LARGER than life for most of his years, well-known New Norfolk sportsman and ex-serviceman Ron Miles has died this week, aged 95. A resident of Corumbene Nursing Home for the last few years, Ron passed away on September 17. He is survived by his wife June and their children Kym and Linda and their families. Ron's funeral service will be at the Millingtons Funeral Home, 151 Main Rd, Moonah, at 1pm this Wednesday, September 23.
Dubbed Tasmania's "Mr Boxing" in the 1970s, the name of Ronald Leslie Miles was synonymous with amateur boxing throughout the state for many decades. His sporting career of more than 60 years included his debut as a young competitive boxer in the mid 1930s, more than 40 years as a respected trainer, a referee for both boxing and wrestling, and time as a top promoter expounding the noble art of gloved fisticuffs to all who wished to learn. He also wrote prolifically for the Derwent Valley Gazette and also for The Advocate whilst living in the North-West for a time.
Writing in Volume 1 of The Derwent Valley from Federation to Millennium, Kym Miles noted that his father's interest was sparked as a youngster attending the New Norfolk State School in the early 1930s. He was fascinated with Alf Henson’s Travelling Boxing Troupe which attended the popular New Norfolk Regatta during the depression years of the late 1920s and early 1930s. Ron had his first venture into boxing in 1935 when, at 15 years of age, he started training at a Hobart gymnasium. Ron fought in several bouts with mixed success at various tournaments before joining the Royal Australian Navy in March 1939. He returned to New Norfolk in 1949 with his wife June and infant son Kym.
He played a major role in the establishment of the Australian Newsprint Mills Boxing Club in 1951. "The club took off and it seemed every boy in New Norfolk wanted to become a boxer. During 34 years of training boxers at New Norfolk, (he) helped to produce many top boxers and his list of champions reads like a Who’s Who of boxing – Johnny Latham, Peter Oldham, Tony Maddox, Barry Lucas, Keith King, Max McCallum, Terry and Ray Briers, Des and Terry Ackerley, Robert Hill, Roger Crosswell, Johnny Jackson, Max Hooper, Johnny Kava, and four-times Australian heavyweight champion Rex Kelly," Kym Miles wrote.
In 1954 Miles started the popular Derwent Valley Championships to cater for boxers throughout the Derwent Valley. The championships became so popular that they made New Norfolk the Tasmanian mecca for boxing for nearly 30 years. Miles also ran shows as fundraisers for various charities including the Miss Tasmania Quest, while tournaments in the 1950s helped to furnish the New Norfolk War Memorial Hall.
The New Norfolk District Football Club was another big interest. Ron held many positions with the club, including 25 years as team manager, assistant secretary and director, and was a team selector for five different coaches. He was awarded life membership in 1960, and was later awarded life membership of the New Norfolk Old Players and Officials Association.
Ron retired from the ANM workforce in 1980 after 31 years of service and moved to Burnie three years later, where he maintained his keen interest in boxing before returning home to New Norfolk in 1995 to enjoy a quiet life with his wife June.
When Ron Miles’ name appeared in the 1978 Queen’s Birthday Honours List for service to the sports of boxing, wrestling and Australian football, the then Warden of New Norfolk, Cr Clyde Fitzgerald, remarked: “Ron Miles is a great credit to his district, people like him who give up so much of their time and skill in helping youth are a precious commodity anywhere”. In 2000 Ron received a further honour in the form of the Australian Sports Medal acknowledging his service to Amateur Boxing and Australian Rules Football, as a boxer, boxing trainer, wrestler, referee and promoter.
Rest in peace, Ron Miles. Condolences to his family.
Saturday, September 19, 2015
Friday, September 18, 2015
Preliminary final preview
SFL Season 2015 Finals
Week 3 previewed by Ben Harrison
New Norfolk v Huonville
The 2015 SFL preliminary final this Sunday is set up as a mouth watering contest to see who will win out and take the reward to accept the final challenge to stop the Claremont juggernaut which some seem to think may be unstoppable on their way to this season’s SFL Premiership.
Both these teams come into this game in completely contrasting form with Eagles struggling to impact the scoreboard with any frequency in their semi-final, whereas the Lions ended up with 36 scoring shots and nine individual goal-scorers in their corresponding game against Lindisfarne.
