The heart and soul of Melbourne Uni Basketball throughout the 80's, John 'JC' Campbell visits the clubrooms to chat about his time at the club.
Summary
Active player for 26 years, from 1976 through 1991 inclusive.
Played a total of around 2,000 games.
Played firsts (VBA division 1&2), seconds (VBA division 3) and Sunday nights A Grade, and Inter-varsity and around 80 tournaments.
Attended 13 Inter-varsities, 11 playing, 3 coaching
Coached men’s teams in domestic completion and tournaments, and women’s teams including the firsts and at tournamnets.
Committee member as Assistant Secretary (2 years from 1977) then Secretary for 8 years.
Dribbling Balls Editor 1976 - 1990
John Bayliss award 1979.
Club life member 1986.
Half Blue 1979.
Full Blue 1982, 84, 85, 86, 87 and 88.
Club MVP 1982 & 1989
MUBC IV MVP 1982, 83, 84, 85, 86 and 90.
IV/AUG All-Australian Rep Teams / Green and Gold Team 1985, 86 & 87
Other bits and pieces...
Sports Union President 1985-87
Melb Uni Director of Sport 1988-93 (commissioned the building of the current stadium when the Air Hall was destroyed in the earl 90s)
Monash Uni Director of Sport 1993-2001
Assistant Coach Bulleen Boomers WNBL (3 years)
Head Coach Waverley Falcons CVIBL Championship (2 years, one premiership)
1976
Joined MUBC at the O week table, then attended Welcome “Wine & Cheese” in Barry Humphries Room Arts South Building.
Other notables to commence in 1976 include Graeme Clarke, Andrew Bett, Graeme Bennie, Simon Brown-Greaves, Jan Landgon, Barb Robertson and Ann Compton.
Commenced playing the seconds (VBA Div 3)
I.V. team member in Hobart, debuting with Andrew Bett. Les Walker, Chris Macpherson and Skippy were the stars. Finished 7th, beating Monash in the playoff).
The occasional game in the men’s firsts with players like Ray Watson, Mike Means (USA), Neil (Simple) Simms and Chris Macpherson.
Began as editor of Dribbling Balls... at that time it was created by cutting a stencil using a typewriter, then given to the Sports Centre to be roneo-ed.
Attended Sale Portland (the First South West Classic) and Swan Hill tournaments – my first adventures in the club tent.
The Club’s Annual Presentation Dinner was held at the Uni Union after the Stadium Restaurant in Nth Fitzroy cancelled on us... tickets cost $10 all inclusive – 4 course dinner and drinks... After party at Henry’s place... “Hot August Night” was the album of choice for music
Club membership subscription was $3 (and people still didn’t pay!)
1977
Playing seconds and firsts. By the end of the year, the firsts were being coached by “Slippery” Sam Kambouris and were running the “Egyptian Shuffle” in offence
Coaching women’s team.
Committee member (Assistant Secretary)
Dribbling Balls Editor
Played at Wollongong I.V. – Ray Watson, Les Walker and Skippy were the stars. Finished 8th, beaten by Monash. Ray Watson in the All Aust team.
Tournaments at Wangaratta, Sale, Portland, Swan Hill
1978
Playing firsts (VBA Div 2).
Coaching women’s team.
Committee member (Assistant Secretary)
Dribbling Balls Editor
Played at Canberra (ANU) I.V. – Ray Watson, Les Walker, Haggis and Skippy were the stars. Finished 1st, Beating Monash in an epic semi (84-81, Skip 23, Graeme Bennie 20, then beating Adelaide 74-73(OT) Ray 18, Skippy 18, Les, 2xGraemes and Andrew Bett). Ray Watson in the All Aust team. Feature article with team pic on the back page of the Herald-Sun newspaper (by Lou Richards with Tom Prior)
Tournaments at Wangaratta, Sale, Portland (5 teams) and Swan Hill,
1979
John Bayliss Award
Playing firsts (VBA Div 2)... At this stage Lindsay Gaze was still playing Div 2 against us
Half Blue
Coaching women’s team.
Committee member (Secretary)
Club representative on VBA Council and MU Sports Union
Dribbling Balls Editor
Played at Newcastle I.V. Finished 8th
Tournaments at Wangaratta, Sale, Portland and Swan Hill,
1980
Playing firsts (VBA Div 2) and CYMS A Grade Sundays... At this stage Lindsay Gaze was still playing Div 2 against us
Coaching women’s team.
Committee member (Secretary)
Club representative on VBA Council and MU Sports Union
Dribbling Balls Editor
Coached Men at Monash I.V. Finished 4th... Skippy, Les, Graeme Jane were the best... Skippy and Les both All-Australian... CUB donated 5 slabs for IV in return for their logo on our t-shirts
Tournaments at Warrnambool, Wangaratta, Sale, Portland and Swan Hill,
1981
Playing firsts (VBA Div 2)... Henry scoring freely in the firsts, and Collingwood/CYMS A Grade Sundays... Mal Speed’s last year of playing, Coops shoots 35 in a half at Collingwood, 37 for the game (club record for a game 40 – Skippy and Simon Brown-Greaves)
Coaching women’s team.
