The Old and the New: In Memoriam, David Hookes-by Michael Roberts Source:Cricketique Michael Roberts,  from the Baggy Green, by Bernard Whimpress, 2016, Comment: On 25 March 2001 a public memorial service paid homage to Sir Donald Bradman after a full lifetime innings capping his monumental record as batsman and captain on the cricket field. On 27 January 2004 a public memorial service honoured David Hookes’ memory after his cameo innings in life was prematurely terminated before a half-century was reached. Bradman’s memoriam marked the passing of the old century, the twentieth century. Hookes and his memoriam signalled the new, the twenty-first century. Hookes’ bat and his Redbacks Cap marked his last hurrah in home ground The generational contrast was also inscribed in the style of each memorial moment. The public service to Bradman was a traditional Christian service held in St. Peter’s Anglican Cathedral abutting the Adelaide Oval and almost part of it ...

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“Mary’s Boy Child” conveyed in Cerebral South Asian Dance-by Michael Roberts Source:Thuppahis With Thanks to FELIX SIRIMANNE extended by Thuppahiya …. for leading us to this Celebration of the Christmas Message in a Performative South Asian Mode of “cerebral’ character ...

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eLanka Newsletter – 17th December 2023 – 5th Edition – Sri Lankans In Australia Sri Lankans in Australia Click here or on the image below to read this week’s elanka Newsletter A Christmas Evening. A night to remember! – By Aubrey Joachim Pakistan show defiance as Aussie bowlers toil. – BY TREVINE RODRIGO IN MELBOURNE. (eLanka Sports editor) Antonians in Melbourne joined Rev Fr Hilarion O.S.B in celebrations of his Golden Jubilee of priesthood and thanked him for his dedicated services to the College. Australia XI for the first Test against Pakistan DEMISE OF CALLISTA KULUGAMMANA DEARLY BELOVED MOM OF SAMANTHA KULUGAMMANA FORMERLY OF MUSCAT INTERCONTINENTAL HOTEL It’s that time of the Year – Once again.- By Noor Rahim Orient Finance’s Alternative Finance Business Unit Wins International Accolades The Brad and Kiara Show Podcast – 2023-12-16 Adelaide University Celebrates Year 2023 & Envisions A Good Future-by Michael Roberts THE GLOBAL ...

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Khawaja ‘cartooned’ by Johannes Leak-by Michael Roberts Source:Thuppahis Johannes Leak is one of the cartoonists for The AUSTRALIAN newspaper. To receive his attention in whatever form is to reach the mountainearing heights of political commentary. Usman Khwaja is one of the rare sportsman to receive this áccolade’. Joining Australia’s Prime Minister [on Albanese] as a target is reach the cumulous clouds of public prominence. For those unaware of the circumstances, note that Usman Khawaja, a devout Muslim, chose to inscribe pro-Palestinian messags on the underside of his boots  because any such act in blatant display would have seem him evicted from the playing field. This compromise act was seconded by a black armband …. so his position received news reportage. Leak’s cartoon was …  and is … one of the peaks of news coverage.  Usman Khawaja has now become a mountaineer. ...

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Pictorial Colombo in its Prime: Hodi-Heleyi Helleyi-aaahhhh-by Michael Roberts Source:Thuppahis An Advertisement …. with highlights imposed by Thuppahi The Great Days of Colombo is by far the most comprehensive work on the City of Colombo. This profusely illustrated work running to over 800 pages tells the story of how Colombo originated from very humble beginnings as a simple Moorish port to become what it is today, a bustling city full of life and colour. The evolution of the city is traced in much detail and its rich history vividly described replete with fascinating stories coming down from colonial times. Colombo was in a sense a meeting point of East and West and a melting pot which attracted peoples of many nations to come hither and call home. The story of Colombo is in short the story of a modern nation in the making. The Great Days of Colombo brings this out vividly. ...

