International Cricket Breakfast
Sunday 21 February 2010 Save the date!
International Cricket Function, Sunday 21 February 2010, Double Header Australia v New Zealand women's 20/20 at 3pm, then Australia v West Indies men's 20/20, with lunch at Wrest Point at noon.
Again we will have a ferry ride to Bellerive Oval and back. Don't miss your opportunity to attend this fantastic day. Download the Booking Form.
Australia v South Africa Test Match January 2009.
Greg Champion, of Coodabeen Champions.
Once again a highlight on Hobart's January social calendar was The Lord's Taverners Australia Tasmanian Branch Inc breakfast held at Wrest Point Casino on Sunday 18 January prior to the Australia versus South Africa One Day International.
The two hundred and sixty three guests who attended were treated to a jam packed morning filled with a variety of entertainment, presentations and a thought provoking discussion. This function certainly fulfilled one of the objectives of the group, to conduct fund raising events which generate enjoyment and fellowship among members and our guests.
Special guests at the breakfast included The Honourable Lara Giddings, Deputy Premier and Minister for Health and Human Services, who welcomed all in attendance, panel members, Jack Clarke, Chairman, Cricket Australia, Jim Maxwell, Legend and ABC Radio Commentator, and Jason Krejza, Tasmanian Test Cricketer, Junior Taverners 2008, Damon Martin and Allison Kamphuis and their families.
The breakfast flowed seamlessly due to the wonderful efforts of MC Mark Thomas.
As part of the proceedings Lara Giddings presented the awards to the 2008 Junior Taverners' Awards to Damon Smith and Allison Kamphuis.
Greg Champion, of Coodabeen Champions fame, entertained the guests with some witty and sometimes irreverent song lyrics. Various versions of the Australian national anthem were presented as well as original song lyrics written by Tasmanian Taverners' Chairman, Paul Sheahan, dedicated to Jason Krejza, and based on John Lennon's classic, Give Peace a Chance.
The panel discussion featuring Jack Clarke, Jim Maxwell and Jason Krejza
The panel discussion featuring Jack Clarke, Jim Maxwell and Jason Krejza provided some stimulating and thought provoking ideas for an early Sunday morning. Jack shared his passion for supporting the growth of indigenous cricket and providing pathways for talented indigenous cricketers into state and national teams. Jim Maxwell shared his amazing knowledge of all things to do with the game- he truly is a living breathing computer of cricket statistics and knowledge and Jason talked about his personal cricket journey and his determination to play at the highest level and represent his country again. Of course this received over whelming support of the audience.
We would like to thank all those who supported this event, both sponsors and attendees.
The next Lord's Taverners' event will be the famous Ron Barassi Senior Memorial Debate. This will be held on June 17th 2009.
Please book early to avoid disappointment as this event is always a sell-out.
Australia v Sri Lanka Test Match November 2007.
Guests at the annual international cricket breakfast during the Test Match with Sri Lanka at Bellerive were reminded how much the game has changed as they listened in awe of former Australian fast bowler Ian Meckiff. Ian discussed the issue of bowling action rules with Tassie Tigers coach Tim Coyle and Chairman of Cricket Australia Creagh O’Connor.
Other topics of interest included how Tassie finally achieved the dream of Pura Cup victories (especially delighting the audience with the “no-dickheads policy” for the team) and clarification of a number of topical cricket issues that Cricket Australia had been dealing with (such as how still photographers should operate).
One Day International Breakfast - January 2007
It had to happen, but finally, two Paul Sheahans on the same bill at a Tasmanian Taverners function. The annual international cricket breakfast prior to the Australia v New Zealand ODI again hosted a class bill of UK Taverners.
John “Fingers” Fingleton (auctioneer extraordinaire who also delivered The Cricketers Grace ….. “and deliver us our LBW’s”) comedian Bob “The Cat” Bevan (back in Hobart and splitting sides again after entertaining at our ODI breakfast in 2003).
Our all-star panel comprising Chairman of Cricket Australia, Creagh O’Connor, ABC radio commentator, Glenn Mitchell and former Australian Test cricketer and President of The Victorian Taverners, A. Paul Sheahan. (The “Administrator”, “Commentator” and “Participator and Orator")
As is standard for these days, nearly 300 guests travelled to Bellerive oval after the breakfast across the Derwent River to a day in the sun.
Test Match Breakfast - November 2005
Almost 300 Taverners and their guests, including National Conference delegates and their wives, were entertained by an eminent panel comprising Mike Coward, Tony Cozier, Fazeer Mohammed, newly-appointed Chairman of Cricket Australia, Creagh O’Connor and “Coodabeen Champion”, Greg Champion.
Not only did Greg join the panel for a humorous and insightful discussion of various cricket issues, but he delighted the spell-bound crowd with his own inimitable musical style.
Following the breakfast, all in attendance travelled across the majestic Derwent River by ferry to the picturesque Bellerive Oval for Day Three action in the Test between Australia and The West Indies.
One-Day International Breakfast - January 2005
Ever been at a breakfast and heard Richie Benaud, Don Bradman, Bruce McAvaney, Sam Newman, Tony Greig and Gary Ayres speak? And seen and heard David Boon, Allan Border, Mark Taylor, Brian Davison and Merv Hughes on stage?