As the finals move to KGV in the penultimate week of the season the Eagles will look to their finals superstar Nathan Ross to be re-ignite their season after really being belted by Claremont in the 2nd Semi-Final by 76 points. On the other hand the Lions will relish the opportunity for a Sunday drive to bring their big supporter base out of the Huon Valley after a dramatic finals victory in the 1st Semi-Final following their barnstorming finish to get over Lindisfarne by a solitary point on the back of a 10-goal final quarter after trailing by 44 points at the final change.
The Lions have proven that they have the fitness to run out four quarters and they have plenty of scoring options available and the potential clash between Lions Coach and spearhead Tim “Billy” Lamprill and the league’s best defender in Rohan Heron should be worth the entry fee on its own. But the Lions midfield will need to not only hold Ross, but the classy Mark Horne and Josh Clifford and Huonville’s leader Jordan Lovell will be the prime mover from the stoppages that the Lions look to as the man to give their forwards enough service to challenge the reigning premier.
The game is sure to be a classic battle between these two teams striving to make a Grand Final as the reigning premier could be looking down the barrel at the end of an era as they go up against the emerging Huonville Lions who have really turned around their season after being winless at the bottom of the ladder after four rounds of the year.
So, who gets another crack at Claremont? Well, Huonville has been brave and impressive, but it’s an even braver person who says the Eagles are done with in September and they are likely to get their campaign back on track and set up another Grand Finals appearance.
Prediction: New Norfolk by 36 points
Week 3 previewed by Ben Harrison
New Norfolk v Huonville
The 2015 SFL preliminary final this Sunday is set up as a mouth watering contest to see who will win out and take the reward to accept the final challenge to stop the Claremont juggernaut which some seem to think may be unstoppable on their way to this season’s SFL Premiership.
Both these teams come into this game in completely contrasting form with Eagles struggling to impact the scoreboard with any frequency in their semi-final, whereas the Lions ended up with 36 scoring shots and nine individual goal-scorers in their corresponding game against Lindisfarne.
As the finals move to KGV in the penultimate week of the season the Eagles will look to their finals superstar Nathan Ross to be re-ignite their season after really being belted by Claremont in the 2nd Semi-Final by 76 points. On the other hand the Lions will relish the opportunity for a Sunday drive to bring their big supporter base out of the Huon Valley after a dramatic finals victory in the 1st Semi-Final following their barnstorming finish to get over Lindisfarne by a solitary point on the back of a 10-goal final quarter after trailing by 44 points at the final change.
The Lions have proven that they have the fitness to run out four quarters and they have plenty of scoring options available and the potential clash between Lions Coach and spearhead Tim “Billy” Lamprill and the league’s best defender in Rohan Heron should be worth the entry fee on its own. But the Lions midfield will need to not only hold Ross, but the classy Mark Horne and Josh Clifford and Huonville’s leader Jordan Lovell will be the prime mover from the stoppages that the Lions look to as the man to give their forwards enough service to challenge the reigning premier.
The game is sure to be a classic battle between these two teams striving to make a Grand Final as the reigning premier could be looking down the barrel at the end of an era as they go up against the emerging Huonville Lions who have really turned around their season after being winless at the bottom of the ladder after four rounds of the year.
So, who gets another crack at Claremont? Well, Huonville has been brave and impressive, but it’s an even braver person who says the Eagles are done with in September and they are likely to get their campaign back on track and set up another Grand Finals appearance.
Prediction: New Norfolk by 36 points
Community market this Sunday
Derwent Valley Community Market
Sunday, September 20, 2015
10am-2pm
at Derwent Valley Community House
The Avenue, Willow Court, New Norfolk
(Market held on the third Sunday of every month)
Wednesday, September 16, 2015
Restaurant rises again
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| The Burnett Street Merchant |
Originally a general store and later a second-hand shop and furniture store, the building at 21 Burnett St was a fire-damaged shell before being opened as Verandahs in the Valley in 2003.
Verandahs had two iterations, followed by a short period in 2010 when it traded as "Quince" under different management.
The original operators, John and Laurelle Grimley, have now opened a new venture in the building, calling it The Burnett Street Merchant. The name is a nod to a popular eatery in Perth, Western Australia.
