawn has also experienced grief and challenging times. Subjects that she deals with openly. Dawn.s background and down to earth, knockabout approach to life has endeared her to the Australian public. She has used that profile to champion causes such as the Olympics and charities, particularly those assisting people with disabilities or disadvantage. There are champions and champions. Of all of those, Dawn stands at the front of the queue. Her life is remarkable. In this episode we look at some aspects of Dawns life with a focus on 1964. Trust you enjoy the episode. That's stumps. DA.

1964 Australian Rules Ron Barassi

Ron Barassi is a legend in Australian Rules football. No player / coach has a greater profile. No one has done more to change the game. No person has done more to promote the game. Ron Barassi played 254 games kicking 330 goals. He coached 515 matches. In that time he was part of six premierships as a player and four more as a coach. The father /son rule was created to enable Ron Barassi to play for the Melbourne FC. He as the first player to play the position of ruck rover. He pioneered the modern game with pace and handball, famously winning the 1970 grand final as a consequence. But it is the personal story that is fascinating. Losing his father in the war. Mentored by the great Norm Smith, Establishing himself as a footballer in a great Melbourne side and his career as a coach. He was hard and a tough task master, but those who could survive under his style of leadership thrived and loved the man. Post his career he was much loved for his passion for the game and knowledge. Ron passed away in 2023 aged 87 years. He has a bronze statue at the MCG. That says it all. To know more of Ron, there is his book Barassi ; The biography. But in today's episode, this is a summary only of some aspects of Ron's football life. Until next time. Thank you ball boys, thank you Hawk Eye. DA

1963 Netball Joyce Brown

Joyce Brown is remembered as the outstanding coach of the Australian Netball team (the Diamonds). Together they won multiple World titles. Joyce was also a fabulous player in her own right. She was the captain of the Australian team to win the first ever World Championship in England in 1963. She was also selected as a player in the Netball Team of the Century. But the influence of Joyce extends beyond the statistics. Joyce was a pioneer, trailblazer and advocate for both netball and women's sport generally. Much of the popularity which netball enjoys today can be attributed to the work of Joyce - even though she would not hear of it. As a coach, she would make it her business to know her players and build relationships. Her role was not only to make her players better athletes but also to be well rounded people with strong values. Joyce was a coach ahead of her time. Someone who would think differently to the prevailing norm. Someone who would look to other sports to improve her game of choice. This episode is a potted history of Australian netball using Joyce as the vehicle to do so. To learn more of Joyce Brown and her thoughts on sport and life generally, would recommend you to read her book ...... No Limits. Until the next episode. That's stumps. Thank you ballboys. Thank you Hawk Eye.

1962 Cycling Sid Patterson

Sid Patterson was an outstanding track cyclist winning two World Amateur titles in the Sprint & Pursuit disciplines and a further two World Professional titles in the Pursuit event. He won Australian titles on the track in twelve consecutive years. It was a time when track cycling was popular in Australia. Crowds would flock to such events and the main drawcard were Sid Patterson & Russell Mockridge. The two were great rivals, team mates and friends. Their personalities were complete contrasts which made the rivalry even more fascinating. Sid was a man of the people. Reserved by nature. Humble in victory. It belied his competitive spirit. He had a strong work ethic and turned up to each event physically prepared and with an eye for detail regarding his equipment. He was fiercely loyal to Australia and did the country proud in his trips to Europe where he took on the best riders in the world. Sid Patterson passed away age 72 years in 1999. This is part of his story. It includes his most satisfying victory - the Austral Wheel Race in 1962. That's stumps. Thank you ball boys. Thank you Hawk Eye.

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