Latest news with #DonBradman
NZ Herald
5 days ago
- Sport
- NZ Herald
The best tours in Melbourne, Australia
Uncover hidden laneway bars with Depot Adventures Melbourne has a reputation for incredible cocktails, but the question travellers may struggle with is, where do you find them? It's a question answered by Depot Adventures, who run tours to four bars you wouldn't discover alone. Drop into the bluesy bar beneath Driver Lane, find Mill Place Merchants, a cosy speakeasy behind a hidden door in what you think is a quiet part of town, meet the team at Little Lon and learn why they thought it might be a good idea to build gin distillery in a former brothel, and get the opportunity to meet the owners, bar tenders and mixologists serving up Melbourne's best drinks. Your guide can also give you tips for other venues around town. Ghost tour of Pentridge Prison Once a prison for hardened criminals, the Pentridge Precinct is now run by the National Trust and you can follow a warden through the cells as he does his rounds during a night watch tour. Traipse through the old cellblocks and exercise yards and hear the sad and spooky tales of prisoners once held behind these walls. Other areas of the precinct have been renovated and high-end bars and accommodation are open to the public. Have a drink at Olivine downstairs and grab a quick dinner at Brewdog. Sports arenas Passionate about football or cricket? A Premium Access behind-the-scenes tour at Melbourne's iconic MCG takes visitors through warm-up rooms, locker areas, ice baths, viewing boxes, training pitches and into the media room. Volunteer guides are founts of sports knowledge and take pride in their beloved ground. Follow up with the Keeper's Collection tour and see the world's second-oldest cricket bat, made in 1746. Other items of note are Don Bradman's baggy green, a tandem bicycle used to win an Australian gold medal in the 1956 Olympics, jerseys, running shoes, trophies, footy records, cricket stumps, hockey sticks and anything you can imagine that's related to rugby, football, cricket and sports in Australia. Request that All Blacks memorabilia be curated for your tour. Ultimate Winery tours Head out of town to the Mornington Peninsula for an unforgettable Ultimate Winery tour experience at Pt Leo Estate. Enjoy a wine tasting, then dine at the two-hatted Laura restaurant. The signature experience starts with champagne and oysters topped with ponzu and pickled ginger. Southern rock lobster is flambéed at the table, and a luscious wagyu is served with ice cream made from local avocado and wasabi. There's house-made cheese wrapped in Pinot Noir leaves from the estate and strawberries straight from the Pt Leo Estate Garden. By the end of the meal, you'll need a walk so follow a tour guide around Australia's largest privately-owned sculpture park as they explain the concepts and history of some of the 70 large-scale works by artists like Yayoi Kusama and KAWS. State library tour If books are your passion, the state library runs free tours, which is fitting given it was one of the first free libraries in the world. Learn about the history of Australia's oldest home of tomes, spend some time with a rare book or out-of-print magazine in the heritage reading rooms, and get into the archives to explore the collection of print and digital works like audiovisual files, music scores, plays, photographs, vintage postcards, and, of course, books. Wander through the halls and savour the rotating artworks and museum pieces of the collection. Volunteer guides are so knowledgeable and passionate about the history of Melbourne and Victoria, and skilled in helping visitors find specific information.