The restaurant's Facebook page says "The Merchant" will be open from 5pm on Thursday and Friday, and from 6pm on Saturday. For bookings, call or text 0400 677 445. There is also a website with other details.
 |
| The building as it was a century ago. Click image to enlarge. |
Monday, September 14, 2015
Eagles into preliminary final
SFL Season 2015
Finals Week 2 reviewed by Ben Harrison
Second Semi Final at Abbotsfield Park
Claremont 18.15 (123) d New Norfolk 7.5 (47)
THE Magpies continued their dominance of the Eagles in SFL season 2015 in the Second Semi-Final to progress directly to the Grand Final following a 76 point victory at Abbotsfield Park on Saturday. The Magpies will now have two weeks to prepare for their premiership opponent as they await the outcome of the Preliminary Final clash between New Norfolk and Huonville Lions at KGV this Sunday.
The Second Semi-Final did not prove to be the free flowing contest that was possibly expected in the first half as Claremont led by 16 points at quarter time and extended that lead to 32 points by half time where to that stage the Eagles had only managed two goals to half time. But from the long break the Eagles showed more results from their forward 50 entries and returned 4.2 for the third quarter, but so did the Magpies delivering the first of two six goal quarters in succession for the second half to put the result beyond doubt.
The Claremont big guns delivered on the scoreboard and headed a list of 11 different goal kickers as Nathan Brown finished with four goals and Sean Salter kicked three majors and will need two goals in the Grand Final to finish the season with a century of goals for the season. Tyron Rainbird and Bryan Chaplin both kicked two goals for New Norfolk in a unusually low return for the Eagles.
Daniel Fewkes was best on ground for Claremont with great support from Nathan Griffith and Simon Ladic whilst as usual Rohan Heron led the way in defence for the Eagles and he had good support from Mark Horne.
Claremont ensured that SFL Grand Final day is sure to be a massive one for their club as the reserves were victorious by 81 points over New Norfolk and so were the Colts as they defeated Huonville Lions by 64 points to both advance to their respective Grand Finals and join their senior teammates.
First Semi Final at Anzac Park
Huonville 18.18 (126) d Lindisfarne 18.17 (125)
LINDISFARNE would have gone into its home final feeling confident of a positive result if it could get its free running game going and kick accurately. Following a 27-point lead at quarter-time kicking with the wind and extending the lead to 35 points at half time the Two Blues would have definitely felt they had control of the game, particularly as the Lions' usually accurate forward line was way off target having only scored five goals from 16 scoring shots.
The lead opened up even more in the third quarter as the Two Blues once again kicked with the strong wind and opened up a match winning lead of 44 points at the final break. Only those in the huddle would know what Huonville coach Tim Lamprill said to his players before the last quarter, but whatever were the words they worked. The strong wind became a Huonville hurricane as the Lions after kicking six goals in six minutes finished the quarter running down the Two Blues lead to secure the win by the smallest of margins, kicking 10 goals in the final quarter after having only managed eight in the previous three quarters.
Huonville coach Tim Lamprill led the scoring with six goals and Brad Sullivan also contributed four goals. Lindisfarne’s Brody Phillips finished the season with five goals in this great final and Matthew Howell again finished his work off well slotting through three majors. Huonville was best served by Michael Paul, Brendon Lorkin, Jordan Lovell and Coach Lamprill. Lindisfarne had Matt Phillips, Justin Myers and Adam Hutchinson led the way early on in the game for the Two Blues.
Lindisfarne will be disappointed to have gone out of the 2015 SFL finals series in straight sets after being the only team in 2015 to have the better of the all conquering Claremont Magpies during the season. On the other hand the Huonville Lions are now only one step away from a fairytale finish to their season after being on the bottom of the ladder after four rounds at the start of the season.
In the reserves Huonville went down to Brighton in a big loss by 98 points and they also lost their final against Claremont in the Colts by 64 points to set up a Preliminary final clash against Sorell following their tight three point victory over Brighton.
Finals Week 2 reviewed by Ben Harrison
Second Semi Final at Abbotsfield Park
Claremont 18.15 (123) d New Norfolk 7.5 (47)
THE Magpies continued their dominance of the Eagles in SFL season 2015 in the Second Semi-Final to progress directly to the Grand Final following a 76 point victory at Abbotsfield Park on Saturday. The Magpies will now have two weeks to prepare for their premiership opponent as they await the outcome of the Preliminary Final clash between New Norfolk and Huonville Lions at KGV this Sunday.
