Australia's golden girl delighted to get a bronze Larissa Dubecki Four-time Australian Olympic gold medallist Betty Cuthbert wept yesterday as a statue depict- ing her in full flight was unveiled outside the MCG. The 2.75-metre bronze work by sculptor Louis Laumen shows her in full stride in her 1956 Mel- bourne Olympics victory in the 100 metres. Ms Cuthbert, 65, flew from her home outside for the ceremony. "I think (the honour) is absolutely marvellous," she said. "It's exactly like I was . . . I always ran with my mouth wide open." Australia's Golden Girl won three gold medals in Melbourne and staged a remarkable come- back eight years later, winning at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics. Her medals reside in the MCG's Australian Gallery of Sport and Olympic Museum. Now suffering multiple scler- osis and confined to a wheelchair, Ms Cuthbert is well known as a campaigner for fund- ing and education on the debilitating illness. The ceremony was attended by members of the Australian Olympic Committee and Premier . Veteran Australian Olympic official Judy Patching, who fired the starting gun for Ms Cuth- bert's three Melbourne events, described his close friend as "a great athlete, but modest to the point of being humble, and she's proven to be an even greater per- son". Ms Cuthbert's statue joins one of legend Donald Bradman. They are the first of 10 statues of MCG sporting heroes commissioned by Tattersalls to comprise a Parade of Cham- pions. Statues of footballer Ron Barassi and cricketer Keith "Nug- get" Miller will be unveiled in coming months, with all 10 statues due to be finished by the start of the Commonwealth Betty Cuthbert shows her delight with the statue of her in full flight and with mouth agape. PICTURE: MICHAEL RAYNER Games in 2006. Golden turns bronzed

By TANYA GILES AUSTRALIA'S golden girl, Betty Cuthbert, sobbed as a statue hon- ouring her achieve- ments was unveiled at the MCG yesterday. The bronze statue cap- tures Cuthbert in full stride as she raced to victory in the 100m at the 1956 Melbourne Olympic Games. "I think it's absolutely marvellous. It's exactly like I was ... running with my mouth wide open," Cuthbert said, with tears in her eyes. Cuthbert won three of her Olympic gold med- als at the MCG for the 100m, the 200m and the 100m relay. She fought off a foot injury to win her fourth gold in the inaugural 400m wom- en's race in Toyko eight years later. Cuthbert, 65, who lives in Perth, said she was blessed with an ability to run. "A gift to run ... was given to me by God and I had to use it to the best of my ability," she said. Cuthbert, who has battled multiple sclero- sis and almost died after a brain hemorrhage last year, said she hoped her life would encourage young Australians to pursue their dreams. "If they take on any sport, or anything they really believe in, stick to it, no matter what hap- pens, because you do get setbacks. Stick to it and it will happen for you," she said. Golden girl: Betty Cuthbert yesterday. Picture: BILL McAULEY SPORT , Page 76 Bronze tribute, golden spirit NOT for the first time, Betty Cuthbert's jaw dropped at the MCG yesterday.