Committee member (Secretary)
Club representative on VBA Council and MU Sports Union
Dribbling Balls Editor... 17 Editions
Coached Women at Sydney (Macquarie Uni) I.V. Finished 4th... Bridget Grounds Jean Prior and Mike Vadiveloo All-Australian (Men won that year, defeating LaTrobe 75-71, Rob McKenzie, Graeme Jane and Coops leading the way, David Zbrovsky coaching)
Tournaments at Warrnambool, Ballarat, Sale, Portland and Swan Hill,
Portland A Grade Women... Premiers (Bridget Grounds MVP and GF-MVP)... first MUBC tournament GF win since Devonport in the early 70s... after losing 5 GFs in 5 years at Portland
Annual Dinner at the Melbourne Town House... $11... music by the MacDisco Express
1982
Playing firsts (VBA Div 2)... Graeme Jane and Les Walker leading the way... CYMS A Grade Sundays...
Club MVP, IV MVP and Full Blue
Coaching women’s team.
Committee member (Secretary)
Club representative on VBA Council and MU Sports Union
Dribbling Balls Editor... first edition of CrossBalls
Played at UNE (Armidale) I.V. ... now called AUC... Two-day mini-bus trip... Finished 4th... Losing to Adelaide (led by Mr Goatee... Hans Raets) by 6 in the semi... Graeme Jane, Mike Vadiveloo, Les Walker leading the way... Graeme and Mike All-Australian
Tournaments at Warrnambool, Ballarat, Sale, Portland (5 men’s and 2 women’s teams), Moe and Swan Hill,
Hi I’m Gary... the band... (Gary Pendlebury, SBG, Chris Morrey, Spike, Steve the drummer – lights and sound by Bowlesy and Trevor Smith)
1983
Playing firsts (VBA Div 2)... Graeme Jane, Skippy, Chris Macpherson and Les Walker leading the way... CYMS A Grade Sundays...
Post match gatherings at the Rising Sun Hotel and Pete’s Bar
IV MVP
Coaching women’s team... VWBA Div 2... featuring Bridget Grounds, Jean Prior, Terry Canale, Annette Schepisi, Jenny Hampson... and Gillian Payne making her debut in April 1983.
Annual basketball marathon
Geoff Bowles (FF24) starting to make appearances regularly... Like winning the “Real Basketballers” competition (with Tony Lewis)
Committee member (Secretary)
Club representative on VBA Council and MU Sports Union
Dribbling Balls Editor... 21 Editions including the “Best of Dribbling Balls”
Played at UWA (Perth) I.V. ... now called AUC... Finished 9th ... Anne Cantwell All Australian... accommodation destroyed by cyclone
Tournaments at Warrnambool, Ballarat, Sale, Portland, Moe and Swan Hill
Women won A Grade at Ballarat... Bridget Grounds (Tournament MVP), Jean Prior, Terry Canale, Bernadette Burke and Carmel Cadzow led the way.
1984
Playing firsts (VBA Div 2)... Skippy, Chris Macpherson and Les Walker leading the way... CYMS A Grade Sundays...
IV MVP and Full Blue
Coaching women’s team... VWBA Div 2.... Lindy Burns (Spike) now part of that team
Geoff Bowles starting to make appearances regularly... Like winning the “Real Basketballers” competition (with Tony Lewis)
Committee member (Secretary)
Club representative on VBA Council and MU Sports Union
Dribbling Balls Editor... 20 Editions
Played at LaTrobe I.V. ... now called AUC... Finished 5th throwing away the quarter final
Tournaments at Warrnambool, Ballarat, Sale, Portland, Moe and Swan Hill
Coached the women to win A grade at Portland (Bridget Grounds GF MVP, Annette Schepisi, Jean Prior, Woody Macpherson, Julie Walker, Gillian Payne, Bernadette Burke)... Preceded by an eventful party at Macs Hotel... then spirited debate in Dribbling Balls.
Coached the women to win A grade at Moe just after Portland (Annette Schepisi GF MVP, Bridget Grounds, Spike, Tracy Nero, Carmel Cadzow, Jean Prior, Gillian Payne, Bernadette Burke)...
More caravan park woes at Ballarat
Sale flooded... evacuated to a community hall
South Pacific Universities Championships in Fiji... lost 81-74 to UQ in final. Graeme Jane, Dave Davies, Simon Brown-Greaves and JC All Star team.
