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GREAT
OF
SERVANTS
CRICKET
Two Veterans Pass
By E. H. M. BlAIU.lt
VICTORIAN cricket in the last few days hat lost two of it* most notable administrators
in John Saragwanath and John Melville, who weie both well up
in the eighties. Their carccrs were almost parallel, and their records
remarkable.
B
OTH linked up with their clubs
in the J870's. Baragwanath
with South Melbourne, and
Melville with Carlton, and they
remained laithful to their clubs
through life. Both played cricket
and lootball. both became administrators
at an early age. and both
represented their club on the governing
body of cricket. Jack Melville
also represented his club on the governing
body ol football.
When Mr Baragwanath died he
had been president ol the South
Melbourne C. C. lor 32 years, attcr
having filled other offices in the club.
He had had a previous term ol a
couple of years as president, and
came back to the position oil the
death ol Mr Harry Skmnei in 1011,
to stay there.
MADE POSITION SOUND
The sound position ol the South
Melbourne club in recent years has
been due largely to his leadership m
the affairs of the club, and members
showed their appreciation ol his efforts
by (he regularity with which
they re-elected him year alter year
as head ol the club.
During his long period as club
representative on the VCA. he was
in the big fight that took place for
the control of the game, and was always
an outspoken critic ol many
aspects of that big dispute. His views
did not always coincide with those
tfho were fighting for a different lorm
of control, and he never hesitated
to state them forcefully.
Apart from cricket he was prominent
in municipal affairs in South
Melbourne, was a member ol the local
council for many years, and filled the
office of mayor. For many years he
was chairman of the South Melbourne
Bench.
Melville
became
associated
with the Carlton chib in 1877, was a
player for some years, shining as »
wicketkeeper
with
tlie
first
and
second elevens, besides making a fair
share nf the runs, and for more than
60 years was
hardly
ever out of
office.
SECRETARY FOR 29 YEARS
Until 1909, when he became honorry
secretary, he was hardly ever of^
the committee, and when he retired
as secretary in 1939 he had been 29
years in the office. He also held many
offices in the Carlton football club, lor
which he was a very fine player in
his younger days. Both these clubs
owe him a tremendous debt of gratitude.
Carlton has had two wonderful
ervants in Jack Melville and Tommy
Waiuc, who has been curator tor so
many years, and was practically tlie
maker of the Dne Carlton Oval.
The only parallel to that cf Mr
Melville that J can know of is that
oi Mr W. H. Dow. who has been m
office in the South Melbourne club
lor almost 60 years, and has been
honorary treasurer for the last 43
years. Like Jack Melville, Billy Dow
also sat on the V.CA. for marv
years.
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