Bruce Wood OAM (OKG74) recalls an amusing story when he received a book prize in an assembly in the John Williams Memorial Hall. In 1974, Prime Minister Edward Gough Whitlam AC QC (OKG34) was invited as a special guest to the School’s Jubilee Speech and Presentation Day event to present the awards to the students. The winners would be announced, walk across the stage and shake the hand of the Prime Minister and receive their book prize.
Bruce was announced as the recipient of the Knox 1st XI Cricket Prize for Fielding with the associated book prize, Cricket; The Australian Way.
As Bruce walked up the steps on the left-hand side of the stage and began making his way to collect his award, the Prime Minister threw the book prize towards him.
Bruce was taken aback but managed to catch the book before it hit the ground. He continued to walk over with the hardcover book prize and shook the hand of Prime Minister Whitlam, who joked to the audience that after seeing the catch he understood why Bruce was awarded the cricket prize for fielding.
The book prize and book plate of the 1974 Cricket Field Prize received by Bruce Wood OAM (OKG74).
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