Annual Dinner at Studley Park Receptions.. $15 all inclusive
Hi I’m Gary playing the Christmas Social in the Trophy Hall
1985
Playing ... CYMS A Grade Sundays... (Playing Div 1 and SEBL with Preston Rams later Sunbury Jets)
IV MVP and Full Blue
Coaching women’s team... VWBA Div 2....
Committee member (Secretary)
Club representative on VBA Council and MU Sports Union
Dribbling Balls Editor...
Co-Convenor of the Swan Hill IV with Chris Macpherson
Played at Melbourne (Swan Hill) I.V. ... now called AUC... Finished 5th blowing a couple of games to miss quarter finals on percentage / Coached women at IV – Winning! Beat UWA 54-47 led by Bridget (GF MVP), Spike, Tracy Nero, Kylie O’Brien, Gillian, Deb Kool, Anne Cantwell. Anne and Spike All-Australian. JC first All-Australian.
Swan Hill recovery function... pyramid races at the Turf Club then a paddle steamer cruise.
Chris and Woody Macpherson, Matt Wellington, Bowlesy, Mal Short and Trevor Smith did huge amount of organising.
Tournaments at Warrnambool, Ballarat, Sale, Portland, Moe and Swan Hill
Coached the women to win A grade at Moe for the second year in a row (Bridget Grounds, Spike, Carmel Cadzow, Gillian Payne, Bernadette Burke, Anne Cantwell)...
Coach women’s team that won A Res at Warrnambool
Men win Sale – first tournament success in 12 years (Les, Haggis, Bowlsey, Rik Driscoll, Mal Short, Bill MacNeill & coach Cooper). Gave rise to a famous picture
Bush Dance / raffle / pyramid racing
1986
Playing ... CYMS A Grade Sundays... (Playing Div 1 and SEBL with Sunbury Jets)
IV MVP and Full Blue
Finished coaching women’s team...
Committee member (Secretary)
Dribbling Balls Editor...
Played at UQ (Brisbane) I.V. ... now called AUC... Finished 2nd ... led by Andrew Parkinson, John Swartz, Hugh Sandie, Matt Miller. Swartz and JC All-Australian.
Club incorporates
Tournaments at Warrnambool, Ballarat, Portland, Moe and Swan Hill
Men win Portland A Grade (JC GF MVP, SBG, Bowlesy, Paul Burke, Haggis, Chris Morrey, Mark Carroll & Coops coaching)
1987
Playing ... CYMS A Grade Sundays... (Playing Div 1 and SEBL with Sunbury Jets)
Full Blue
Finished as committee member (David Liddle takes over as Secretary)
Dribbling Balls Editor...
Played at Adelaide I.V. ... now called AUC... Finished 2nd 79-74... the one that got away... led by Andrew Parkinson, John Swartz, Hugh Sandie, Matt Miller. Parky Tournament MVP, Parky and JC All-Australian. Donna Watt All-Australian.
Tournaments at Warrnambool, Ballarat, Mt Gambier, Portland, Moe and Swan Hill
1988
Playing ... VBA Div 2 and CYMS A Grade Sundays...
IV MVP
Full Blue
Dribbling Balls Editor...
Played at Sydney Uni I.V. (Port Macquarie) ... now called AUC... Finished 6th ... led by John Swartz, Mark Sheehan, Dimitri Taylor and Tim Morphy. John Swartz All-Australian. Women won... Sam MCLeod, Donna Watt, Narelle Frohling and Jo Storer All-Australian.
Tournaments at Warrnambool, Ballarat, Mt Gambier, Portland, Moe and Swan Hill
Men win A Grade at Moe (JC GF MVP, Haggis, Ric, Dragan Antolus, Bowlesy, Brian Connors, Nick Wade)
Sponsored by Dentons... the only company you need in bed!
1989
Playing ... VBA Div 2 (Graeme Jane was the standout performer, followed by Ric Driscoll) and CYMS A Grade Sundays...
MUBC MVP
Dribbling Balls Editor...
No IV due to pilot strike.
Tournaments at Warrnambool, Ballarat, Mt Gambier, Portland, Moe, Morwell and Swan Hill
Men win A Grade at Morwell (JC MVP, Graeme Jane, Ric, Bowlesy, Mal Short, Ian Burns and Coops coaching)
1990
Playing ... VBA Div 2 and CYMS A Grade Sundays...
IV MVP
Finished as Dribbling Balls Editor...
Played ANU IV (Canberra) – Finished 7th
Changing of the guard
Tournaments at Warrnambool, Ballarat, Mt Gambier, Portland, Moe, Morwell and Swan Hill
1991
Playing ... VBA Div 2 and CYMS A Grade Sundays...
Tournaments at Warrnambool, Ballarat, Mt Gambier, Portland, Moe, Morwell and Swan Hill
Men win Portland B Grade (Ric Driscoll Tournament MVP, JC Finals MVP, Matt Scholes, Bowlesy, Greg Scholes, Scotty Webber, John Edgely and David Liddle coach)
