Heroes and victims of Bondi tragedy honoured at SCG Test match
The Sheridan Suite was literally a who’s who of Australia. Former prime minister John Howard is a fixture here every year, happy to give interviews to anyone who wants one, including Canberra journalist Chris Uhlmann.
Steve Waugh, centre, and Herald columnist Peter FitzSimons in the top right corner.Credit: Neil Breen
While Howard later gave his thoughts on England’s batting line-up to Fox Cricket, sitting nearby was the much more qualified Steve Waugh, who declined the suite given in his honour, sitting in the Victor Trumper Stand.
Seats were so scarce that at one stage broadcaster Lisa Wilkinson sat on the lap of her husband, author and journalist Peter FitzSimons.
FitzSimons’ boss, Matt Stanton, is the CEO of Nine Entertainment Company. Sydney Morning HeraldHe was there with his son Freddie. This was despite Nine giving up cricket in favor of tennis, his main summer sport, years ago. Also representing Nine was broadcast boss Amanda Laing.
Current free-to-air cricket broadcaster Seven was represented by chief executive Ryan Stokes and his wife Claire, as well as much-loved Sunrise sports presenter Mark Beretta, who is leaving the show after 22 years.
Venues NSW president David Gallop was there with his wife Kathy. Former NSW premier Mike Baird, who is chairman of Cricket Australia, was accompanied by father Bruce, CA CEO Todd Greenberg and son Cooper.
A member of the Richies and the Barmy Army with Glenn McGrath on Sunday.Credit: Oscar Colman
Venues NSW manager and NRL broadcaster Yvonne O’Keefe brought along husband Chris O’Keefe, who dazzled in his plaid suit, as a handbag. A multi-award-winning journalist, Chris is now a corporate executive and runs his own consultancy business, Emerald House Advocacy.
Other dignitaries included NSW Governor Margaret Beazley, former governor-general Peter Cosgrove, Qantas CEO Vanessa Hudson, NSW Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon, Venues NSW CEO Kerrie Mather and her two new executives, broadcaster Edwina McCann and league star Ian Roberts, corporate heavyweight Tony Shepherd, ABC chairman Kim Williams and Rugby Australia CEO Phil Waugh.
The first responders honored before the game were special guests in the CA suite, including Ahmed al-Ahmed.
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They were hosted during the lunch break by Pink Test pioneer Glenn McGrath. The box was hosted throughout the day by journalist and presenter Julie Snook, who has become a CA favorite at corporate events.
Cricket NSW chairman John Knox, partner and chairman of private equity firm Ares Credit Group, was in attendance, along with former Test players Peter Taylor, David Gilbert (now an international match referee) and Ed Cowan, as well as a host of politicians and business leaders including NSW Treasurer Courtney Houssos, member for Summer Hill Jo Haylen, Destination NSW CEO Karen Jones and former opposition leader Mark Speakman.
On Monday, the second day of the SCG Test will feature England great Stuart Broad as the special lunch break guest. Baird and Greenberg will return to the CA Suite, where they will be joined by Australian Olympic Committee boss, former Rudd government power broker and sports minister Mark Arbib.
