AN UNDISCOVERED STAR IN OUR MIDST

Members and friends of this Rotary Club will be aware of other members who were football stars in their earlier days. Greg Shambrook played Rugby for Australia at international level, Ray Davies won a premiership with Richmond Reserves and Tony Ladgrove was a prolific goalkicker in country football. Bob Manuell played District Cricket for Collingwood. It came as quite a surprise however to discover that our own John Hardiman has long been hiding his light under a bushell.
John played football for Hawthorn and this could explain his friendship with Jeff Kennett who John organised to be our breakfast speaker last year. He also played for Richmond for 3 years but fortunately has since seen the light and now follows Collingwood. Despite much research I could not find the reason for John falling out with his old clubs, but rumour has it that it was the thorny subject of money. John was not paying them enough to get a game! However unlike any of the previously mentioned stars of our Rotary Club, John managed to get his picture on a cigarette card of the day as proof of his stature at the time. The sveldt looking John was described as a "follower" whereas today I would call him a leader or an "allrounder".

Congratulations John!