Legend: Shepparton and Yorta Yorta man Paul Briggs was awarded the prestigious Jack Titus Service Award earlier this month by the AFL.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
While he was typically modest in receiving the award, you wouldn’t find any anyone who said he didn’t deserve it.
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Some people are born leaders and Shepparton Yorta Yorta man Paul Briggs is one of them.
Although quick to point out it was an award to which a lot of people had contributed, Briggs has received the prestigious Jack Titus Service Award from the AFL for his work for the Rumbalara Football Netball Club, football in general and First Nations people.
He said his contribution over 50 years was picking up and continuing the legacies of the likes of other First Nations trailblazers such as his father, Les Briggs, Sir Doug Nicholls and William Cooper to name a few.
He is proud of First Nations footballers who have made an impact going back to the days of the Cummeragunja Invincibles who won six flags in 11 years between 1921 and 1931.
Briggs was a fine footballer himself in his day, a skilful left footer who played in a Tongala premiership side.
A great role model for the community.
Ky women make history
Congratulations are in order to Kyabram Fire Brigade B grade female cricketers with their history-making win in the Goulburn Murray Cricket competition.
The win completed an unbeaten season for the team, and members of it will be able to boast in future years they were the first Kyabram side to win a women’s cricket premiership.
Benalla players answer the call
Benalla Football Netball Club has had a positive response to a recent SOS that the club was in crisis due to player departures.
Club president Lloyd Johnson has reported several footballers have answered the club’s call but it was still up to 15 players short of where it would like to be with the GVL season just around the corner.
The Benalla netballers, who were in a similar position with a shortage of player numbers, have also been picking up players to help get teams on the courts this season.
Family affair
Kyabram Bowls Club’s recent championships produced a husband and wife in both the finals of the men’s and ladies’ singles championship.
Joe and Mary Greco both made it to their respective finals but neither was able to snare the title.
It was similar scenario but with a different result at the Deniliquin Bowls Club.
Husband and wife Jenny Tonta and Tony Tonta both reached the final of their singles championships and both came away with the title.
Brighton shines
You will have heard the saying ‘‘you’re never too old“.
In the case of bowls it could also be ‘‘you’re never too young“.
This is certainly the case for Echuca 12-year-old Jacob Brighton.
Young gun: Echuca lawn bowler Jacob Brighton.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
Last week Jacob became the youngest bowler to claim the East Shepparton Bowls Club’s men’s singles championship.
In what was a battle of the young and old, Jacob got the better of 88-year-old Gino Cervi in the final, winning 25-17.
Jacob could pull off another title at the club, as he has also reached the final four in the battle for the B grade title.
Hunter chooses Euroa
Euroa Football Club is continuing to build its ranks for the coming GVL season.
Former Adelaide and St Kilda big man Paul Hunter has selected the Magpies as his affiliate club.
Hunter, who played seven games for St Kilda over a five-year period, will play for Euroa when his commitments with VFL side Port Melbourne allow, so he won’t be a regular for the GVL Magpies.
Finley bolsters midfield
Murray Football League outfit Finley has also been busy, landing three key signings.
The club has identified its midfield as an area it has to bolster and has signed Isaac Corvo, Ethan Reeves and Benji Neale in the hope of remedying this situation.
Both Corvo and Reeves represented Queensland in their junior days.
Corvo also played with Brisbane Lions in the North East Australian Football League and Reeves with Southport Sharks in the same competition.
Neal has a background in rugby but has played at VFL level with Port Melbourne.
So judging on their history they should be valuable acquisitions for the club.
Pekin strikes gold
Stanhope trots trainer Gary Pekin enjoyed a big week last week with winners at the Shepparton and Melton meetings.
At the Shepparton meeting commentator Lachy McIntosh said Pekin “must be giggling to himself’’ when the pacemaker Cheeki Philtra and Beach Time cut at each other in the lead.
Pekin was driving Cresco Goldigger, who was sitting on the back of Cheeki Philtra and was unleashed by Pekin along the sprint lane in the home straight to beat those two warring horses.
It was only Cresco Goldigger’s second win in 34 tries but it was due reward for his consistency of late, with his previous seven starts producing six top-four finishes.
Perkin struck again on Wednesday at Melton driving the Ken Covington-trained trotter Bicardi Wood to his eighth career win.
Pekin made full use of the eight-year-old Bacardi Lindy gelding’s favourable draw to lead all the way, posting a PB mile rate of 2.02.0 in the process.
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