Pakenham sports fan Brett ‘Bomber’ Templeton.LOYAL Pakenham Cricket and Football Club mascot Brett ‘Bomber’ Templeton found a new and unconventional way of getting to cricket training recently.
On training nights Brett catches the train from his work in Dandenong to Pakenham station and then walks up to the ground, however on a recent evening he decided to take a short cut with interesting results.
As the Lions players were finishing their net session about 7pm and were about to pack up the gear and nets, a police car drove up and out hopped Bomber with thistles stuck to his clothes and a huge smile on his face.
As the perplexed Lions players picked the foliage off the club’s number one supporter, he told this tale of woe.
“I was trying to find a short cut up to the ground so I could be here early for training,” Bomber said.
“I was walking along the railway line near the start of the Delfin (estate) when I fell down a bit of a ditch and got stuck in a thistle bush.
“I realised that I wouldn’t be able to get myself out of the bush so I dialled 000 and three policeman searched for me for about an hour until they found me, got me out and then brought me up to training.”
The Pakenham boys were said to be in tears of laughter.
A CLEAN-UP of Norm Pace’s house has turned up the 1935-1936 cricket premiership pennant of the Tynong Cricket Club.
The surprise find came when Mr Pace packed up his house to move from his Templestowe home to a hostel. He requested the flag be presented back to the club, which is currently in recess.
The 97-year-old played as a spin bowler for Tynong in the Bunyip and District Cricket Association after being poached from Nar Nar Goon.
Captaining the premiership side, Mr Pace made the team practice in a local farmer’s paddock and at the time worked for the local forestry commission.
Mr Pace’s sons Keith and Graham, along with some of his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, attended the Tynong rooms when Mr Pace presented the flag to Norm Henwood, president of the Tynong Recreation Reserve.
Mr Pace said all his players could bat and bowl and lots of fielding practice made them a good team.
“I’d run the tripe out of them if they dropped a catch,” Mr Pace said.
The Tynong Recreation Reserve is framing the maroon and gold pennant, which includes the team’s names, and it will hang in the Tynong rooms.
IT was party time in Garfield last week as resident Bessie Slater turned 97.
Bessie’s daughter Margaret Roots joined staff and volunteers from Cardinia MECWA in wishing Bessie many happy returns.
A special birthday cake from the Garfield Bakery was a highlight of the celebration.
