Sam Flanders

Sam Flanders, former Newtown teacher and footballer, died on January 15 from a heart attack while holidaying in Lorne. He was 65-year-old.

Addressing the hundreds of mourners who attended a celebration of Mr Flander's life at St Joseph's Football and Netball club last week, Andrew 'Flash' Flanders recalled the mischief he and his four brothers got up to in the streets of Newtown while growing up - it included targeting one famous cricketer's letterbox.

Read his moving tribute here

Cindy asked me last week would I say a few words about Sammy growing up.

I replied, "Oh shit, that will be easy - he didn't!"

When we were little, Mum would dress us both in the same clothes, all purchased at Lindsay's in Malop St.

For the past week I've had this image in my head of the movie Twins starring Arnold Schwarzenegger and Danny DeVito. Take a wild guess who was Schwarzenegger and who was DeVito - Sam towered over me in height.

Let's go back to 1963. We were both at the end of the driveway at Grant St, Newtown, looking down the street waiting for the milkman and yes it was a horse and cart back in those days. Sam helped me up onto the cart and off we went doing a blocky watching this magnificent clydesdale do its work.

We were on top of the world. We quickly ran back home and changed into our Joey's uniform ready to walk to Sacred Heart, yes Sacred Heart.

'Mr Geelong' Sam Flanders farewelled after sudden death

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Sammy held my hand crossing Shannon Ave which had no lights. Sam was in prep and I was in kinder. There was none of this, "Oh Mummy drop me off in the Prado and grab me a bubbuccino," in those days.

This morning, I had an accident, well that's what they call it these days, back then it was shitting your pants. Well, I shat my pants and Sister Mary Salistene cleaned me up, put my soiled undies into a brown paper bag then asked for Sam to walk me back home. We walked along Aphrasia St and stopped at Shannon Ave where Sammy pulled out Exhibit A.

Undies back then were all white Y fronts. Sam proceeded to walk up Shannon Ave holding my undies above my head while pointing at me at the same time. This was a real hit with the motorists as they knew exactly what was going on. It was also a real hit for Sammy. Not so much for me as I had no hope of reaching the evidence no matter how high I jumped.

This incident took me 27 years to recover, however, I did give Sammy 10 points for initiative.

Let's move on to 1969. Us five Flanders boys were at the top of our game and absolutely running amok through Newtown. Katrina at this time was way too young to join in. We were fishing off Cunningham Pier, swimming in the river at Queens Park, having massive yonny (rock) fights against kids from the neighbouring streets.

To enter Grant St in those days you did at your own peril. Crackers were our preferred art form for mischief and we were blowing stuff up like there was no tomorrow. Bottles, cans, insects, small animals, each other. You name it.   Letter boxes were our favourite target. There was a famous Australian cricketer named Ian Redpath living one street down in Cook St. We took immense please in blowing the lid off his letterbox with tuppenny bungers.

With all this fun and frivolity, something had to give and that was our studies. We were not interested in school except to misbehave. I was in grade six, Sammy was in Year 7. When our reports arrived my mail, we knew we were in big trouble. Dad came home and he was livid. We were shaking in the lounge room when Dad came in blasting away as to why he and mum were slaving away to afford Joey's and asked why he shouldn't send us both to the State School.

He pointed at me and I just mumbled. He turned to Sam and asked if he had anything to say which he replied. "Yes, Dad I do. I don't care what everyone says, I don't think you're a dickhead."

I was out the door and up the street in seconds not to return for hours. To my amazement Sam was still alive. Dad must have found some amusement or bravado in his backchat.

1973 was the Sammy era. He was in his second year of U16B footy at Joey's and now I'd joined him. Sam had grown inches over summer, lost his puppy fat and had developed long muscular legs with really strong glutes. His speed now was hypersonic and he had a leap like Michael Jordan.

