Grace footy’s spiritual home
KUDOS to Anne Salt on a well presented argument against the proposed statue of the great Aussie rules icon and legend, Peter Hudson, slated for erection in New Norfolk’s Arthur Square ( Letters, January 2). While Anne says Boyer Oval should be the site, I have another suggestion, to throw a spanner into the works.
As a 9- year- old boy, I journeyed to North Hobart Oval in April 1966 and witnessed the 20- year- old marvel boot seven goals for Tasmania against the mighty Big V, in Tassie’s last ever home ANFC Carnival.
With my Thermos of coffee and packed lunch of curried egg sandwiches, and among a crowd exceeding 20,000 patrons, I was enthralled at the spectacle, watching our home grown champion star, not knowing this footy freak would go on to become arguably the greatest full forward our game has ever seen.
His immortal deeds since are well documented and although champions such as Bob Pratt, John Coleman, Peter McKenna and many others were amazing peers, in my opinion Huddo was and always will be top of the tree! The man was a goal- square giant, a great mark with uncanny balance, not to mention a deadeye dick shot, and his 150 goal tally and VFL premiership in 1971 with Hawthorn is footy folklore!
Erect the statue, sure, but at North Hobart Oval, where the legend was first revealed to a national audience, and the spiritual home of football in Tasmania. Wherever it is built though, the deeds of this amazing Tassie born and bred footballer, will live forever in the eyes of we baby boomers, who were so fortunate to witness first- hand, such sporting prowess and greatness, firstly with New Norfolk, then Hawthorn and finally Glenorchy. Eagles, Hawks and Magpies, no one ever flew higher than the amazing Peter Hudson.
Steve Bailey
Glenorchy
SUPERSTAR TRIBUTE
THE Derwent Valley Council’s proposal to erect a statue of AFL superstar Peter Hudson in New Norfolk’s Arthur Square is the correct decision. I was only lucky enough to see Huddo playing for Glenorchy, in the late 1970s in the twilight of his phenomenal career. Though his body was starting to slow up, he made up for it with savvy and cunning. This man usually had two and sometimes three rugged back men clambering all over him, at all times, yet somehow he’d either end up still marking the ball, or earning a legitimate free kick. No surprise given the amount of attention he received.
After earning the football, he was lethal with his torpedo punt kicking at goal ( usually straight through the middle) from any angle within the arc right out to the 50 metre line.
Peter Hudson to this day is rightly ranked by most fair judges as the greatest full forward in the game’s history. This includes men like Tony Lockett, Gary Ablett Snr and Jason Dunstall. What a group. Aussie Rules is one of the two greatest sports games on earth, and let us never forget it was invented in the mid- 1800s by the men whom played the greatest game on earth, cricket, to keep fit in the winter time. Congratulations Huddo and may your memories live on.
John Bridge Lindisfarne
DESERVING PRIDE OF PLACE
IN a time of pandemic, the upper Derwent Valley suffered the death of a much loved community stalwart and the retirement of two pivotal medical professionals. Each of these gentlemen could have a book written about them.
Layton Hodgetts was a quirky dynamic cultural mover, who took a bunch of locals to world championship success. He calmly and logically answered then Mercury columnist Leo Schofield when the latter criticised New Norfolk. And much more besides.
Dr Peters’ and Dr Sweets’ day jobs were saving lives and promoting health in the community, for more than 50 years, each. And they are still with us post- retirement.
Meanwhile, the Mayor of the Derwent Valley and his council have decided to give pride of place to a statue of a guy who was good at Aussie Rules. If 2020 has taught us anything it should be, how will the future see us? Is this the new 20- 20 vision?
Colin Hutchison New Norfolk