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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2001 Week 2 Hansard (28 February) . . Page.. 354 ..

MR HIRD (continuing):

Our Don took on the best and beat them, in particular he beat our old masters, the English. Not only did he beat them once, he beat them on numerous occasions. He beat them so badly that they had to change how they played the game of cricket. He was Australia's ray of hope during those dreadful Depression years, and he maintained his status as we got back on our feet and really started to develop as a great country.

I recall stories of how many thousands of people would stand outside the Myers' Elizabeth Street store in Melbourne, which kept a large scoreboard-covering its first and second floor-on which people could watch the progress of the test matches. When word got around that the Don was batting, the crowd would swell and block the roadway and the tramlines. Offices would empty and, if the game was at the MCG, the crowd would swell almost instantaneously.

Australia needed a hero, and in Don we had one. As a point of interest, I asked a young friend yesterday what the Don meant to her. Of course, she had never seen him play and is not particularly interested in cricket. Her reply was: "He was what being the best was all about, when sport was played for its own sake and not for money."

Mr Speaker, as a cricket lover I had the pleasure of watching the Don play at Manuka in 1963 on a special occasion, and over the years I have auctioned many pieces of memorabilia at various charity auctions. They are always popular and always fetched good prices. I join with members of this place, and sports lovers everywhere, in offering my condolences to his family.

MRS BURKE: Thank you for the opportunity to say for the record how this Australian legend affected many people's lives, and none more than my father in the United Kingdom. I recall dad telling me on numerous occasions his vivid recollections of the 1932-33 Bodyline series, and of the Bradman Invincibles of 1948 who certainly, Mr Hird, taught the Poms how to play cricket.

It is very clear that Sir Don Bradman was a man born for his time. He was humble, gracious, down to earth, a very ordinary human being who, without really realising it, or personally taking great accolades for his achievements, achieved extraordinary feats that affected millions of human beings worldwide at a time when it was most needed. His life story is an inspiration to us all, as he was someone who rose from very humble beginnings to become one of the world's greatest sportspeople. I think it is important, Mr Speaker, that we keep the legacy of Donald Bradman alive. Sir Don, we will miss you.

MR OSBORNE: Mr Speaker, I will be brief but I, like most people, mourned the passing of Sir Donald Bradman the other day. Growing up in Sydney, I, like a lot of Australia males, did two things. I played footy in the winter and cricket in the summer. Actually, if I had had a choice, I would have been a cricketer, but I do not think I would have been able to feed the family very well given my cricketing abilities, so I chose to play rugby league.

I have been thinking about that period of my life recently, Mr Speaker, and I had three dreams as a kid. One was to be on a football card, and I was-I had pretty big dreams as child. The second was to play football and win a grand final, and I was lucky enough to

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