Wednesday, July 26, 2000
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HARRY Ross must have had one of the best jobs in Australia during the 1956 Melbourne Olympics.
At the time, Harry, who has now retired in Echuca, worked as a technician with the Post Master General's Department and was rostered on duty at the MCG during the Games.
“If there was a power failure I was expected to fix the fault,” Harry said.
“I was actually at the MCG every day of the Games and wasn't called on to fix anything,” he said.
Harry said his shift at the stadium did not start until 5 pm, but he arrived seven hours early every day just to catch the action.
“A small stand had been built in front of the MCG Members stand for the use of off-duty workers and from 10 am each day — from the opening to the closing ceremonies — I could be found there,” Harry said.
“It was a thrilling, once-in-a-lifetime experience,” he said.
“One of my most vivid memories in track and field was when Russian long-distance runner, Vladimir Kuts, won the 10,000 metres and then did a victory lap around the field at what seemed to be the same speed.
“I also recall in the final of the javelin that a thrower let fly with a throw which seemed to go on forever — over the Olympic record line, then over the world record line.
“It travelled so far that officials and competitors at the pole vault in front of the target area were clearing out of the way.”
Harry said the opening and closing ceremonies were much simpler in 1956 compared to the modern-day Olympics.
Melbourne was the first Olympic Games at which all the athletes came into the arena as a mixed group for the closing ceremony.
“There was no formal marching, just arm-in-arm together, regardless of nationality — waving to the spectators and stopping to talk to them if they felt like it.
“It was a fitting finale to the ‘Friendly Games'.”
A holiday visitor to Echuca for about 20 years, Harry (now 73) moved to Echuca in 1992 after retiring from the Department of Defence.
He has kept himself active with involvement in the RSL, Neighbourhood Watch, Neighbourhood House, Community Radio and other community activities.
Friday, August 11, 2000
LONG-TIME Echuca general practitioner Dr Andrew Ahern was a medical attendant during fencing competition at the 1956 Melbourne Olympic Games.
Dr Ahern said there was no love lost between the Russian and Hungarian fencers.
In 1956 the two countries were virtually at war after Russia invaded Hungary.
Dr Ahern said he recalled the Hungarian fencer was disqualified after slashing the face of a Russian fencer through his visor.
The bout was stopped.
“He slashed the Russian's eye and cheek. Several stitches were required.
“It could almost have cost him his eye,” Dr Ahern said.
He said the fencing venue was not that great as it was not a high-profile sport among the Australians in 1956.
“I recall running to the venue near the MCG because I wasn’t allocated a car park,” Dr Ahern said.
A bronze medal presented to him to commemorate his association with the Games takes pride of place in Dr Ahern's Echuca home.
Dr Ahern had the medal mounted on a stand crafted from a section of the older bar at Mildura's Workingman's Club, which was once the longest bar in the world.
Dr Ahern, 75, who has been practising in Echuca since the 1950s, said he also watched some of the athletics in 1956.
“I remember watching the high jump, where John Winter (an Australian) jumped off with this American until 7 o'clock one night.
Winter eventually won it.
“It was a terrific build-up.”