Hockey Australia is saddened to listen to of the passing of former Kookaburra and Olympian Brian Booth MBE on 19 May.
Brian was the 154th participant capped for Australia’s Men’s Hockey Team and performed two worldwide matches, each coming in the course of the dwelling 1956 Olympic Games in Melbourne. He made his debut on 23 November 1956 in a primary up 2-0 win over Kenya.
Hockey colleague and historian from New South Wales, Colin Allerdice penned the next tribute to Brian.
The hockey and cricket worlds have misplaced considered one of their sporting icons with the passing of Brian Booth MBE from most cancers. A very gifted man, Brian was a champion 440-yard runner, district tennis champion, and a proficient cricketer and hockey participant.
Born in Perthville, simply outdoors Bathurst, Brian knocked on three doorways when he moved to Sydney in 1952 to take up a trainer’s faculty scholarship – the St. George District Hockey Club, the St. George District Cricket Club and the St. George’s Church, Hurstville.
As a dedicated Christian, he went on to signify his chosen District, his State and Country in each sports activities with talent, dedication, delight, humility and beauty.
During his lifetime, he served each sports activities and the 2 District Clubs as a participant, coach, administrator, patron and mentor influencing many, together with these in different sports activities, along with his gentlemanly conduct and private beliefs.
He was considered one of hockey’s “Originals” – a member of the Australian Men’s Hockey Team that participated within the 1956 Olympic Games and held, for a brief interval, what is usually mentioned to be the second most necessary job within the nation – Captain of the Australian Men’s Cricket Team.
The temporary statistics of his sporting profession are as follows:
HOCKEY
– Played for St George from 1952 to 1973 (over 300 matches)
– 8 First Grade Premierships
– Represented New South Wales from 1955 to 1960 (damaged interval) (30 matches)
– Represented Australia at 1956 Olympic Games (2 matches)
CRICKET
– Played for St George from 1952 to 1977
– 6 First Grade Premierships
– 287 innings scoring 10,674 runs at a median of 45.42 with a highest rating of 208no
– Represented New South Wales from 1954 to 1969 (93 First Class matches inc. 81 S/Shield)
– 146 innings scoring 5,577 runs at a median of 43.57 with a highest rating of 177
– Represented Australia from 1960 to 1966 (29 Tests & 72 Tour matches)
– 154 innings scoring 5,961 runs at a median of 44.16 with a highest rating of 214no
– As an occasional bowler he took 16 wickets in all First Class matches performed
– Captained New South Wales on 11 events and Australia twice
After retiring from instructing, Brian’s private ministry noticed him tackle lively roles within the Sydney Christian Businessmen’s Group and the Christian Sports Fellowship, which inspires Christians in all sports activities. He travelled extensively to distant areas of New South Wales and Queensland talking at assemblies, conducting teaching ‘safaris’, sharing tips for dwelling life with a goal, and sharing his religion.
In 1967 the Sydney Hockey Association launched a medal to be awarded to the very best & fairest participant every season and named it ‘The Brian Booth Medal’. He was a life member of the St. George District Cricket Club, NSW Cricket Association and the Marylebone Cricket Club.
He has been inducted into the Sydney Hockey Association Hall of Fame, the Cricket NSW Hall of Fame and is recognised within the NSW Sports Hall of Champions. The “Booth Saunders Pavilion” at Sydney’s Hurstville Oval is collectively named in his honour and Perthville’s sports activities oval has been renamed “The Brian Booth Oval”.
In 1982 he was awarded an MBE for providers to the group and sport.
Brian’s document of being the one individual to have represented Australia at each hockey and cricket can be set in stone by the historians. It is unlikely to ever be replicated. But it was his means to succeed when the strain was the best and his unobtrusive means to encourage others that may problem the minds of those that write about him. Brian Booth was 89. He is survived by his spouse of 65 years, Judy, their 4 daughters and their households.
If I had written 1,000,000 phrases it could haven’t precisely mirrored Brian’s life and people who he influenced throughout it. A real legend misplaced.
Hockey Australia extends its deepest condolences to the Booth household and Brian’s buddies.