The Second Semi-Final did not prove to be the free flowing contest that was possibly expected in the first half as Claremont led by 16 points at quarter time and extended that lead to 32 points by half time where to that stage the Eagles had only managed two goals to half time. But from the long break the Eagles showed more results from their forward 50 entries and returned 4.2 for the third quarter, but so did the Magpies delivering the first of two six goal quarters in succession for the second half to put the result beyond doubt.
The Claremont big guns delivered on the scoreboard and headed a list of 11 different goal kickers as Nathan Brown finished with four goals and Sean Salter kicked three majors and will need two goals in the Grand Final to finish the season with a century of goals for the season. Tyron Rainbird and Bryan Chaplin both kicked two goals for New Norfolk in a unusually low return for the Eagles.
Daniel Fewkes was best on ground for Claremont with great support from Nathan Griffith and Simon Ladic whilst as usual Rohan Heron led the way in defence for the Eagles and he had good support from Mark Horne.
Claremont ensured that SFL Grand Final day is sure to be a massive one for their club as the reserves were victorious by 81 points over New Norfolk and so were the Colts as they defeated Huonville Lions by 64 points to both advance to their respective Grand Finals and join their senior teammates.
First Semi Final at Anzac Park
Huonville 18.18 (126) d Lindisfarne 18.17 (125)
LINDISFARNE would have gone into its home final feeling confident of a positive result if it could get its free running game going and kick accurately. Following a 27-point lead at quarter-time kicking with the wind and extending the lead to 35 points at half time the Two Blues would have definitely felt they had control of the game, particularly as the Lions' usually accurate forward line was way off target having only scored five goals from 16 scoring shots.
The lead opened up even more in the third quarter as the Two Blues once again kicked with the strong wind and opened up a match winning lead of 44 points at the final break. Only those in the huddle would know what Huonville coach Tim Lamprill said to his players before the last quarter, but whatever were the words they worked. The strong wind became a Huonville hurricane as the Lions after kicking six goals in six minutes finished the quarter running down the Two Blues lead to secure the win by the smallest of margins, kicking 10 goals in the final quarter after having only managed eight in the previous three quarters.
Huonville coach Tim Lamprill led the scoring with six goals and Brad Sullivan also contributed four goals. Lindisfarne’s Brody Phillips finished the season with five goals in this great final and Matthew Howell again finished his work off well slotting through three majors. Huonville was best served by Michael Paul, Brendon Lorkin, Jordan Lovell and Coach Lamprill. Lindisfarne had Matt Phillips, Justin Myers and Adam Hutchinson led the way early on in the game for the Two Blues.
Lindisfarne will be disappointed to have gone out of the 2015 SFL finals series in straight sets after being the only team in 2015 to have the better of the all conquering Claremont Magpies during the season. On the other hand the Huonville Lions are now only one step away from a fairytale finish to their season after being on the bottom of the ladder after four rounds at the start of the season.
In the reserves Huonville went down to Brighton in a big loss by 98 points and they also lost their final against Claremont in the Colts by 64 points to set up a Preliminary final clash against Sorell following their tight three point victory over Brighton.
Vegetation fire at Molesworth
THE Tasmania Fire Service is on the scene of a vegetation fire at Collins Cap Rd, Molesworth. The incident was reported at 12.22pm. The size of the fire has not yet been reported but a light tanker has responded and a medium tanker is on the way.
Today's temperatures in some parts of the Derwent Valley have already exceeded the forecast maximum of 25 degrees. At 1pm the temperature at Bushy Park was 27.2 degrees.
4PM UPDATE: This fire is now controlled and is being patrolled.
Click here for updates from the Tasmania Fire Service.
Today's temperatures in some parts of the Derwent Valley have already exceeded the forecast maximum of 25 degrees. At 1pm the temperature at Bushy Park was 27.2 degrees.
4PM UPDATE: This fire is now controlled and is being patrolled.
Click here for updates from the Tasmania Fire Service.
Sunday, September 13, 2015
State title for Derwent Valley Band
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