Well if you were amongst the nearly 380 lucky ones at The Lord’s Taverners breakfast at Wrest Point on Sunday 16 January prior to the Australia v Pakistan One-Day International, you can consider yourself to have experienced the breakfast of a lifetime.
These breakfasts are fast becoming legendary and with line-ups such as these, is it any wonder. This was the third since they began in 2003 and guests were treated to a day to remember, with breakfast followed by a ferry trip to Bellerive and a game that was in doubt until the last couple of overs.
The Premier of Tasmania, Paul Lennon, opened proceedings with the traditional Taverners toast to the visiting teams and the gathering warmly welcomed the response from the Chairman of Cricket Australia, Bob Merriman.
And then the panel discussion that ensued had the 380 guests spellbound alternating between awe and hilarity. MC Mark Thomas conducted proceedings with his usual great ability, flair and professionalism, and the breakfast closed to the unique talents of local newcomers to the world of musical comedy, Tully and Sam. Fresh from the Comedy festival, these youngsters provided a fitting finale to the morning and ensured all concerned boarded "The Cartela" in high spirits.
The morning also provided the penultimate stage in Boonie’s Walk For Hope as the Taverners hosted an auction of memorabilia and acknowledged the sensational performance of Boonie, his family and co-walkers such as Allan Border, Dean Jones, Merv Hughes, Billy Brownless and comedian Andrew Startin, and all associated with the walk., including major sponsors NEC and sports management company Sportspro.
Boonie and the CEO of NEC, Australia Rick Tanaka spoke emotionally of the cause that united them, funds for the Bone Marrow Donor Institute whilst poet Chris Driscoll delivered his “Ode to Boonie” that brought a lump to the throat.
Oh, did I mention that the voices of Benaud, Bradman, Newman, Ayres and Greig were “provided” by comedian and impersonator, Andrew Startin, a truly “SSSSSPPPPPECCCCCIALLLL” Talent and a great bloke!
Have Van, Can Travel
So you are a widow in your early 70’s, having grieved for six months and have resigned yourself to a future of a rocking chair, rug over the knees and knitting for the local retirement home, right.
WRONG, WRONG, WRONG if you are Jean Parker. You decide there is still heaps of time for living, so you buy a 7 metre Mazda Coaster van and take off. That was April 2004 and nine months later you find yourself in Tassie, you hear about The Taverners cricket breakfast on 936 ABC Hobart and make contact with Paul Sheahan. As a cricket-tragic, you find your long-time heroes Allan Border and David Boon at the breakfast and you are in heaven; now for real bragging rights back in Coffs Harbour you get photos with these icons.
And the cricket at Bellerive is a real revelation on an unusually cool Hobart summer day – “feels just like watching the football at home” says Jean as she rugs up in woolly coat, scarf, beanie and gloves.
One-Day International Breakfast - January 2004
Prior to the One-Day international between Australia and Zimbabwe the second international breakfast entertained some 300 guests at Wrest Point Casino. A star-studded line-up headed by former Australian Captain Mark Taylor kept the crowd spell-bound before a ferry took them across the River Derwent to Bellerive for the game.
Dean Jones, current Chairman of the Zimbabwe Cricket Union, Peter Chingoka and former Rhodesian and Tasmanian first class batsman Brian Davison formed a panel to discuss a wide range of cricket issues. Prior to the panel discussion, Peter Chingoka responded to a welcome from Parliamentary Secretary Lara Giddings (representing Premier Jim Bacon who was on leave) with an update on the state of cricket in Zimbabwe that was greatly appreciated by the guests.
The morning was topped off by a surprise appearance by Tassie’s own “Singing Waiters” led by chef (and Taverner) John X, and to the delight of the crowd.
One-Day International Breakfast - January 2003
The first Taverners event for a number of years was a breakfast at Wrest Point Hotel Casino on the morning of the One-Day International between Australia and England on 11 January.
Among the 250 guests were Premier Jim Bacon, Deputy Premier Paul Lennon, Leader of the Opposition, Rene Hidding, National Taverners Chairman Andrew Buckle and nearly 50 English visitors on cricket tours for the Ashes series.
The event showcased the very best that Hobart has to offer, from the magnificent Wrest point Hotel and the spectacular Derwent River to the showpiece of Tasmanian sport, the redeveloped Bellerive Oval.
Entertainment was provided by Hobart comedy duo Craig Wellington and John X (Wellington-X), eminent Taverners MCC Chairman Sir Tim Rice, Ian Healy and the uproariously funny Bob “The Cat” Bevan, a Trustee of the UK Taverners traveling around Australia with a group from Warren Rumsey travel.
As Wendy Kennedy noted in her column in the Hobart Mercury, Sir Tim and “The Cat” reduced the crowd to tears with their delightful yarns and Pommy humour. Wendy added, “From Wrest point, the Cartela delivered the rollicking group to Bellerive quay where we were picked up by red double-decker buses, mine complete with an English driver who had us laughing all the way to Bellerive Oval for that wonderful day of cricket that has now become an important part of our sporting history.