“A TRIBUTE TO ‘WRECKER’…. JUST ONE OF THE CROWD…..”

A local icon passed away yesterday, aged 93……He’d battled ill-health for some time, but never lost his enthusiasm for all things sport….

We penned this ‘On Reflection’ piece during the 2014 footy season after we caught up with Rex Hartwig at one of his favourite stamping-grounds – the W.J.Findlay Oval…….

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He’s one of those familiar faces you see at Rovers games…..Always good for a yarn about footy; knows the game inside out, this old fellah.

We discuss the team’s prospects and agree that…..’If the big guns can fire today, we’re in with a show.’ He bemoans the fact that they’re turning the ball over a bit…..”But the kids are still learning and they’ll be all right eventually.”

I ask him whether he’d been watching Wimbledon on the telly : “ ‘Til all hours,” he says. “It cost me a bit of sleep, but I’ve really enjoyed it……”

What a stupid question, I reflect later…..This bloke’s a Legend…..He won a Wimbledon doubles title 50 years ago and was a star when Australia was the finest tennis nation in the world…..

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Rex Hartwig grew up with the love of the land in his blood. As a student in Culcairn, he was his father’s right-hand man on the farm during the week and his tennis partner at the Culcairn club on Saturday afternoon’s.

The search for tennis opportunity lured him to Albury, then to Melbourne, where he joined the Spalding company and honed his skills against quality players.

He caused people to sit up and take notice in 1952 when he took out the South Australian singles title. His hard-hitting ground strokes and strong volleying game soon earned him the nickname of ‘Wrecker’.

The plaudits of tennis officianados came his way on his first overseas tour.

Hartwig matched up with Mervyn Rose and the pairing clicked, as they reached the Final of the Wimbledon doubles in 1953 and won the title in 1954.

Playing with Lew Hoad in 1955 he added another Wimbledon crown to his expanding ‘CV’.

Rex had been a member of Davis Cup teams in the previous two years, but possibly his greatest triumph came in the Challenge Round at Forest Hills in 1955.

He and Hoad clinched the Cup for Australia by beating American pair Tony Trabert and Vic Seixas in a doubles match still rated by some as the greatest ever seen in the celebrated history of Davis Cup tennis.

The report of the match said: “……it was fitting that Hartwig, the player of the match, made the final point, volleying past Trabert, who sprawled on the court……Hartwig, in his elation, threw his racquet high in the air and danced across the court to wrap his arms around Hoad……..”

Rex represented Australia from 1953 -‘55, playing six Singles and and seven Doubles matches. He was twice a member of winning Davis Cup teams and playing in one losing Challenge Round.

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He turned professional in December 1955, and in a six-month period, played 101 matches as a member of Jack Kramer’s troupe.

They flew 17,500 miles and drove 37,500 miles, playing on all manner of courts, experiencing sometimes deplorable conditions.

But Rex held his own against Pancho Gonzales, Pancho Segura and Tony Trabert; and later, against Frank Sedgman, on the European leg of the tour.

When Hoad, then Ken Rosewall, turned pro, Hartwig was their opponent on Australasian tours.

In 1958 Rex and his wife Madge invested in a farm at Greta……A couple of years later they settled there for good with their growing brood, realising a dream to return to the land.

Tennis and it’s glamorous sidelights became a distant memory. In those days, when amateur-professional wrangling was rife in tennis, the stigma of being a ‘pro’ meant that he was unable to play locally, even if he so desired.

He eventually sought re-instatement as an amateur and was able to play alongside some of his six kids.

Then came a ‘phone call in the mid-70’s requesting him to join the Grand Masters tour.

Despite being a touch ‘rusty’ he returned to the touring life for five years, playing in front of packed houses in resorts around the world.

It was made more enjoyable because he was able to travel with Madge.

Rex Hartwig , alongside the bust, crafted in his honour, at Rod Laver Arena.

Then it was back to a life of relative obscurity, as he followed the kids’ sporting progress and satisfied his competitive urges by playing local Squash and Table-Tennis, in which he was well-nigh unbeatable.

