Graham “Smokey” Dawson

The speaker for the evening, Graham “Smokey” Dawson spoke of his passion for cricket and the desire to broadcast it from a very, very early age.
He gave us many amusing anecdotes of his rise as a young man to reach his passion through the meeting of many famous cricketers, amongst them Sir Donald Bradman and Harold Larwood, and has been broadcasting since 1974.
Apart from cricket he also moved to commentating for the ABC a number of different events in many Olympic Games.
He recalls the amazing ability to be able to comment on weightlifting and volleyball at the 2004 Olympic Games from the Dorcas Street Studios in South Melbourne via digital technology.
From 1974 to 2015 in his opinion the best footballers were Leigh Matthews and Gary Ablett senior. The best cricketers were fast bowler Dennis Lillee spinner Shane Warne, best batsmen were Greg Chappell and Viv Richards.
It was a very entertaining and amusing evening, the speaker Graham was thanked with a RC Rosanna pen and a resounding round of applause.
ADG Chris Lang and Rotarian Partners were also thanked for attending and President Neil closed the meeting.