Here's a cracking shot of three great mates in 1961, at their final St Joseph’s (now Newman) College Sports Day at Rosalie Park, Shenton Park.
Left to right is Graham ‘Wally’ Walden, Dale Neill and Phil DeGaris. In the background on the right, in a tracksuit, is Wayne Spencer, but the name of the lad on the left, with the irresistibly cheeky grin (in white shorts) is currently unknown. (We'd love to identify him!)
Dale is Master Photographer and lecturer - hence we know it was shot on Kodak Panchromatic film loaded in a Hanimex C35 - but this brilliant photo was taken by another of their mates, self-appointed and tireless St Joseph’s College Old Boys’ Coordinator Michael Quigley (1961), who'd broken his thumb practising for the broad jump on the School oval in Salvado Road the week before, so he was relegated to assisting the Brothers by collecting event results.
Michael recalls Dale handing him his camera at some point during the day and, after passing on some basic instructions, sent Michael to take photos - most of which, Michael thought, were terrible. Luckily, not this cracker!
Of the day, Dale recounted recently:
"We were all members of Green faction - 'Benedict' - named after a saint. Unfortunately, none of the saintliness rubbed off onto the three of us. From memory Wolly and Phil were Faction Captain and VC.
I was universally hopeless at all athletics but in 1961 I trained 'religiously' for three months, pounding the pavements around Wembley every night.
One night, around midnight, I decided to run all the way home from my girlfriend's home in The Grove, Wembley. About two miles. It was really dark as I pounded the footpath. All went well for the first mile, jogging in the cool night air with dreams of my girlfriend floating through my mind.
I never saw the dog asleep on the footpath. And Harada the Hound didn't see me. One foot landed on some part of Harada's anatomy. It was soft and squishy. Harada emitted a belch of blood-curdling yelps and barks and set about chasing me up the footpath. I was virtually freewheeling in midair, cartoon fashion, my heart racing.
It was the fastest run of my life!
That extra training paid off. My reward, a week later - a second in the 'D' grade 100 yards!!”
_____________________
Photo courtesy Dale Neill (1961).