Rex received an unexpected honour three decades ago when he and Madge accepted an invitation to be guests of the All-England Tennis Club at Wimbledon.

It was a ‘Thank You’ for his services to Wimbledon. The Hartwig’s were feted like true celebrities. They were greeted at Heathrow Airport by a stretch limousine and provided with ‘Five-Star’ accommodation, with all expenses paid.

It was a pleasant break from the daily routine of trudging around the farm at Greta and tending to the prized Poll Dorset sheep which populate its ample paddocks.

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Rex started following the Rovers in 1972, when his son Leigh came in from Greta. He saw most of his 252 senior games and delighted in the five premiership teams in which Leigh was involved.

His daughter Janelle later featured in the Rovers first-ever O & M Netball premiership, in 1993.

Now he and the family watch grandson Tyson, the Rovers’ skipper, and the Ovens and Murray’s premier full back, as he grapples with the ‘Glamazon’ spearheads of the current era.

It’s a long way from Wimbledon and Forest Hills, but the sporting atmosphere still gives the old warrior a kick, even if he’s just ‘one of the crowd’……

“PURE FANTASY ?……HAWKS AND PIGEONS IN A NAIL-BITER…….”

Rovers fans have been sweating on this day for more than four months.

After another fruitful recruiting campaign, which has netted more than a dozen newcomers, there’s an air of optimism at the Findlay Oval.

And you pick up the positive vibe as you walk into the ground. They’re doing a roaring trade in Member’s Tickets and you detect a buzz about the place. It’s great to catch up with some of the old-timers who have been seemingly welded to their favourite vantage spots for more than 30 years.

Rex Hartwig is one who has a spring in his step. Old Rex celebrated his 90th birthday during the footy hiatus . But he has a glint in his eye, akin to the focus he had in his halcyon sporting days when he’d face off against tennis legends Kramer, Segura, Gonzales and Sedgman.

Of course, there’s a good reason for Rex’s enthusiasm. His grandson Tyson is back, after a sabbatical of four years. Tys has done it all with the Hawks – Captain, champion defender, Best and Fairest, All-Australian Country rep…… Now he just wants to add to the 139 games he has accumulated…and play a part in the revival of his home club.

I stumble upon another permanent fixture; perched on the steel railing to the left of the Hogan Stand. That’s been Steve Norman’s domain ever since he hung up the boots.

He used to say how handy it was because he was within reaching distance of the Can-Booth, and right in the midst of the most one-eyed section of the crowd. Most of his fellow-protagonists of yore, like Herbie Day, Alfie Onslow, ‘Spud’ Patat, Theo Hall and Ken Johnstone have gone to their mortal coil, and others have drifted off, to be replaced by fans of a more tolerant bent.

No one was able to split the big sticks at his spiritual home quite like ‘Superboot Steve’. He had a sixth-sense. You don’t boot 1016 O & M goals without possessing something out of the box. He ‘owned’ the 50-metre arc, and his team-mates upfield could read him like a book.

There’s another bloke hobbling past who delivered a fair few of those ‘lace-up’ passes to Steve. It’s Andrew Scott, who’s become synonymous with the Rovers since he arrived in town as a ‘cop’ 45 years ago.

Geez he could play. In his first year with the Hawks he won the Morris Medal and became the idol of those hard-boiled fanatics around the Bar.

And he was so adaptable. In the latter part of his career he had a turn on the forward flank. He snagged a lazy 10 one day against Lavi, to the delight of the ‘diehards’ . The other thing about ‘Scotty’ was that he always rose to the big occasion when he was needed.

Get yakking to him and you wonder at first if he’s still carrying the weight of the footy club on his shoulders. But then he emits a huge belly-laugh, to lighten the situation. He’s continued to contribute to the Club, has this ‘rough-nut’ plumber . What an institution……. !

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Anyway, I’d better pop into the rooms to wish Sammy Carpenter all the best. Playing his 100th game today, is ‘Carps’. I don’t recall too many mediocre ones in that lot, either.

I know the veteran rates the ‘ton’ as a real highlight. He’s been a bit of a journeyman and must be nudging the 300-mark in his glittering career. There wouldn’t be a fan anywhere who doesn’t admire what ‘Croc’ has achieved.

