From modest beginnings at a time of war, Brunswick Cycling Club has enjoyed a century of success and community. With its emphasis on junior racing and development, stemming from the need to maintain a racing community with many men fighting in WW1, the club has a proud history of developing riders as athletes and people. The long continuation of its junior clinic, development of champions, proud heritage and strong community mean that the future looks bright for the Brunswick Cycling Club second century. This book is a celebration of the Club history, heritage, success and community.-Back cover.

"Brunswick Amateur Cycling Club"--Cover.

CONTENTS

President’s message (iii).
Table of contents (v).

Chapter 1: Beginnings p1.

Chapter 2: The Northern Suburbs Amateur Cycling Club is formed at a time of war p5. A new club is born. First race. First championships. Impact of war. Early venues. Road. The VACU formed (Victorian Amateur Cyclists’ Union). Junior development. Early NSACC championships. Club House move. First VACU championships. The end of war and future promise.

Chapter 3: Post war 1919-1929 p13.
Racing venues: Track. Road. Grades. Race program. Race distances. Club Championships: Road. Track. Victorian Club Teams’ Competition. The big road events. Big-time track racing is popular. Combines. Memorials. VACU road championships. VACU track championships. Schoolboys’ championships. National championships. Record breaking: Track. Road. Road racing expands. Another Kermode Cup. Harrod Cup. Top riders for the decade. Families racing. Officials. Coaches. Key developments. Billiards and social activities. Annual General Meeting and a growing club. Exhibition track demolished – and a new venue. Brunswick – the possible home of amateur track cycling. Olympic dreams fade. Roller racing. World events again impact the club.

Chapter 4: Depression era 1929-1938 p33.
Racing venues. Road. Grades. Race program. Race distances. Track. Women’s racing. Club championships. Road. Track. Victorian Club Teams’ Competition. Track. Road. Combine racing. Memorial races. VACU championships. Australian championships. Record breaking. Track. Road. Roller racing. Top riders for the decade. Men. Women. Officials. Coaches. Arthur Durnford. Key developments. Cycle racing continues to grow. Long distance relay. Carnivals at Brunswick Park. New clubrooms. Other activities. New technical innovation. Controversy for women’s cycling! Controversy for the club – and some members turn professional. A new Women’s Association. Women’s record breaking. A new exhibition track. Allard Park. Social activities. 21st birthday celebrations. Healthy signs for cycling but uncertain times.

Chapter 5: World War Two 1939-1949 p51.
Racing. Venues. Track. Road. Grades. Race program. Track. Road. Race distances. Road. Track. Club championships. Road. Track. Victorian Clubs’ Team Competition. Track. Road. Combine racing. Memorial races. VACU championships. Track. Road. Australian championships. Record breaking. Roller racing. Top riders for the decade. Officials. Coaches. Key developments p57: The Stewart girls. Allard Park controversy. Bill Harrod resigns as President. Ladies’ Social Committee. Brunswick members at war. 25th anniversary celebrations. Helping on the Home Front. Juniors bolster the club’s racing program. Jack ‘Pop’ Stewart gets involved. Fundraising for the war effort. More fundraising. Henry Hill dominant. Roy Fraser. The war ends. Melbourne to Colac. Hillman Cycles established. Pop Stewart resigns – and then comes back. Important members join Brunswick. A Brunswick women’s professional club. Track ends the decade. Cycling – and the country, rebound from war.

Chapter 6: Post-war 1950-1959 p65.
Features of the decade p76: Flemings Furniture Van. Watering holes and socialising. Alf Walker remembers Allard Park. Brunswick moves to Harrison Street. Henry Hill. Amateurs and prizes. Three top riders – three tragedies (Russell Laurance; Frank Gorway; Lindsay Cocks). A question about velodromes. The decade in review.

Chapter 7: 1960s p87.
Key developments p96: The new decade begins with great results. Night racing at Harrison Street. Top juniors at the start of the decade. Bendigo six-day race. Olympic representation, Rome 1960. One of the largest clubs in Australia. Alan Grindal’s champion rides. Gordon Johnson shows promise. Victorian Amateur Roller Championships 1961. Madison success. Many riders taste track success in 1962. Joint control of cycling? Gordon Johnson and his future. Brunswick riders shine in Tasmania. Road test for Perth Empire Games. Perth Empire Games team success! A second result in the Grafton. The Grand Prix of Melbourne, 1964. Tokyo Olympians. Brunswick riders continue with good form. Vic Browne and officialdom. Amateur Madison at Olympic Park, 1965. Plans for the end of 1965. 1966 – riders in the news. Harrison Street is concreted. Johnson back to his best. Tarax Madisons begin. Norm McDonough. John Drummond’s plans. The strongest club in the strongest cycling state. Mexico Olympic selections? Ian Drummond’s passing. Tony Branchflower impresses. Olympic frustrations. Pentagon cycling. Scott Promotions. Brunswick – a powerhouse of cycling.

