Con passed away on the 28th of April 2023. He was 88 years old.
Life Member
Hall of Fame
Club President 1961 to 1968
First XI cap number 298
3rd XI Premiership player
Con played at Hampton from 1960 to 1985. He was one of the great HCC administrators of the 1960s instrumental in taking the Club into the modern era – others included the Evans brothers – Grant and Geoff, Doug Powell, Ray Wigley and John Kenny. Arguably their greatest legacy was the introduction and promotion of the junior section of the Club and the uniting of the Club after a largely divided and disappointing preceding decade.
Con was a well-known and much-loved teacher at Hampton High School just down the road from Castlefield oval. He encouraged many students to join the Club and was junior manager for much of the 1960s. He also encouraged those same students to help push the roller after school each Friday as final preparation of the wicket for the next day’s play!
During Con’s presidency he worked tirelessly to create a sense of ‘club’ whereas previously it had been two distinct and separate Hampton teams. Jim Kenny wrote in his history of the Club ‘Con made the place attractive to newcomers who sensed they belonged to something bigger than the team in which they played. Under him the club became much more diverse. The traditionally working-class Hampton club was invaded by academics and intellectuals but there was no culture shock. The place was diverse but united. Hampton in the 60s was a fun place to be, but there was a sense of gravitas apparent to all. The club was going to places it had not been for many years’.
Con was an opening batsman who earned First XI cap number 298 but who played mainly in the lower elevens where he captained the 3rd XI to a premiership in 1967-68 and later captained the 6th and 7th XIs. Con won batting averages in the 2nd, 5th and 7th elevens and a 3rd XI bowling average. Jim Kenny described Con’s bowling as ‘useful, if underrated, off-spinners’. As a batsman he was an accumulator rather than a dasher but was often the foundation upon which good team scores were built. Con recorded a Club record for the 7th XI with an aggregate of 409 runs during the 1982-3 season.
A big man, not blessed with natural speed, it was said that Con frequently turned a possible three into a safe single! Con shared a Club record partnership with First XI captain Barry Hewet who was returning in the 7ths after a broken arm. They put on 258 for the first wicket with Barry making 201 of them!
Reflections from his contemporaries include:
Dennis Bouyer who opened the batting on many occasions with Con recalls:
I have great memories of opening the batting with Con many times. I would make 90% of our opening partnership but I always went out first. I have fond memories of a true gentleman.
John Wintle’s observations of Con sum up the man many of us knew:
The loss of Con is sad news indeed.
My fondest memories of the big man were from the early 60s when I was growing into adulthood from my teen years. I was impressed by him and the many clever university-trained friends like the Clancy brothers, Don Ayre, John Kenny, Brian Matthews and Barry O’Keefe who Con attracted to our club.
Con’s conversations were quite different to those this Housing Commission kid knew. Topics like, ‘The origins of Jazz and the Blues’ or ‘ How to find the best cellared wines in town’ were often discussed.
When cricket generally, or Hampton cricket in particular, were discussed, Con had strong and wise opinions so everyone listened intently.
Con’s on-field performances were admirable. He always tried hard. He was a popular leader and effective club President who helped lead HCC into the glorious era of the 70s and beyond.
We will miss Con.
May he rest in peace.
Off spinner Andy Robertson also recalls:
I have so many happy memories of time spent with Con, particularly at the Cricket Club.
A wonderful skipper – the only one who asked me to open the bowling (for the HCC threes)!!
Con was interested in and passionate about all sorts of esoteric things – cricket, footy, wine, jazz, books, politics etc etc. I particularly remember his cricket and football scrapbooks which went back many years.
A gentle, thoughtful, kind, generous man who loved a chat, Con’s passing is a loss to us all.
RIP
Peter Clark remembers:
Great memories of being a young boy in the early 70s playing with Con who was the captain of the 4ths. He made the game fun and a learning experience.
RIP Con
Kevin Martin recalls:
When I was in the under 14’s Con espoused the virtues of “playing the game” and more importantly being part of a team. He used to run pie nights and other activities sometimes on a Friday night down at Ludstone St.(Castlefield clubrooms)
He was a kind man with a great love of the game and of the club. I played with him in the seniors for a few years and he continued to display these ideals.
Terry Nasser writes:
A truly great icon of the Hampton CC
I shared many a great Thursday and Saturday nights with Con.
Personal recollections of Con outside of the cricket club include many afternoons in Bay 13 (and later in the Members) at the MCG watching Shield and Test cricket, dinners with him at Elwood listening to his vast jazz collection and sampling rare French and Australian wines while discussing politics and life in general. He really was a man for all seasons.
Our sincere condolences go out to his wife Rosemary and the wider O’Donohue clan.
RIP Con O’Donohue
Note:
Many of the stats and memories of Con are taken from Jim Kenny’s amazing history of the Club:
Hampton Cricket Club
‘There’s a bit of a Larrikin Element down there…’
100 years at the Hampton Cricket Club
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