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I interrupt a chat with his old man – and greatest fan – Leigh (who also has young Sonny in tow), to shake his hand. He’s suitably chuffed and says he’s honoured to join the greats of the Club.

Heck, he’ll play an important role in this clash with Yarrawonga. His cool head will be a crucial asset, particularly considering there are so many new faces in the side.

There’s an electric atmosphere in the rooms. The Reserves have their game well in hand, so the fans have been drifting in to catch ‘Crezza’s’ pre-match build-up. It’s packed in here; you could cut the air with a knife.

One of the stars of the pre-season, in my book, has been the boy from Manley-Warringa, Tyrone Armitage. He’s a damaging left-footer who played with VFL club Northern Blues at one stage. I love his zest on the track and he seems to have fully ingratiated himself into the Club. It’ll be really interesting to see how he performs in this footy. I’m tipping he’ll be a star.

Glancing across the rooms, I guess this must be one of the tallest Rovers sides for some years. Besides young Ed Dayman and ‘Gatto’, there’s another giant in the ranks, Nick Redley from Langwarrin. Could be a surprise packet, this fellah.

I notice Ryan Stone edgily flicking the pill from hand to hand. It’s great to have him back. He developed into a top-flight player at Heidelberg since leaving the Hawks after the 2013 season. I’m sure he’s relishing the opportunity to play his first Senior game with the Rovers alongside his young brother, Dylan.

I sneak outside for a bit of fresh air and spot a familiar face ; underneath that trademark Pigeon cap, he’s wearing his usual pre-game furrowed brow. It’s old ‘Jinxy’ Clarke himself – one of Yarra’s best-known fans.

“Whattya reckon Jinx ?”. “Ah well, you blokes have had all the publicity about your recruiting, but we’re happy with what we’ve got,” he replies.

“Just remember,” he adds, “apart from those couple of hiccups last year, we had the wood on you for more than 10 years.”

I do remember, because ‘Jinx’ would remind me every time. “What’s that up to now ?…. 23 on the trot…….. ?”

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Not long after, the siren sounds to launch the 2020 opener.

It’s the usual nervy, frenetic start, but the Pigeons appear to have settled down nicely. Their first major comes from tall Matt Casey, who’s managed to find a yard on Hawk champ Nathan Cooper, and nails one from just 20 metres out.

There’s no doubt that the big wraps on their gun recruits Willie Wheeler and Leigh Masters are spot-on. Wheeler – and his brother Harry – are in everything in the mid-field, negating the ruck effectiveness of Dayman and Redley.

In fact, the Hawks look listless and a couple of sloppy turnovers prove costly. You can detect the blood of coach Cresswell rising, as normally cool customers make mistakes under pressure.

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He gathers his troops at the quarter-time break for a good, old-fashioned rev. They’re 22 points down, the Hawks, and look a far-cry from the glamor-side they have been pronounced in pre-season tittle-tattle………..

Things don’t improve much early in the second term, either. But an intercept from veteran defender Sean O’Keeffe finds the ball in the hands of Carpenter, who feeds off to Sam Allen.

The long kick from the youngster – well beyond the 50-metre mark, sails through for a timely goal. Surely that will have the Hawks up and about.

Slowly they begin to creep back into the contest, despite not making a huge impact on the scoreboard.

Mark Whiley, Yarra’s first-year coach, has been in everything, as has the evergreen Xavier Leslie. Whiley is certainly an inspiration and Cresswell will need to make a move to shut down his effectiveness.

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Despite the Rovers’ best efforts, the lead has crept out to 31 points at half-time.

The Hawks are quickly ushered into the coach’s room. Meanwhile, shell-shocked fans wait about, but it’s a good 12 minutes before they file out – suitably chastened and grimly determined……..

The third term produces a stunning turn-around. Shaggy-haired Will Nolan has been swung onto Whiley, and curbs his influence. And Tyson Hartwig begins to create a presence up forward.

