Tribute
Hello and welcome to another week of the SLF, this edition is tainted with stories of the late but great Ged “Father” Ryan, Father who was a famous local and a great friend to many in the district, especially the MCC. You need characters in small communities like the Marnoo and district, luckily for us there a quite a few in this area and we’re even seeing a few emerge. Characters are people who do things in their own unique way and aren’t scared of political correctness or people talking about them. Father was a character and sometimes rubbed a few up the wrong way, but he had a huge heart and was a proud Marnooian.

Big Crowd
Many Marnoo and district people attended the funeral at Dimboola and a huge crowd was in attendance, I was talking to one bloke and he said “I bet you the crowd’s bigger than what there are going to get at the Melbourne Freo game. Just on the statistics alone there wasn’t much difference.

Back to the MCG
It was also heartening to see so many people in attendance at the MCG. The fire buckets where lit, the fridges where stocked and the BBQ was fired up in what was a traditional Marnoo gathering. So many times during the winter back when the footy team was going this scenario was spelt out every Tuesday and Thursday night.

Stubbie Club
I’m pretty sure it was Ged who initiated the stubby club, it was well before they started selling grog at the MCG and the lads down in the forward pocket at the creek end used to get quite vocal by the last quarter in the seniors.

Greatest ever wicket keeper?
You can argue the point, but Father would be right up there as Marnoo’s greatest ever wicket keepers. He hardly ever dropped a catch and he prided himself on the lack of byes. If a bye was conceded then you new not to speak to him for at least 10 overs. He used to love Gary “Larry” Cameron’s inswinging curlers, when one took off down the leg side (some say many did) and Father couldn’t reach it and the umpire just happened to stretch his arms out, then you could guarantee a huge stare from the bloke with the gloves on. One stare was for the umpire and the other was for the bowler.

Sloppy fielding
Marnoo’s fielding back in those days wasn’t of great standard and a lot of return balls missed the mark. This used to make Father irate and when it got late in the day and close to beer-o-clock and the throwing was even more wayward, it wasn’t surprising to see the gloves get thrown on the ground and the words “F*%# this” splurt from his mouth.

Over the stumps
No wonder he was such good mates with John “Noisy” Nisbet, Noisy the fine leg specialist had the knack of landing the ball straight over the stumps time after time. I can still hear Ged yelling in a sarcastic tone “Good one Johnny, that’s how you F*&#in do it fellas”

The Batsman
Ged could concentrate for ages behind the stumps but couldn’t quite do the same at the batting crease, don’t get me wrong he was a very solid opener for Marnoo and got us of to a flying start many a time. He had a very good technique and could play all the shots. He had some very famous opening partners over the years, him and Mick “I said to Mick” Healy used to kid themselves all night that they were the greatest ever opening partnership for Marnoo. Then Rohan “Big Bird” Aitken came along and Ged loved (not) batting with him, It can be said that Rohan wasn’t the best runner between the wickets and he ran the delighted Gerard out on a couple of occasion. I think the captain of the time split up the partnership to save the relationship. Then there was Ewan “E” Lett’s who had an equally turbulent opening partnership with Father. It was all good fun though and provided plenty of fodder for the after game festivities.

Washout
Cricketers loved a washout. A washout is where you know that morning that it’s going to rain, you don the whites and tell the wife that “I have to be there just incase the sun comes out” fully knowing that you hardly ever go back on. How to fill in the rest of the afternoon is the hardest question. Ged loved a washout.

Greatest ever game player
Now this is no mean feat but I have it on unofficial authority that Ged may have been Marnoo Football Clubs greatest ever game player.

Coaching stint
Ged had a stint coaching the seconds and one such day one of his players Alfie Hudson must have tried to dodge around one too many opposition players. He incurred the quarter time grilling from the coach who said in a rather loud voice “Who the f#*& you think you are Alfie Kevin F*&%in Bartlett”.

Lookout
I think there are only four white posts between the pub and Ged’s backyard but on night he managed to take out three of them!!!

So you don’t like Collingwood
On one of the footy trips Ged and all the lads went to watch Melbourne and Collingwood, everyone paid the $23 to get in but when Ged heard the Collingwood supporters bellowing, he immediately said “I can’t put up with these Pricks” and walked out.

Bernie and Leon
I caught up with his mum and dad at the funeral and they don’t look a day different to when they left Marnoo, I don’t know how long it has been but it was good to catch up with them. They were very proud of Ged. The world has lost one of it’s likable characters. RIP Father.