Times
16-05-2025
- Sport
- Times
Bob Cowper obituary: Australian cricketer and Ashes triple centurion
If you look down the list of the highest individual scores in Ashes cricket, it is no surprise to find the names of Len Hutton and Don Bradman at the top. In third place comes the former Australian captain Bobby Simpson, followed by Bob Cowper, whose 307 at Melbourne during the 1965-66 series makes him one of only four batsmen (although Bradman achieved the feat twice) to have recorded a triple century in 148 years of Test cricket between England and Australia. He also remains the only batsman to do so on Australian soil, the monumental innings by Hutton, Bradman and Simpson all taking place at English Test grounds. At the time, Cowper had a point to prove. His epic innings came in the fifth
Sydney Morning Herald
15-05-2025
- Sport
- Sydney Morning Herald
2009: He's brash, but boy can Aka play
Being a Brisbane-based player was good for him. Time in different states and the mixing with a variety of people helped develop a broader outlook on life. I remember walking around the Adelaide Oval with young players, explaining the history of the ground. We got to the Don Bradman stand and Jason looked up and said: 'I've heard about that dude.' When I left Brisbane to coach Richmond, he turned up unannounced at my office just to say g'day. I was glad to see him, but it confirmed my belief that here was a young man who needed to be loved. As a footballer, Aka has been outstanding. His ability to read the play and his skills on both sides have no match. He loved the big occasion and delivered. He passed the truest test, grand final day. That he left Brisbane after three premierships is a bit sad. He fell out with his coach and some senior players, because they felt he put himself above the team and disclosed in house football matters. I thought a move to Melbourne would be good for him. Being in a football-mad city, where there were dozens of other stars would help him keep perspective. But I wondered about the wisdom of the Western Bulldogs taking a battle-scarred 30-year-old who could be divisive. After finishing sixth in 2006, the Bulldogs believed that their window of opportunity was about to open. So Aka got a three-year contract. The thinking was that his exquisite finishing skills would help get the Bulldogs over the line in two or three close encounters a season. Not much happened in 2007. The team slipped to 13th and the star recruit struggled to have any impact out wide on a wing. Things improved in 2008. The team finished third and, closer to goal, Aka gave terrific value. But there were issues that upset some. The end-of-game handstand was not appreciated, nor were some of his newspaper columns. Loading This year Aka has met the challenges. After losing three on the trot, question marks were being put on the Dogs. In the past two weeks, he has singlehandedly dragged his team over the line against Adelaide and Melbourne. A few months back, the Brownlow medallist said this would be his last season. Now he says that if the coach asked him to play on, he would decide at season's end. It's a tough call for Rodney Eade and his match committee. In many ways they won't want to rely on a 33-year-old who can cause problems. Would Aka play on if asked? You bet he would. In many ways he's still a big kid who craves attention. But he's also a bloody good footballer. Aka, I salute you.
The Age
15-05-2025
- Sport
- The Age
2009: He's brash, but boy can Aka play
Being a Brisbane-based player was good for him. Time in different states and the mixing with a variety of people helped develop a broader outlook on life. I remember walking around the Adelaide Oval with young players, explaining the history of the ground. We got to the Don Bradman stand and Jason looked up and said: 'I've heard about that dude.' When I left Brisbane to coach Richmond, he turned up unannounced at my office just to say g'day. I was glad to see him, but it confirmed my belief that here was a young man who needed to be loved. As a footballer, Aka has been outstanding. His ability to read the play and his skills on both sides have no match. He loved the big occasion and delivered. He passed the truest test, grand final day. That he left Brisbane after three premierships is a bit sad. He fell out with his coach and some senior players, because they felt he put himself above the team and disclosed in house football matters. I thought a move to Melbourne would be good for him. Being in a football-mad city, where there were dozens of other stars would help him keep perspective. But I wondered about the wisdom of the Western Bulldogs taking a battle-scarred 30-year-old who could be divisive. After finishing sixth in 2006, the Bulldogs believed that their window of opportunity was about to open. So Aka got a three-year contract. The thinking was that his exquisite finishing skills would help get the Bulldogs over the line in two or three close encounters a season. Not much happened in 2007. The team slipped to 13th and the star recruit struggled to have any impact out wide on a wing. Things improved in 2008. The team finished third and, closer to goal, Aka gave terrific value. But there were issues that upset some. The end-of-game handstand was not appreciated, nor were some of his newspaper columns. Loading This year Aka has met the challenges. After losing three on the trot, question marks were being put on the Dogs. In the past two weeks, he has singlehandedly dragged his team over the line against Adelaide and Melbourne. A few months back, the Brownlow medallist said this would be his last season. Now he says that if the coach asked him to play on, he would decide at season's end. It's a tough call for Rodney Eade and his match committee. In many ways they won't want to rely on a 33-year-old who can cause problems. Would Aka play on if asked? You bet he would. In many ways he's still a big kid who craves attention. But he's also a bloody good footballer. Aka, I salute you.
