A cricket bat signed by the Australian Cricket team; a GWS jumper signed by Kevin Sheedy; a Vietnam Swans' jumper signed by Alex Jesaulenko; the "Game that made Australia" signed by Kevin Sheedy; and footies signed by the Sydney Swans and Jezza
Ross McRae has just forwarded a bundle of photos – 77 to be exact – of the 2011 AFL Grand Final Party in Saigon. The photos can be seen on the Vietnam Swans’ on line Web Album.
The photo was taken after the Grand Final had finished and the raffles drawn and the auctions auctioned. Impressive items of memorabilia include a cricket bat signed by the Australian Cricket team; footies signed by Alex Jesaulenko and the Sydney Swans’ 2011 team list; a Vietnam Swans jumper signed by Alex Jesaulenko; a GWS jumper signed by Kevin Sheedy and Israel Folau; and an amazing print of a painting titled, The Game that Made Australia, which was signed by Kevin Sheedy – and bought by Timmay Clements.
According to the Australian Football, 150 Years‘ website, the Game that Made Australia painting was unveiled at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on the 150th anniversary of the first recorded Australian football match: Thursday, 7 August, 2008.
“Designed and painted by Melbourne artist and former Fitzroy footballer Jamie Cooper, the 5 x 2.5 metre painting depicts Australian football’s great moments through 15 decades, in every state and territory and at every level…
“The painting was designed to create a pictorial record of Australian football and how it has influenced Australian life… The collection of images not only recognises key moments in our history, it manages to connect everyone involved in football with families and volunteers all depicted.
Kenny Earney pictured with Ossie Osborne at the Noble Park RSL Club in April this year. Kenny donated three trophies to our 2011 ANZAC Friendship Match which Ossie also played in - and now, "150 Years".
“Jamie was commissioned to create the painting by the AFL in November 2007. He met with the AFL over a three-month period to ensure the game’s history and culture were represented in the image. Painting commenced in February and took six months to complete.
“Scenes include the first match between Scotch College and Melbourne Grammar in Yarra Park, Geelong’s Corio Oval and an oval in central Australia. Great marks by Alex Jesaulenko, Warwick Capper and Gary Ablett Snr are focal points. State champions John Gerovich, Merv McIntosh and Graham Cornes are also featured. Administrators, women, umpires, players at the grassroots, timekeepers and media are some of the themes included.”
The print was very generously donated to the Swannies’ Grand Final Party by Kenny Earney. Kenny advised that Kevin Sheedy has taken prints of the painting to sportsmen’s nights for footy clubs around Australia that had been struggling financially. In the process, a staggering $2 million had been raised!
The Vietnam Swans extend our sincere thanks and gratitude to Kenny (and Kevin Sheedy) for their amazing donation.
We very much look forward to seeing Kenny again when he returns next April for the Vietnam Swans 2012 ANZAC Friendship Match in Vung Tau.
