Dear All, Sharing with you an Article titled MICHAEL JOSEPH - THE YEARS OF HIS LIFE written by Antonian Bernard VanCuylenburg on the occasion when Antonian Michael Joseph turned 70 on 15th March 2014. I am sure that you will find it very interesting to learn about one of our great cricketer during the period 1951 to 1964 and the life of Boarders at College when College was a private institution. With just two more days to go for the Traditional 50 overs Cricket Match to be played at College on Saturday 22nd March, I hope this article will inspire all Antonians to bring honour to our Alma Mater as members of the Team, as Students and as Old Boys by respecting our friendly opponents and upholding the spirit of Gentlemans Game on and off the field. Bernard and Michael are now living in Australia. The Article has already been published in Australia. Warm regards Ladislaus GnanapragasamHon. SecretarySACKOBA, Colombo Branch Email: sackobacolsec@gmail MICHAEL JOSEPH - THE YEARS OF HIS LIFE The year was 1951, in the second week of January to be precise. The place, The Rainbow Cottage of St.Anthonys College, Kandy. I was seven years old and like many other children round about the same age, we were getting ready to start a long journey on lifes roads in one of the best colleges in the island. The Nursery was where the tiny tots cut their teeth on life in the boarding at St.Anthonys, and the next port of call was The Rainbow Cottage which had four dormitories. They were Dorms 1,2,3,and 4. Having said Goodbye to our parents and bravely holding back the tears, we were allocated our respective dormitories. I was in dormitory No.4. It was the next day that I first set eyes on the gentle giant Michael Joseph who was in dormitory No.3. I use the word Giant with great affection because compared to most boys, Mike, bounding with energy towered above the rest, but had a very gentle manner. We were in different classes, but during recreation, tennis ball cricket was all the rage and many a match was played between various teams. It soon became apparent that Michael Joseph was destined for greater feats on the green turf. Any team that had Michael in their side was on a winning streak. He excelled with bat and ball - and when he hit the ball, it stayed hit ! When he bowled, he hurled down those tennis ball thunderbolts to which one had no answer. If your reflexes were not sharp, and you could not keep your eye on the ball, two results ensued - You risked getting hurt or worse, your stumps would cartwheel past the wicket keeper ! And thus a cricketing maestro won the admiration of students and teachers and much promise lay in store. Michael was the last of the illustrious Joseph brothers whose names are synonymous with sport at St.Anthonys. Stephen was the eldest, the legendary Charlie was the second, and then came Michael. After four years in The Rainbow Cottage we went on to other branches of the boarding - The junior and senior Mansion, the junior and senior Villa, and finally The Journeys End which was the final destination in boarding life, and also a real comfort zone before you left college to face life in the raw. During this long odyssey Michael was always in a different dormitory, but we finally found ourselves in The Journeys End which had a select band of senior boarders who enjoyed privileges unheard of by the other boarders. Incidentally, these privileges were those we accorded ourselves, to which the warden in charge turned a blind eye or, simply looked the other way! God bless him. But I digress...... Michael kept the Joseph tradition aflame when he was called up for 1st eleven practice in 1959 and then made his debut for college in 1960 as an all rounder. I can still see him in my minds eye, resplendent in immaculate white, the epitome of physical fitness walking to the crease to the thunderous applause of an appreciate crowd, in his first match representing college against St.Benedicts. I remember the stylish manner in which he scored two fours in the very first over, and then went on to score 25 not out when college declared. We won that match. Antonians of that era will never forget the epic cricket encounter against Dharmaraja college in 1961 when thanks to Michael and Charlie, sure defeat was turned into near victory. Facing one of the most hostile and deadly bowling attacks by the best opening bowler in schools, which resulted in a collapse of the top order, Charlie and Michael stood firm like the Roman soldier Horatius at the bridge, in a classic display of batting which saw them both score centuries, a feat spoken of to this day. It was not the centuries per se. It was the fact that their tons were reached against a barrage of bowling which tested their resources to the maximum. That day, they took the term True Grit to another dimension.Michael captained the cricket team in 1963 and also represented college in Rugby. He left college in 1964 and from the swathes of turf on the playing fields of St.Anthonys found himself amidst carpets of green in the tea fields of then Ceylon, where he enjoyed a successful career as a Planter, before migrating to Australia. Michael, today at 70 not out, Antonians all over the globe, specially those who grew up with you in college like this writer, join in wishing you a very happy and fruitful Seventy. You always played a straight bat through life and gave much joy to many by playing the Gentlemens Game like a true gentleman. A very happy 70th birthday Mike, and count up all the places you have been to and the journeys you are about to begin. Because, the bright side of birthdays is not just the past, but a New Year and all that it brings. I conclude with a wish that life will be kind to you always, and aver this sentiment is shared and echoed by everyone who knows you and holds you in the highest esteem and affection. You have not changed over the years my friend, and on this special day Antonian voices ring out loud and clear -A very happy 70th Birthday, and may showers of blessings be yours. Bernard VanCuylenburg. If you wish to contact Michael to wish him on this personal milestone: Address: 63 Eulinga Court, Ninderry Qld 4561 Phone: 07 5472 8088 Mobile: 0430 097 039
Posted on: Wed, 19 Mar 2014 20:24:54 +0000
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