The original Golden Girl of , •N Australian sport was moved to tears when she saw the new statue of her at the stadium where she won three sprinting gold medals at the 1956 Olym- pic Games. She cried after the Premier, Steve Bracks, helped her to unveil sculptor Louis Laumen's RON REED magnificent bronze depiction Olympies. of her in full flight as she hits unveiled after Australia's the tape at the finish of the greatest cricketer, the late Sir 100m — her mouth wide open. Donald Bradman Football legend Ron Barassi "I don't know why, but I will be unveiled next month, always ran with my mouth with cricketer to open," Cuthbert said. follow. "In fact, it threw my jaw- bones out slightly and they still Footballers Haydn Bunton, click when I open and close my Dick Reynolds and Leigh Mat- mouth." thews; cricketers and Bill Ponsford and sprinter --So Laumen got that right. In Shirley Strickland-de la Hunty fact, he got everything right. will be the others to line the The guest list, which parade. included many eminent Olym- De la Hunty, a triple gold pic athletes and officials, was medallist herself and a con- unanimous that the statue, temporary of Cuthbert, wasn't now standing near gate six and at the unveiling, but will be at light tower two, is a striking the MCG today for another work of art. function leading into the sta- And Cuthbert, who dium's 150th birthday celebra- Art and soul: Betty Cuthbert sheds a tear after her statue is unveiled at the MCG yesterday. Cuthbert described it publicly as "abso- tions next month. said sculptor Louis Laumen got everything right, down to her open mouth. Picture: BILL McAULEY lutely beautiful," later con- fided that she was equally The two women — who both He reminded guests that suffered a stroke about 18 impressed by Laumen's tech- live in Western Australia — will Cuthbert had donated her months ago, and has endured E nical accuracy. watch today's AFL blockbuster medals and memorabilia to the another trauma with a con- between the Brisbane Lions MCG's Olympic museum, She said he had captured her man swindling her and her WITH one year to go until the and Collingwood together. where they could be appreci- carer and friend, Rhonda start of the Athens Olympics, sprinting technique of driving However, it is fair to suggest ated by the public. off her back leg, and the Gilham, out of much of their Australian fans can now apply that even though they won savings. for tickets for all sports. relaxed manner she adopted. gold together in a relay, they Others, he said, naming The ticket brochure is "It is perfect — there is are not close friends. nobody, had "flogged" theirs, "Even when she was robbed, which was "quite contrary to available from Sydney-based nothing I would change about To pick up on that, you only Betty wouldn't sell her medals company Sportsworld Pacific. it," she said. the spirit and success of this had to listen closely to well- girl " to pay her debts," Mrs Gilham "We have been delighted by The known Olympic identity Julius " said yesterday. the level of initial interest in has commissioned Laumen to Judy" Patching's tribute De la Hunty sold all her Be that as it may, the good travelling to Athens and are produce 10 statues for a Parade speech to Cuthbert yesterday. memorabilia last year, with the news is that the museum, confident, thanks to our of Champions, all of which will Patching was the official unidentified buyers giving it to be in place by the time the which closed yesterday for the guaranteed ticket allocation, starter at the Melbourne the MCG. duration of the redevelop- we will be able to meet most stadium redevelopment is com- Games and, later, a team offi- Cuthbert, who has long used people's requests for specific pleted for the Commonwealth cial at Cuthbert's other two ment, now has both sets. Games in 2006. a wheelchair because she suf- So posterity is the winner. tickets," Sportsworld general Olympics, and has always been fers from multiple sclerosis, manager Anne Meacham said. Cuthbert is the second to be a close friend and mentor. came close to death when she [email protected] AAP FOOTBALL Barassi joins MCG's parade of champions

A statue of Ron Barassi was unveiled outside the Dick Reynolds Gate at the MCG yesterday, as the Australian Army Band played the theme songs of Melbourne, Carl- ton, the Kangaroos and Sydney. Barassi is the third of 10 sportspeople to be honoured with an MCG statue and the full complement will form the Parade of the Champions, due to be in place by the . Louis Laumen's Barassi bronze — capturing the ferocity of the ruck-rover in his playing days, with jaw set, eyes ablaze, arms out and right leg straight — joins statues of and Betty Cuthbert. Picture: Jason South That's me: Ron Barassi at the MCG yesterday where his statue was unveiled. Picture: JON HARGEST Barassi larger than life and loving it RON Barassi acknow- By KATE greatest figures to grace comrade's famous son ledged his good fortune the great stadium, 150 until they were intro- yesterday as a statue hon- UEBERGANG years old this week. duced yesterday. ouring his sporting and RON REED Yesterday's ceremony Barassi said when he achievements was un- "It was based on a pho- had a melancholy mo- had asked the old officer veiled outside the