Into the ruck Sam went. For a few weeks Sam was looking after me by tapping the ball to me as I'd sneak in from the wing. When Sam wanted to win the game on his own, he'd leap up, grab the ball with both hands, sprint off untouched and kick it into the goal square, or through the sticks.

Bernie Buckley, a parent helper was amazed with Sam's new found speed and agility as a ruckman and as such could not stop calling him Sammy Newman. Us fledglings found this quite amusing and the brand 'Sam' was born.   Sam was soon noticed by the U16A coach and the rest is history. After the U16's Sam went straight into the U18 firsts and then the Senior firsts. Such was Sam's speed that he became a professional sprinter under the watchful eye of renowned Geelong running coach Rudi Hochrieter. Geelong's two fastest footballers were in his squad, Stephen Lunn and Michael Turner, and Sam took great pride in beating them both on the track.

Sam soon was invited down to train with the Geelong Cats pre-season and from all accounts he was beating everyone in the sprints. Years later   Sammy told me that no-one would talk to him because he was fastest there. Joey's asked him to return and be Captain so Sammy took up the challenge and was back where it all began.

1980 was the year Sam was 'Best and Fairest'

 

It was during 1983 that I returned home one Friday night from Mornington and caught up with Sam at Clatworthy's Sawyers Arms.

"Hey Flash, I have a new chick - this is Cindy."

After meeting Cindy I quickly rushed to Sam to say, "Hey Sam, Cindy is smoking hot. The Price Is Right, come on down, you've not only won the car, but you get to take home Barbie the barrel girl". That's right because that's her name, Barby.

Make up your mind Sammy is her name Cindy or Barbie? It's both. Her name is Cindy Barby. So, Cindy was now part of our mad lot.

In 1989 Sam and Cindy got married and I was honoured to be his Best Man. Twenty-one years later, in 2010, Sammy was my Best Man and when he organised my Bucks Turn at the Lorne Aquatic Club, I quickly realised what an icon he was down there.

It was the re-run of the Grand Final between Collingwood and St Kilda and not only did Sammy look after us 20 blokes, but also 20 of Lorne's local finest. Sam's banter and barbecue for all those present, made this day one of the greatest of my life.

It was January 1996, and I was lifeguarding down at Lorne when I called into Sam and Cindy's caravan site. Willis, this story is for you as your old man loved it. Sam was up putting a bet on - oh really, that's a surprise! Cindy was bathing young Willis in a clear plastic tub and I was thinking how good looking he was with his olive skin and beautiful long blonde hair cut into a bob.

I offered to take Willis for a walk in his pusher up the main street and was amazed at the number of glares he was getting from girls and young mothers.

I was stopped by a lady who said, "He's beautiful, what is his name?"

"Willis."

"How old is he?"

"Two next month.'

"Is he your first?"

"No. I'm his uncle."

I was thinking - well girls, if you want one of these come and see me on the beach, I'm the head lifeguard on this beach.

The next day I raced to tell Sammy that I've found something better than a labrador puppy to meet girls and that was Willis. He's an absolute chick magnet.

"Yes, I know," Sam said. He takes after his old man. Hmm I thought. Sorry mate, but Cindy is the looker in your outfit. 

Gemma arrived later that year and she was just as beautiful as Willis, but with dark hair.

Sam most weeks would goal umpire for Gemma's team and at one particular game at Barwon Heads I observed Sammy complete with his radio ear phone inserted listening to horse races, putting on bets, goal umpiring and shouting instructions, all at   the same time. Who said blokes can't multitask.

I've never seen a prouder Dad than that of Sam last year in 2022 when not only did Gemma win the Premiership with Joey's senior girls' footy side against Torquay but also the Best and Fairest award in her netball team. The apple doesn't fall too far from the tree.

As we gather in this house of football what can I say about our beloved Sam?

 You were the Best On Ground, but dragged at three quarter time.

I love you mate - always will.

Say G'day to Mum and Dad.

Thank you.