Chapter 8: 1980s p119.
Key developments p130: Tarax and other Madisons continue. Scott Promotions. National Track Championships at Harrison Street. Fires in the Clubrooms. Junior Clinic. The end of the Olympic Velodrome. Brunswick wants to reform VACU. Return of the women and girls to Brunswick. Clinic continues to grow – and Schoolboys’ Track Championship begins. A future for Harrison Street? Tom Moloney in Europe. Brunswick riders compete strongly in open-road competition. More Brunswick boys take on Europe. Schoolboys’ Track Championships – and a Women’s Track Championship once more. Brunswick riders are strong in open-track competition too. Schoolboys’ racing and women’s racing. VeloSport: a new promoter. 1973: a summer of big track promotion. Velosport continue – but no Gordon Johnson. Club road races are very high standard. Harrison Street becomes the home of amateur carnivals. Big carnivals for 1975. Brunswick riders compete strongly away from home. Cycling is promoted to the public in 1975 and 1976. Different racing, different crowds. 10th Tarax 12 Hour. Alan Grindal returns! 60th anniversary. Bike Week again – and a world record! Cycling clinic future stars. Greg Griffiths rides well in 1977. Tarax departs but the Madison continues – in shortened form. Sponsorship? Giramondo begins involvement with Brunswick. Brunswick members with vision. Brunswick Internationals. Richard McCorkell begins his relationship with the Grafton to Inverell. Bike Week continues with John Drummond’s support. Clinic continues. Coburg velodrome - and the end of big Opens at Harrison Street. George Nelson grows as a Commissaire. Plenty of track racing. Big time racing. Women’s racing grows once more. Replacement for the Tarax Madison. David Gee – another Brunswick member with a bike shop. Veterans Championships begin. Brunswick lose a legend – Pop Stewart. Momentum shift.

Chapter 9: 1980s p167.
Key aspects p178: Applying for membership. Club meetings. Another former Brunswick rider is professional champion of the world (Steele Bishop). Brunswick’s first female national champion (Michelle Culyer). Another Brunswick rider wins the Grafton to Inverell (Richard McCorkell). The rise of the Veterans’ Movement. Changing times.

Chapter 10: The 1990s p185.
Key aspects p196: The Northern Combine. 75th Anniversary. Another Grindal at Grafton to Inverell (Justin Grindal). Another Hill in the Geelong 100 (Gordon Hill). Mixing with the pros. Changing times. Teams racing. Training runs. The decade ends with prospects.

Chapter 11: The 2000s p201.
Top riders for the decade: Luke Roberts; Will Walker; Lizzie Williams; Mitch Docker; Kendelle Hodges p208-10. Key aspects p212: Darebin International Sports Centre (DISC) opens. Motor pacing nights. Richmond Cyclery sponsorship. Roller Derby. Cycling grows, and children lead the way at Brunswick.

Chapter 12: Present day and future p215.
Key developments p227: New clubrooms! Clinic juniors go on to great things. Club of the Year. Junior Clinic. Cyclocross – Dirty Deeds (DDCX). Greg Griffith’s first Olympics. Richard McCorkell wins the World Masters’ Championships. Other Brunswick masters. Brunswick masters compete on the track. Gabe Bouris and Paracycling. Women’s cycling on the move. Centenary Kit. Alf Walker’s passing. Hillman Cycles closes. Greg Griffiths at the Rio Olympics. The future.

Interview with Shane Kelly: remembering the Clinic p233.

Appendix: Honour Roll p235.

Unpaginated: In memory of Alf Walker. Acknowledgements.

