BOB McCORMICK



Name Robert "Bob" McCormick

D.O.B 9.10.1939

Place of Birth. Tamworth NSW (Entitled to be a Maroon supporter as at the under age of 6 months, I was kicked out of Tamworth because I couldn't sing Country & Western.

We then moved to Main Street Kangaroo Point. Shortly after settling, we were traveling along Vulture Street with me crying in the back seat (I thought I was singing) when my elder sister opened the back door and pushed me out. The cars in those days had running boards, which I apparently landed on, and then rolled into the gutter opposite the Cricketers Club, I've been trying to get out of the gutter ever since.

I first started playing squash socially at Toowong Squash Centre. They only played social at Toowong at that time and some players decided to form a club to compete in the Fixture Competition. We arranged a meeting to select a Committee; the nominations for Secretary were a student from the Uni of Queensland and me. We were told that all the ones who wanted to vote for me to go to one corner and those who fancied the Uni guy to go to the opposite corner.

All the Guys fancied me and all the girls fancied the Uni Bloke - including a girl I was keen on. I would have preferred a secret ballot. As it happened, there was more boys than girls in attendance so I was elected Secretary. Some wise guy suggested because we didn't have any money, the Secretary could do that job also , so I was now Secretary/Treasurer and as President they elected a chap who didn't play squash and spent all his spare time renovating his house. So as it turned out I had three jobs.

Anyhow I wrote the Club's constitution (copied almost word for word from one borrowed from Brisbane Squash Centre). I then stole a team from Coorparoo to make up the minimum number of players required to form a Fixture Club, and we were away. Our number one player was Bob Mihell, a State Cricketer who played for University Cricket Club.

I handled the three jobs for I year and then passed it on to the Uni Student, so at least the girls were happy. I switched to Boomerang Squash Club and for the first time I saw how a well structured club operated. At Toowong we didn't even have a club captain, whereas at Boomerang in Joe Williams, we had a Captain which made us the envy of all the other clubs.

One of my first teams at Boomerang was in a C2 team that won the pennant, No 1 was Ray (Mr Squash) Allan, No 2 was Max Collins, No 3 Geoff Gillam, 4 was myself and the No 5 was a first year player called Ray Kettley. The majority of that team went on to play A grade and I finished up in the Drunks Team so everyone was happy. Guess who missed out in a berth in the finals that year.

One season Peter Skelly and I went out to watch an A1 final and we saw Boomerang win. Dave Prickett's team won the pennant and we saw that it was a different game to what we played, it even sounded different. Watching Dave play was witnessing squash at its finest and if more players played that way, squash could become a true spectator sport. However, the depth of the competition allowed each player to seek their own goals and achieve their individual ambitions. Dave's team mates that season were Bob Pareezer, Brian King, and Frank Brand.

I am grateful to the numerous players that represented the Drunk's Team as it enabled us to have fun while remaining competitive. One of my best memories was as Captain when the Drunks Team won the first ever pennant for the Gabba Squash Club. The A4 team also won that night and kept their trophy ahead of ours on the club room wall as they thought it looked better that way but I reinstated our trophy to its proper place ahead of the A4 teams trophy as we beat them by 10 minutes.

One time I was watching the cricket in the club room with Crispo and a few others when Trevor Hardwick's girlfriend Sandra, in a petite squash dress with frilly panties, got up on a chair next to the TV and adjusted some trophies, I said 'get down from there were supposed to be watching the cricket'.

Another time the Drunk's Team played in a final at Victoria Point Squash Centre, and when we arrived there the Centre's owner Mr Hauser (his son Rod played rugby union for Qld and Australia), said "I've heard about you chaps", I thought "this doesn't sound too good, they must be Mormons and don't drink down this way". He then presented us with a carton of xxxx tallies to drink at the courts after the game. He was a lovely fellow.

I always enjoyed the company of my "self adopted Mum and Dad", Russell and Jacquie McConnell at club functions and at one such function, the Squash Association Presentation of Trophies night, I got to pick up the major award myself. The top club was decided on the club that had the most teams (on a pro-rata basis) in the finals. You could be aware of how your own club scored, but not the others, until the announcement at the function.

Unfortunately none of the hard working Committee were able to attend, deserving people such as Ray Smith, Ray Kettley, Lesley McMillan to name a few, were unable to get the reward for their endeavors.

When we won the top club award, Don Chilcott and myself were trying to decide who was the most senior member, Don insisted that I was , so I got to shake the hand of Lord Mayor Sleeman and collect the trophy, amid generous applause from the other clubs. "Go Gabba". The Gabba Girls also won the top club award.

Joe tells me that I did have an on court record, he passed on my feats to me and they are listed below. Won 4th division of the Club HandicapTitle in 1977, and was part of four successful Pennant winning teams over the years, C2, D3, D4, and M7.

I enjoyed the Club Trips to play at Toowoomba, Lismore, Maryborough, Caloundra, along with a few other Towns; I enjoyed the social side of these trips mainly. I can honestly say (Unlike Anni-Frid & Agnetha from Abba fame), thank you for the music - and mean it.