A moment in time: 50 years of Melbourne University Sport

They say a week is a long time in sport, a year perhaps even more so. But 50 years? Well, that’s practically a lifetime.

Barney Cooney laughs when his lifetime membership of Melbourne University Sport, 50 years this year, is compared with a long-term relationship. “I suppose it is, but for me, over the years, it’s always been a reassuring and friendly place, a place that’s always been friendly and has a great culture,” he says.

“The gym in particular has got a great family friendly atmosphere and it’s really a way of life almost. You can go and do your exercises, have people giving you instructions and then you just go have a chat with the people there and even have a coffee. It’s a great place.”

 The former politician, barrister and Law graduate from the University of Melbourne says things have certainly changed from when he first began going to the gym. “In those days, we were near enough to playing the role of being perfect ladies and gentlemen, if you know what I mean. If you went over to get changed in the gym, you would get a towel, some soap and a friendly nod.

“They were the days of grace and refinement, though I’m not saying that they aren’t now, but things are certainly much busier in the present. Reflecting on the 50s, there was an old world feeling about it all, and, yes, people say that nothing much happened in the 50s but we had the Olympics and in terms of MUS there was the installation of the Beaurepaire Pool and the running track.

“I can remember the hole in the ground where they were going to put in the pool: people were watching it all the time, they wanted to be the first into the hole when it was dug and then first again when it filled for the first time.

“I used to take the kids back when the diving board was still there. Now, they are taking their own children there for swim classes.”

Mr Cooney represented the university in boxing during his study years and recalls “I once contested a boxing match in the sports pavilion during the fifties with Bruce Dawe, the Australian poet. 

“Power and poetry combined as a symbol of University life – a sound mind and a sound body.”

He says that even when life got busy he could always find time to come down for a workout, or a chat. “Even when I was at the (Victorian) Bar in the 60s, or in Canberra during the 1980s as a politician, I still tried to get to the Uni. When you’re a barrister or a politician, you generally only get there before or after work, but now without that stress I can go during the day, it’s a different crowd.

“I used to see people like Lindsay Tanner, High Court Judge Sir Daryl Dawson and the like come down for a workout, not every day mind you, but sometimes and everyone was terribly gracious.

“But whatever the time, it seems to work. There’s a culture and ambiance that’s attractive. You can sit there and watch the cricket or football team playing, watch the hockey and then you turn and there’s Uni life taking place just on the other side.

“It really adds to the University life, and it’d be a much poorer place without it. I paid 12-14 pounds for my membership, 30 dollars or so now, so it’s paid me back, and the best investment I’ve ever made, even if they no longer provide soap!”