ILLUSTRATIONS

Front cover: Photo of original members 1916.
Back cover: National Junior Track Series team 2013 with Alf Walker.
Hamish Fitzsimmons, President (iii).
Australia’s first bike race (on velocipedes) at the Melbourne Cricket Club Ground in 1869 p3.
The track at the Exhibition Building, which was the principal venue for cycle racing from 1891 to 1927 and where the ANA Wheelrace was annually held p4a.
The first clubrooms of the Northern Suburbs Amateur Cycling Club, May 1916, backyard shed of Mr R. Evans senior, Homer Street, Moonee Ponds, photo shows Peter Evans and his brother p4b.
Founding members of the Northern Suburbs Amateur Cycling Club, 1 May 1916, later to become Brunswick Amateur Cycling Club p11a.
Century (100 mile) run to Geelong, October 1918: group photo of participants p11b.
Northern Suburbs Amateur Cycling Club premiership winners about 1920: J. Gullefs, A.E. French, I. Phillips, J. Evans p30a.
Brunswick Amateur Cycling Club – senior road premiers 1928: H. Best, C. Currie, W. Workman, G. Bent p30b.
A gathering of members of the Northern Suburbs Amateur Cycling Club, about 1920 p31a.
Group ready to set out on a ride, early 1920s p31b.
Many embroidered BACC road jumpers evident in this riders’ group, about late 1920s p32a.
The Motordome track beside the Yarra River p32b and c.
Poster for Brunswick Amateur Cycling Club amateur open road race 1937 p49.
Doreen Middleton p50a.
Elsa Barbour p50b.
Allard Park gravel surface track, Donald Street, used in the 1940s to mid-1950s p63a.
George ‘Buzzer’ Bent prepares his daughter, Iris Bent for motor pace records at Brunswick Park, 1948 p63b.
North Essendon Board Track, about 1940s, operated 1939-1957, suburb of Strathmore in the background p64a.
Henry Hill p64b.
Russell Laurance and Jim Walsh, 1952 p80a.
Don O’Flynn, 1950s p80b.
Brunswick riders at a Club road-race held at Templestowe, about 1952: Fred Pyke, Ken Edwards, Ron Waterfall, Jim Muir, Eric Walsh, John Perry, Norm Henkel, Bill Matthews, George Galloway, Jim Walsh p81a.
A happy group of Brunswick riders at the North Essendon Board Track, March 1953: Jim Muir, Peter Moore, Ken Stockton, Allan Walsh, Max Guest, George Nelson, Don O’Flynn, Fred Bateman p81b.
Four Brunswick riders, 1953: Alf Walker, Jim Walsh, John Perry, Peter Moore p82a.
Riders at the Preston track, 1950s p82b.
Catching the furniture van out to the road race, about 1953: Allan Bullock, Fred Bateman, Alf Walker, Tony Crameri, Peter Moore, Norm McDonough, Ted Woods, Norm Henkel, Harry Taylor p83a.
England, 1955: Clive Middleton, Lionel Cox, Lindsay Cocks, Jim Walsh p83b.

Between pages 86 and 87:
1 Commemorative badges 1914, 1936, 1937.
2 Brunswick Amateur Cycling Club badge.
3 Newspaper report shows Alan McDonald, later to join the Northern Suburbs Amateur Cycling Club, was one of the Victorian team that raced at the Australian Championships in Sydney, about 1912.
4 ‘Special cycling certificate’ awarded within the Northern Suburbs Amateur Cyclists Club in 1919 to Peter Evans for his 33-mile ride at Essendon.
5 Certificate awarded by VACU to George Bent for a ‘fine cycling performance’ at Brunswick, January 1927.
6 Certificate awarded by Brunswick Amateur Cycling Club to George ‘Buzzer’ Bent, 1926.
7 Brunswick Amateur Cycling Club program, 1937, to be held at Brunswick Cricket Ground.
8 Brunswick Amateur Cycling Club certificate awarded to Henry Hill, 1940.
9 Brunswick Amateur Cycling Club program, 1946, to be held at Allard Park.
10 Brunswick Amateur Cycling Club team, junior road premiers, 1953: A. Grindal, J. Bateman, P. Moore, A. Bullock, N. McDonough.
11 The winning junior road premiership team of 1953, 50 years later, in same order as above.
12a Lindsay Cocks, 1954, Vancouver.
12b Jim Walsh.
13 Race programs which define the three significant stages of the development of the Brunswick Velodrome: the opening of the asphalt velodrome in 1956, the beginning of night racing under lights 1960, and finally the opening of the rebuilt concrete velodrome 1966.
14 Brunswick Amateur Cycling Club night racing program, November 1960.
15 Brunswick Amateur Cycling Club program for Victorian Track Championships held at Brunswick in 1968.
16 Alan Grindal winning Australian Road Championship, Perth, 1961, also showing David Gee.
17 Golden jubilee anniversary 1916-1966: Souvenir of presentation dinner, Brunswick Town Hall, 6 May 1966.
18 Poster for Pentagon Cycling.
19 George Nelson.

