■ It will be a sad day if one of the founding clubs of the old Footscray District League fails to take part in the 2015 season. When the league was formed in 1931, Parkside fielded two teams, Parkside A and B. The 1931 grand final was played between Parkside A and Braybrook, with the first premiership cup going to Parkside. Footy in the west will be much poorer if Parkside sits out this season with the hope of rejoining in 2016. Love them or hate them – and that is the usual emotion for the club – they’re an integral part of the history and future of the league. Whatever it takes to keep the doors of this club open should be done by everyone. I mean everyone, from those in positions of power at Parkside to every club in the competition, to the WRFL headquarters and AFL Victoria. Don’t let this club die because once the doors are closed there will be no turning back.
■ Sunshine Heights Cricket Club has a big event this week, celebrating its 60th anniversary with a function on Wednesday night, February 25. The club has produced one Test cricketer in Colin ‘Funky’ Miller. A few well-known western suburbs sporting identities have represented the club such as Ian Rickman, Chris Burton, Ray Walker and John Markovski. Cameron Ling will be guest speaker at the function, which includes a multimedia presentation of the club’s 60 years. Well done to current president Chris Hatzoglou and his committee and may there be many more anniversaries to come.
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Hoppers Crossing Sports Club awards last weekend were held at the club and attended by more than 100 people. The Hall of Fame now boasts three new inductees in Mark Mitchell, Dale Dickson and Eddy Cumper and a new life member in Ron Meddings. Ryan Kitchen won the Rising Star award, Billy Davis was Member of the Year, Lisa Vann won Committee Person of the Year and David Lannigan and Nicole Bunworth took out the staff awards. The club has its roots in football and cricket but it has become bigger by embracing darts, netball, fishing, golf, swimming, Auskick and Milo cricket. This is certainly the way of the future for the survival of all sports clubs.
Kevin Hillier