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High-Profile Burghers & Other Exotic Personnel in Olde Ceylon-by Michael Roberts Source:Thuppahis Rodney Vandergert, whose title reads thus: “Random Musings of A Senile Mind,”.… an article which appeared on web on 4th March 2006 at https://kermeey.blogspot.com/2006/03/random-musings-of-senile-mind.html …… reproduced with selective highlights in this version … & brought to my attention by Charles Schokman of Australia “Bliss was it in that dawn to be alive, but to be young was very heaven” Wordsworth: Preludes In the Nineteen Forties and early Fifties, Bambalawatte was the centre of the universe. It was where all the meaningful action took place and where the principal actors were mainly Burghers and a group of expatriates drawn from half a dozen nationalities. This was brought most forcibly to my mind after reading the recent obituaries which appeared in the local press – one to Zoe Jayatilleke by Tita Nathanielsz; the other to David Gladwin Loos , C.C.S.. by Bradman Weerakoon.                          ...

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eLanka Newsletter – 26th November 2023 – 8th Edition Sri Lankans in Australia Click here or on the image below to read this week’s elanka Newsletter Chamari Athapaththu visited a local cricket club in Sydney Anne-Marie Le Mercier Cade – elected Mayor at Glen Eira City Council Chamari Athapaththu visited a local cricket club in Sydney 24.11.2023 Champions return home after creating a long-lasting legacy How Does One Determine the Right Amount and Type of Vitamin D to Take? – By Dr. Sunil Wimalawansa Strong PM’s XI squad named to face Pakistan Anduren Eliyata – Darkness to Light Migration out of Ceylon & Sri Lanka – by Michael Roberts in ADELAIDE ICC Hall of Fame welcomes De Silva, Edulji and Sehwag as Class of 2023 inductees ICC Hall of Fame Class of 2023 Celebration Dinner (Aravinda De Silva amongst the legends of the game) Australia’s ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup ...

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Migration out of Ceylon & Sri Lanka – by Michael Roberts in ADELAIDE To those CEYLONESE – term used advisedly to mark time-emphasis – who migrated from the island in the period 1948 to 1970 ….and even in the next two decades … do take the trouble to respond to these questions at whatever length you consider suitable. DEAR I am now 85 years old. I left Sri Lanka with my family in 1977 and was therefore aware of the socio-political currents that prevailed from the 1950s onwards. Some of these developments and currents motivated several Western-educated personnel of middle-class status to migrate. Some of my relatives were among those who moved out to UK, Canada and Australia. That was THEN. But these personnel are presently in the Now …unless they have departed from life on earth. All the survivors will have grey hair …. or none at all. These features ...

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eLanka Newsletter – 19th November 2023 – 6th Edition Sri Lankans in Australia Click here or on the image below to read this week’s elanka Newsletter Hussey bullish on Australia’s World Cup chances – By Jonathan Healy Australia scamper into another World Cup final after South African scare. Indian juggernaut looms for Australia’s next challenge. – BY TREVINE RODRIGO IN MELBOURNE. (eLanka Sports editor). A seating zone in SCG to name after Sri Lankan star Chamari Athapaththu World records in cricket created by Sri Lanka – World Cup 2023 Understanding the impact of age on high blood pressure – By Dr harold Gunatillake The Brad and Kiara Show Podcast – 2023-11-18 The history of the DSA group – freshmen of 1959 – By Sriyan Jayasekera Surprise Dinner to fete Sriyan Jayasekera convenor of the Class of 59 at S Thomas College Mount Lavinia in Sri Lanka, Circa 2002 for his ...

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A Campaign Against Sledging & Intimidation on the Cricket Field-by Michael Roberts Source:Thuppahis My upbringing was heavily impregnated with cricket and its sporting values. The practices of sledging and verbal one-upmanship in order to unsettle batsmen was simply unthinkable to those so nourished. When Sri Lanka’s team under Arjuna Ranatunga had a prolonged tour of Australia in 187, they happened to spend a lot of time in Adelaide.  I was introduced to Arjuna and Ruwan Kalpage at a dinner at the house of Tilak Gunasekera (alas not more with us) and his wife Dawn (nee Buultjens). There I received first-hand tales of the degree to which Australian cricket was, so to speak, impregnated with the sledging form of one-upmanship. My distaste for this type of activity was deepened when I witnessed the pressures directed at the Sri Lankan cricket team touring Australia in 1995/96 — this time by some of the umpires ...

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