Wednesday 21 March 2018

TIGER DIARY - 21.3.2018

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2017, Done and Dustied

A crumpled old blue silverware polishing cloth got going on my new Tasmanian Tiger souvenir teaspoon.
 
The brand-name “Randa" came up out of the gloom and tarnish, girt by an outline of Australia. 

I’m thinking... circa 1967, but possibly as recent as 1980? Definitely from the last golden age of yellow and black. 

Here it is now, for the first time in 37 years, my own little piece of shining winner's Silverware.

Finally out of its deformed and brittle presentation box and into my proud hands.

And what a trophy it is! 

It was given to me by dear, loyal Swans fans Mathilde and Patrick after the 2017 Richmond Tigers won the Grand Final. 

It will never be used to eat a boiled egg, nor stir sugar into tary old cups of black tea.

Half-filling the concave spoon section is a little glued-on information plaque. 

The handle bears another one with a nice little picture of the once menacing but now extinct carnivore. 

The Tasmanian tiger is not the Richmond mascot, but Tasmanian born players have made such disproportionately huge contributions to the club since 1967 when Royce Hart crossed the Tasman, then followed by Michael Roach, Ian Stewart, Brendon Gale, Matthew Richardson and Jack Riewoldt that indeed, the Tasmanian Tiger makes a very fitting Richmond icon.

So I’ll be keeping my Tiger Teaspoon smiling-shiny.  It shall remain untarnished by all that relentless Richmond stirring.

Remember, to avoid extinction you have to fight and fight and win.

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