1960 Victorian Road Championship, Warragul: Alan Grindal, Fred Pike, Vic Browne p106a.
Fluorescent lighting system at Brunswick track, first installed October 1960 p106b.
Geoff Smith, selected for 1960 Rome Olympics p107a.
Jack ‘Pop’ Stewart p107b.
A bunch make the turn in the 1960 Russell Laurance Memorial Road Race: George Nelson, Brian Jones, Michael McGuirk, Tom Mullen, Darrell Kirk p108a.
1960 race at Hurstbridge, including Peter Crossin and Les Woon p108b.
Bill Lawrie, Victorian Test Race, 1960 p109a.
Alan Grindal winning Australian Road Championship, Adelaide, 1960 p109b.
Riders playing football, about 1960 p109c.
Fred Pyke p110a.
Olympic Board Track, 1962, Ian Carroll hits the boards, while partner Brian Jones grimaces, hoping to get safely past p110b.
Doug ‘Raucous’ Adams p111a.
Doug Adams receiving the gold medal for the 1962 Commonwealth Games 10-mile p111b.
South Morang Gorge, 1960: Geoff Thomson, Alan Grindal, Fred Pyke p112a.
Pat Dunn p112b.
Matthew Veale p112c.
Plan of the concrete velodrome, opened 1966 p113a.
Club race, December 1967, when concrete velodrome was only one-year old p113b.
George Nelson’s ute is written off half way to Adelaide, Nelson inspecting the damage with Ian Carroll, Ian Fenton and Jim Carroll p114a.
Lyndoch Road Classic program p114b.
After the Lyndoch race: Ian Carroll, Ray Bowles, John Payne, Norm McDonough, Tom Mullen, Ian Fenton p114c.
About to depart Adelaide: George Nelson, John Payne, Jim Carroll, Ray Bowles, Ian Fenton, Tom Mullen, Norm McDonough and Ian Carroll p114d.
Start of the ‘High speed gas tour’ in 1967 at Chadstone Shopping Centre: showing Tom Moloney, Grahame Tamme and John Yeomans p115a.
A track racing scene from December 1967 p115b.
Vic Browne being paced by father Harry in a motor pace race at the Olympic Board Track, 1967 p116a.
Phil Sawyer winning the 1969 Australian Junior Road Championship p116b.
Australian Junior Road Championship: Phil Sawyer, Robert Aitchison, Steele Bishop p117a.
The Brunswick concrete velodrome in November 1969 during a Sunday afternoon open meeting. Harrison Street was a through street, there were no townhouses on the west side of Harrison Street, only vacant land, and the clubrooms of the period, a corrugated iron ex-army hut, can be seen extreme left p117b.
Lance Wearne p118a.
Lytton Sedley p118b.
Night meeting at Brunswick velodrome, Harrison Street, 1970s p146a.
Tarax 12 Hour Madison p146b.
Doug Branchflower p147a.
John Drummond p147b.
Sunday Morning Cycling Clinic, early 1970s, Geoff Smith giving advice p148a.
Bike rack in centre of velodrome, 1972 p148b.
Daryl Perkins and Gordon Johnson p149a.
John Nicholson p149b.
Gordon Johnson p149c.
Club brochure, early 1970s p150a.
Maria Giramondo from Giramondo Sportswear, early 1970s p150b.
New clubrooms, opened 1970, with Doug Branchflower unveiling the honour roll donated by the Drummond family p150c.
Reg McVilly, 1972 p151a.
John Bylsma p151b.
Phil Sawyer, December 1972 p151c.
Ross Forster, 1972, being paced by Jack Andrew p152a.
Long view of the Brunswick velodrome set in Tarax 12 Hour Madison mode, 1972 p152b.
Plans for proposed indoor velodrome to replace existing one that was expected to be demolished when proposed freeway was built, this did not occur p153.
‘Flint’s Racing Team’: Deirdre Branchflower, Jeff McLean, Ian Chandler, Richard McCorkell, Kevin Mills, Paul Branchflower, John ‘Flint’ McCullagh. McCorkell is holding Flint’s niece Anne p154a.
Japanese Shimano Team visitors 1973: including Shimpei Okajima p154b.
Shimpei Okajima with collapsed wheel p155 a and b.
Hugh Porter from England, 1973 p156a.
Ian Chandler during the 1975 Australian Road Test Race in Hobart p156b.
Gordon Johnson winning the Austral Wheel Race, 1973 p157a.
Norm McDonough riding a club race in 1973 p157b.
Richard McCorkell p158.
Sid Patterson visiting the Cycling Clinic, 1974 p159a.
Gordon Johnson, hold John Nuttall and Barry Waddell hold Martin Hayes, ready for a match race, March 1974 p159b.
Guinness Book of Records world 12- and 24-hour Roller Records, City Square, 1976, showing Tom Millar p160 a and b.
Melbourne Bike Rally, Sydney Myer Music Bowl, August 1975, on midget bikes: Michael and Peter Brown p160c.
Bert Short on a velocipede p161a.
Riding bikes with crooked wheels: Russell O’Flynn, Keiren Diviny, Loris Zamparutti p161b.
Gert Mueller on four-up bike p162a.
Replacement of part of the east bend of the concrete velodrome, 1977 p162b.
4 super-midgets in the 1979 season p163a.
Brunswick Amateur Cycling Club information tent, Albert Park rally, October 1977, showing Club President Geoff Shuffell on right p163b.
Brothers Greg and Phillip Griffiths riding together in a Madison at Northcote, 1979 p164a.
Russell Tankard, Horsham Criterium 1972 p164b.
Australian Olympic Cycling Team, Munich 1972: including John Bylsma, Phil Sawyer, Steele Bishop p165a.
Brunswick members who made the Victorian track team in 1978: Ian Chandler, Ross Forster, Louie Kalina, Russell Beasley and John Beasley p165b.
Cycling Clinic Schoolboy Championships, 1980, showing Shane Kelly p181a.
Geoff Shuffell p181b.
Alan Grindal returns to cycling as a veteran 1981 p182a.
Brothers John and Russell Beasley, 1981 p182b.
Mr and Mrs Bill Dodd present the Bruce Dodd Memorial Trophy to 1967 winner Graeme Stobie p183a.
Frank Gorway, 1951 Track Champion p183b.
Russell Laurance, Club Road Champion 1949 p183c.
Frank Urizio, U/P Road Champion 1983 p183d.
Ian Drummond, Club Road Champion 1966 p183e.
John and Loris Douglas with the 1982 Chris Douglas Memorial Trophy winners, Remy Boudsocq and Matthew Anderson p183f.
Brunswick Junior Team, Victorian Club Teams Championship, 1982: Brian Eager, John Short, Martin Culyer, Peter Brown, Philip Bain and Remy Boudsocq p184.
Luke Roberts in the 1993 Juvenile Metropolitan Road Championships p200.

