Burke Manuscript

Burke Manuscript: Page 193

Transcript

Dicker Hamilton

Another veteran sport who made his appearance soon after was old Dicker Hamilton, the present Editor of the Melbourne Sportsman. “Tout cela”. Dicker is an energizer. He was then old and now is young, and has come out with a vigour and style of late that have simply astonished old acquaintances. For truth to tell Dicker was reckoned played out when he disappeared from Chch. How wrong ordinary man is in his forecasts. Here is the energizer twenty years after completely eclipsing the Augurs of the Victorian Press.

When Dicker came amongst us he simply took charge of sporting matters. Before long he had a steeple chase under way and to Dicker Hamilton belongs the credit of bringing to a successful issue a grand steeple chase. Armed with his natural cheek, for Dicker was well endowed by nature in that line and a varied experience had added to the gifts of nature and he soon obtained a sway over the local sports who looked up to Dicker as an authority – for he talked with authority.

He had soon organized matters. Old John Stace, of the Sand Hills, “Don’t call me Dapple Tom” said Tommy Tompkins indignantly. “Why not?” said the old one. “I’ll call you Dapple Tom, you call me Gentleman Stace” said the imperturbable. (It wasn’t a fair exchange, Tommy didn’t like the cognizance) Had a farm there, fine country, good fences, everything suitable and, near Town and Dicker who they said was an old Townie of Stace’s in the old country, soon got his consent and before long the programme was issued. There were some good prizes.

Amongst the old sports, of those days were Charley Turner, Jannaway, with a great reputation from the sand lots at Kaiapoi and amongst them they had had a mare called Jessie and with this mare all Dicker’s generalship was brought into play. The thing was very well managed. Got in at the weight. Jannaway on her back and she swept the board. Dicker’s reputation was at its highest.

But you can’t live on one success.

It was a well remembered day to many, for a tremendous downpour came on, and people were soused, and that unpopular man, but lucky publican, Jimmy Blake of the A.1. who had the Booth on the course did a rare stroke.

That was Dicker’s neat stroke. He went up like a rocket and down like the stick. People tire of idols and they got weary of Dicker. In fact he