Yarra’s dominance around the ball, which has given them control of the game, now wanes, as the dynamic Charlie Thompson, Jamason Daniels and Raven Jollife continually get their hands on the pill.

In a 16-minute burst, the Hawks have reduced the margin to less than a kick. By three-quarter time it’s the Pigeons who are looking rather ragged……..

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But they’re not done with yet……

They register early last-term goals through Jess Koopman and talented youngster Jack Sexton, to regain the ascendancy. Then, dashing Jack Gerrish takes possession from just beyond the half-back line and scoots off, dodging and side-stepping in typical fashion.

He’s within kicking distance ( there’s a player loose who he doesn’t see), and lines them up.

Goal !……… The faithful in the Maroney Pavilion rise as one.

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The Hawks slot another, after Armitage swoops on the ball and kicks truly with his left boot from the angle.

It then becomes goal-for-goal, in what has become a classic contest.

Entering time-on, the Pigeons hold a slender four-point lead. Both sides are tired, but desperate, as the ball bobbles between the respective half-back lines.

I’m tuned in to OAK-FM and ‘Gamby’ breathlessly informs us that there are less than 15 seconds left.

Suddenly, Carpenter, the 100-gamer, retrieves the ball out of nowhere and spots Ed Dayman. A pass, delivered with surgical precision, thumps the young fellah on the chest….15 metres out….straight in front….just as the siren blares…….

What pressure !……..Big Ed lines them up and sneaks it through.

It’s a Hawk victory by two points……..!

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THE BOY FROM PHILLIPSON STREET LIVES OUT HIS DREAM.

In one of the ever-changing phases of our youth, a few of my school-mates became obsessed with high-jumping.

It was in the aftermath of the Melbourne Olympics, when a wiry Aussie, by the name of Charles ‘Chilla’ Porter, rose from obscurity to almost pinch the Gold Medal from American negro Charlie Dumas.

‘Chilla’ jumped almost two inches higher than his previous best, to stretch Dumas (the red-hot favourite ) to the limit, in a contest that was finally settled at sunset on a balmy late-November afternoon.

Inspired by his deeds, we would hare off after school, get changed and head to one of the hastily-constructed high jump pits, set up at each of our homes.

We were a mixed bunch, and our passion for all sports certainly surpassed the effort we put into school-work. In winter the emphasis was on football, then our attention turned to cricket and tennis once the final siren had sounded.

Our high-jumping aspirations faded, and so, in truth, did most of our sporting careers. Except for one kid, who began to shine in his chosen sport and proceeded, over the next half-century, to live out his dream……………

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Dick Hiskins was the Rovers Property steward in the mid-fifties and his son Ken, and I, were two of the Hawks’ keenest young fans.

At one stage we formed the ‘Teddy Reaks Fan Club’. Ours was a sympathetic attempt to support a much-maligned, lumbering former Collingwood Thirds player, who was copping it from Rovers fans for his inability to live up to expectations.

My devotion to the Hawks never wavered, but Ken’s became compromised when his dad, who was also the curator of the Wangaratta Tennis Club, handed him a brand-new racquet.

From then on, the die was cast.

He became arguably Wangaratta’s finest-ever home-grown tennis player, and strutted his stuff on courts around the world. In an exciting era, during which tennis underwent massive change, he was to rub shoulders with the greats of the game……………..

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A travelling tennis coach, Tony Caplice spotted the talented Hiskins during his regular visits to Champagnat College. He suggested extra lessons of a Saturday morning. “Tell your parents not to worry, it’ll be free of charge,” he said.

He jumped at the opportunity. From there, Ken would have a bite to eat, then head down to his beloved Lawn courts, where he began to hone his skills against the likes of local stars Keith Lipshut, Laurie and Cliff Flanigan, Des Stone, Ron Beazley, and Rex Hartwig.

Hartwig, one of the king-pins of a golden era in Australian tennis, had invested in a Poll Dorset stud sheep farm at Greta in the late fifties and loved playing at Merriwa Park whenever he got the opportunity.

” Rex had an enormous influence on me,” Ken said. “He’s a genius. What he doesn’t know about the game isn’t worth knowing.”