After page 256:
1 Stewart Doyle.
2 Greg Griffiths, Frank Urizio Memorial Trophy winner 1988.
3 Flyer promoting the Cycling Clinic, 1970s and 80s.
4 Advertising flyer for the 1984 Schoolboy Championships conducted by the Brunswick Cycling Clinic.
5 Advertising flyer for the Brunswick Cycling Clinic Mini-Austral (won by Dean Mather).
6 Brunswick Senior Pursuit Team in action at the Coburg Velodrome during the 1983 Victorian Teams Championship: Greg Griffiths, Michael Brown, Richard McCorkell, Frank Urizio.
7 Plaques of recognition presented to ‘legends’ of the club.
8 Racing members and club officials at the club’s 75th anniversary, 1991.
9 75th anniversary souvenir booklet.
10 75th anniversary souvenir polo shirt and close-up of logo on shirt.
11 Lyndelle Higginson.
12 Brunswick tops, 1996 Senior Teams Pursuit Champions: Corey Morison, Justin Rivette, Mark Roach, Ewin Williams.
14 Winners of the Under 17 Teams Pursuit Championship 1999: Barry Griffiths, Tim Maurer, Dylan Newell and Alexander James.
15 Will Walker.
16 Rahna Demarte.
17 Richard McCorkell, St Johan, Austria, 2015.
18 Mitch Docker.
19 Cyclo Cross, Harrison Street, 2010.
20 David Morgan, aka ‘Mr Pink’.
21 Brunswick Sunday Morning Cycling Clinic, about 2015.
22 Lizzie Williams.
23 Kendelle Hodges.
24 Cam McFarlane.
25 The new clubrooms, opened October 2015.
26 Upgrades to the track, July 2016.
27 Alf Walker, 1953.
28 Alf Walker 2012.
29 Alf and Joan Walker.
30 Tribute night for Alf Walker.
31 Funeral service for Alf Walker.
32 Shane Kelly.
33 Gabe Bouris.
34 Melburn Hurt women riders.
35 Ryan Schilt.
36 Ruby Roseman-Gannon.
37 Nathan Bof.
38 Riley Hart.
39 Sarah Gigante.
40 Graeme Frislie.
41 Ben Schofield.
42 Ray Bowles.