HAWKESBURY ’ S FINEST ...
Ken Hall hands have always worked their magic under the bonnet of cars and with bat and ball on a cricket field . by Greg Martin
After interviewing Hawkesbury cricket legend , Ken “ Emu ” Hall , for this article , such were my emotions stirred that I perused a book of quotes searching for words of wisdom to help me commence this story .
And came across such pearls by the great John Steinbeck and another author , Vicki Harrison , which suited perfectly .
“ It ’ s so much darker when a light goes out than it would have been if it had never shone .” John Steinbeck from The Winter of Our Discontent .
“ Grief is like the ocean ; it comes on waves ebbing and flowing . Sometimes the water is calm , and sometimes it is overwhelming . All we can do is learn to swim .” Vicki Harrison .
Ken Hall certainly learned to swim against grief , aided by the love of family , multitude of friends and admirers – and an abiding passion for cricket .
Twice in his 69 years , his life has been shattered in losing two wives , both succumbing to aneurysms .
His first wife , Julie , was just 28 and mother to their two boys , Jason and Troy , when she passed away suddenly in 1978 , leaving her devoted husband in that darkened room of sorrow .
But Ken was able to overcome his grief by the support of a raft of folk and remembering about that light which shone on his and Julie ’ s love for six years .
With the support of brother , Neil , and his then wife , Sue , who looked after the boys on weekends , Ken was persuaded to don the whites and resume playing cricket – for which sport he possessed remarkable skills with bat and ball and passion .
More on the flannelled-fools game later .
In 1980 , Ken married Vicki Bevan , a member of a local farming family and they were happily married for 22 years , becoming proud parents to another two boys , Lindsay and Ashley .
But the light of love was again extinguished on Christmas Eve , 2002 , when Vicki passed away suddenly from an aneurysm while Ken was at work .
Yes , grief is indeed like an ocean , it comes in waves , ebbing and flowing . Ken , once again supported by those who love and care for him and his need to be at the helm to steer his sons through the waves of grief , was again buoyed over the ensuing years by the light which shone on his and Vicki ’ s marriage .
Now I ’ ll cheer you all up a bit by revealing that Ken has found a new love in Vicki Carroll , a divorcee with whom he has had fulfilling relationship since meeting her in 2010 .
“ We met when my Bankstown first grade side , which I was managing , was playing University of NSW at their home ground and I noticed this attractive woman serving in the canteen ,” Ken recalled .
“ I bought a ham sandwich off her and throughout the rest of the afternoon I must have worn a track going back and forth buying ham sandwiches !”
What a ham !
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6 ISSUE 137 // OCTOBER 2021 theindependentmagazine . com . au THE HAWKESBURY INDEPENDENT