Henry Bodman (62/63) recently returned from Canberra

Henry Bodman has recently returned from a reunion in Canberra, he writes:- 

PMARFC Reunion – The First of the Fiftieths

. What a vice like grip PNG has on all of us when we snatch at every opportunity and excuse to share more time with those who know PNG as we did and do.

1960 saw the first of the many premiership trophies won by the Port Moresby Australian Rules Football Club and from this start followed those of 1961 (Lightning, summer and main seasons) 1962, 1964, 1966 and 1968.

With the last of the 40^th reunions conducted at Maroochydore in 2008, Jack Moffatt offered to host the first of the 50ths in Canberra. And thus, as Captain, Coach and sole selector, Jack turned on a weekend which will be well remembered by every one of the 100+ in attendance. From the collection at the airport by Hughie Maher, Wally Cook and  Roger Evans .to the final evening under the gum trees,  the weekend flowed smoothly from one venue and ambience to the next – in all, three;  and each quite different and catering to all tastes and expectations..

The ever present and reliable Brian “Tangles” Pearce and Max Palmer ensured everyone was properly welcomed, watered, fed, and informed on the three day programme.

Of interest is the fact that not one of the five members of the triumphant 1960 Demons’ side -. Captain Brian Sherwood, Barry Whish-Wilson, Rod Sergeant, Derek Sholl, or Noel Kenna - could remember playing a draw in the grand final and having to win a ‘play-off’ the following weekend to claim the cup. Fifty years can do things like that but all remembered being personally presented with the “Best Man Afield” trophy in the same game.

By contrast, George Bottriell played in Moresby’s  first team in 1955 and his memory remains as sharp as a tack which it needs to be to keep up with wife Dulcie who, approaching 90, is still playing competitive tennis on the Bellarine Peninsula. Equally impressive was Jim Thomas, resplendent in a mint condition Papuan Rules Blazer of 1956 vintage. It fitted him like a glove and there is no stoop evident in this youthful 80 + year old. The opportunities for the ‘newbies of the seventies’ to meet these ‘legends of the fifties’ was not lost and was particularly exploited on the second evening which was conducted at the swank Gungalan.Golf Club where the all important tucker was a further reflection the great management of the Canberra committee.

Henry and crew

The initial reception and gala evening of the weekend was conducted at the Ainslie Australian Rules Club which had all of the facilities and service needed for  the exceptional night which followed. Club memorabilia was spread over a number of tables. With the original burnt in the Colts Club House in Boroko,  Bill Vivian’s replacement Honour Board was on show for the first time. With the discovery of some of the ‘legends of the fifties’,  Bill had to start from scratch after his first completed Board was, necessarily, revised.

At this function all in attendance were issued with a copy of the PMARFC story  “Long Taim Stori Bilong Port Moresby Australian Rules Football Club 1955-1975.” This expensive 60 glossy paged production is already a collectors’ item – anyone looking for one will need to approach Jack Moffatt.  Those who can remember John  Ilian (DIES) will know what a professional job has been done of this important record. John’s efforts were recognised on the weekend with the award of the coveted “Red Ribbon Award”.

While the opening night and weekend will be remembered by all as an enormous success and thoroughly enjoyable, few will remember it as fondly as Henry Bodman who was awarded a Moresby Past Players’ Association Life Membership – the first issued in 35 years.

Predictably, there is a Grey Nomads component to the Demons ranks and on the third night all gathered  under the gum trees on a hill behind Canberra and got stuck into the rich brown suds and pizzas. Rose and Jock Collins, for the third successive reunion, presided over our ‘last supper event’ and  co-ordinated the regular and constant supply of suds and pizzas This was probably as near as the weekend came to parties as we remember them in Moresby - though this occasion remained ‘couth’(versus uncouth) to the end.   Such was the enthusiasm engendered,  that Kerry and Graeme “Moose” Tilyard offered to host the 2012 Demons Reunion in Tasmania.

Late press indicates another case of blood rushing to the head with Noel and Bev Kenna looking at 2014 in Warrnambool.

Those years in Papua New Guinea can be blamed for a lot - including these great get togethers. Don’t you pity those who didn’t experience life and living in Papua New Guinea?

Thanks for that submission Henry.