Whilst still a teen-ager, Hiskins won a club championship and a regional singles title. He twice took out the coveted ANA singles crown – the first local to achieve the feat.

And when he won a Victorian Country Junior title, he caught the eye of Australia’s Davis Cup coach Harry Hopman.

At Hopman’s invitation, and following a visit from another former champ Neale Fraser, he spent two years in Melbourne, working at Spalding. He trained with ‘Hoppy’s’ elite squad and was subjected to the intense discipline that was the trademark of the legend’s coaching.

By then he felt he was ready to test himself overseas and, thanks to the 100 pounds that his dad had scrounged together and handed to him, set off on a boat to Europe in 1966.

Ken played mixed doubles at the last amateur Wimbledon championships in 1967 and was part of the mixed doubles and singles draw at the first open Wimbledon in 1968. His win against highly-rated Frenchman Jean Francheau in the first round of the ’68 qualifiers pitted him against Lance Lumsden. The unpredictable Jamaican outlasted him in a tight four-set battle.

He also participated in the world’s first-ever open tournament, the British Hardcourt titles at Bournemouth. The singles event was won by Rod Laver, but the youngster was proud to reach the mixed doubles quarter-finals.

Ken’s most important wins came in Geneva and Kitzbul in 1967, and at Bordeaux in 1968. The Bordeaux championship, which was worth a dozen bottles of wine and about $100 to him at the time, now boasts prizemoney of half-a-million dollars.

He returned to Australia in 1970, to boost his chances of obtaining a ranking, but was forced to put his tennis ambitions on hold when he was called up to National Service. He was headed to Vietnam, but someone in officialdom heard of his tennis prowess and he was re-posted to Puckapunyal as a physical training instructor.

” Conscription put a real dampener on my tennis career, and after my army service was finished, I decided to pursue professional coaching, combined with playing a few tournaments,” he said.

“Tennis Australia gave me a couple of wild-cards to the Open, and I qualified and played singles and doubles in 1973 and ’74.”

With little money, no ranking, and a family to support, Ken became a full-time coach in 1974 and headed overseas with his wife Lorraine and their three kids, to coaching stints in Europe, the Middle East, Asia and America.

He coached Israel’s Davis Cup squad in the mid-70’s and, in 1980, landed the plum job as Head Coach at Germany’s Rot Weiss Tennis and Hockey Club.

It proved to be a life-changing appointment, particularly for the kids, Jeremy, Justine and Rachel, who loved the environment, became adept at the language and developed a deep affinity with the sport of hockey.

Jeremy became a Commonwealth Games Gold Medallist and a dual Champions Trophy silver medallist with the Kookaburras ; Justine also represented Australia, and Rachel was twice named an All-American.

On his return to Australia, Ken was appointed Head Coach at the Booroondarra Tennis Centre, then coached at a centre in Plenty, in Melbourne’s Diamond Valley.

With his coaching reputation highly-recognised, he was sought-after by several rising stars, and spent the next 10 years touring the world and being very much a part of the international circuit.

He had four Swiss boys in his charge at one stage, when a fellow coach, Aussie Peter Carter, asked if one of his boys could work under him for a few days.

“Just run the rule over him if you will, Ken,” said Carter. “He’s a hot-headed bugger, but he’s got loads of talent and I think he’ll be something special. Let me know what you think of him.”

It was Roger Federer.

There were heaps of sacrifices involved in touring globally, particularly being away from his family. “For instance, I’ll always regret missing two of the kids making their hockey debuts for Australia,” he says.

“I was sitting in my hotel room one night, reflecting. I thought to myself: ‘What the hell am I doing here ?”

So he knew it was time to resume a normal life, and he and Lorraine settled in Launceston in 1996, where he took up a job at the local Indoor Sports Centre.

But, instead of slowing down, he found himself as the Tasmanian coach and then head of the Launceston Tennis Academy.

He finally pulled the pin on his marathon tennis journey in 2011, when he retired from the Academy.

He had overseen the development of thousands of youngsters in his 40-odd years as a coach, and knew tennis like the back of his hand.

It had certainly been a dream run for the boy from Phillipson Street…….