MCG. tograph of me, but I can't ment when the spirit of for details about what The bronze statue, by remember the game now. Barassi's long-dead fath- happened, he was advis- sculptor Louis Laumen, er— also a league footbal- ed "not to go there". "To see that statue ler — was invoked. shows Barassi launching brings back a lot of memo- Mr Eadie was happy to a long kick. Among the audience ries of being a player. I had was the last man to see elaborate later to the Barassi was surprised a lot of good fortune." Ron Barassi senior alive. Herald Sun. by the statue's sheer size Barassi is now cast in Alan Eadie, 86, was a "There was nothing em- — but pleased with the bronze alongside Sir Don- in the army unit barrassing about it at all, likeness and the intense ald Bradman and Betty in which Barassi's father no other inference — his expression on his face. Cuthbert in the MCC's was serving when he was father was simply killed in "It is fantastic. I look as evolving Parade of Cham- killed by a sea mine in the line of duty," he said. though I really mean what pions, which will eventu- Tobruk in 1941, but he "He was a good bloke, I'm trying to do," he said. ally pay tribute to 10 of the had never met his old very loyal to his friends." Above: Dick's grandson, Joel, with grandmother Jean. Left:Dick Reynolds' widow, Jean, and John Birt with the statue of her late husband. Pictures: TRAV MUNRO Statue fit for `King' THE tenacity and skill of Essendon legend Dick Reynolds is immortal- ised in a statue unveiled yesterday at the Mel- bourne Cricket Ground. Reynolds, a three-time Brownlow medallist, who died two years ago at 87, is a major part of Bomber history. "King Richard" Rey- nolds was a legendary rover who played 320 games and was a mem- ber of four premiership- winning sides. He coached the Bombers for 22 years. The statue is the fifth of 10 commissioned for Tattersall's Parade of the Champions. Reynolds' widow Jean yesterday watched for- mer Bombers star rover and family friend John Birt unveil the statue. Dick's grandson, Joel, plays with the 2004 Bombers and was with his grandmother for the unveiling. Greatest Vic bat joins MCG parade By STEVE WALDON His obduracy, you expect, must have more than troubled THE statue of Bill Ponsford opposing captains. depicts the prolific run-scorer You could imagine one exas- setting off for a run after driving perated skipper approaching the the ball through covers. Victorian and Australian bats- The eyes and set of his man and trying to reason with mouth suggest he knows he him: "Now look, chap, you are need not bother; that ball is either obstinately refusing to go already being retrieved from the out, or resolutely insisting on gutter by a dejected fieldsman, staying in. Either way, the net and Ponsford's score has effect is the same, and my increased by four. bowlers might as well be tossing He has the merest hint of a down lemon meringue pies or knowing smirk — a satisfied tennis balls. batsman's Mona Lisa smile. "Now that you have reached Sculptor Lou Laumen has 400, perhaps you might enter- captured something else about tain some encouragement to Ponsford — a posterior for pos- dolly up a catch or permit the terity, as it were. He has passage of the ball past your moulded Ponsford's formidable legs and on to your stumps?" rump, the bane of - Ponsford's sons, Bill and keepers everywhere who, in Geoff, and subsequent gener- standing up to the stumps to a ations of Ponsfords were there spinner, would have been lucky to hear former Test opener to see the bowler's , let Colin McDonald's warmly alone the arrival of the ball. eloquent recollections of Bill Which, by the way, Ponsford Ponsford. consistently sent to all parts of a "(He) was quite simply the ground during his great career. greatest Victorian batsman of This was the recurring the 20th ," he said. theme at yesterday's unveiling "I could stop now, because outside the MCG of the ninth in Man on the run: Bill Ponsford's great-grandchildren Ed and Alex Brunetti admire that alone is an adequate justi- the statue of their forebear, unveiled at the MCG yesterday. PICTURE PiV SCALA the Parade of Champions, a fication for the commissioning series of 10 statues celebrating of his statue at this great So many of his best ferocious flight. Very quick early, the sporting achievements of stadium." were on the MCG, and it and guileful as his career closed, Ron Barassi, Betty Cuthbert and "Ponny" scored centuries in seemed fitting that he worked Lillee might have tested Pons- Don Bradman among others. the first and last of the 29 Tests there for 37 years, retiring as ford's occupation of the crease Ponsford, it was repeated, he played from 1924, and office manager in 1969. He died had they met in Sheffield Shield accumulated runs in such a amassed 13,819 runs in his 14 in 1991. cricket in the same era. Now, manner that he must have years of first-class cricket. In The last statue in the parade, such delicious contests can only seemed to despairing bowlers 87 innings for Victoria, he to be unveiledbefore next year's play in our imaginations. as immovable as the bronze accrued 6902 runs to secure an Boxing Day Ashes Test, will statue commemorating his feats. average of 86.27. a show Dennis Lillee in full and Greg Baum SPORT 3