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I have an ANZAC Day tale of my own that has become a tradition in my house.
In the days before the monopolisation of ANZAC Day by Collingwood and Essendon I can remember many Carlton games played on the 25th of April. On Wednesday the 25th of April 1989 I prepared for the football and hoped Carlton would halt its terrible start to the season. Our opponent that day was Essendon and the game's venue was Princes Park. I was keen and probably waxing lyrical about the day being the start of a turnaround. Wallsey's job would be planning the assault on the finals after today.
My wife, who was heavily pregnant, looked at me and said "I don't think you're going to the footy today". Her contractions had started and she needed a driver! So.. No live footy in those days, no streaming. It was live radio with plenty of screaming (not my wife) because you had no idea what was going on or where the footy was being contested. So I covered more ground than a midfielder that day (pre GPS) as I can't sit down when listening to the footy on the radio and I was in constant dialogue with my wife given her condition.
Essendon had the better of us that day and Carlton's season would only get worse.
My wife was still hanging on as I listened to the wrap up of the game. I like to think it was either the 'Captain and the Major' on 3KZ or Harry Beitzel on 3AW with Tommy Lahiff deep in the Heatley Stand screaming down the line 'Are you there Harry?'
A phone call to the hospital around 6 suggested the driver should bring her to Maternity at the Mercy in East Melbourne. A couple of Dave McNamara place kicks from the MCG.
The drive in presented some anxious moments like slow drivers and the mandatory stop at the Brunswick Street crossing to let a couple of trains through. We arrived at the hospital at 6.30 and I was told to park the car while things were prepared. My son arrived at 8.18 and my wife called an end to more children because she feared the next one would be born in the car on the way to the hospital.
I resisted the temptation to call him ANdrew ZAChary and settled on Christopher.
My daughter Alison and Chris are serious Carlton supporters so I've fulfilled my religious duties
So while the footy followers will be going silly tomorrow like they have for the past 25 years. The ANZAC Day supporters will be indulging in their annual day thanking the Armed Forces for its sacrifices. I will be celebrating my son's 25th birthday and thanking fate for allowing me to enjoy ANZAC Day in my own way
Oddly enough, mother Styxx went into labour on Anzac Day 1988. Wasn't until 24 hours later I decided the time was right. Father wasn't allowed at the games that weekend either.
