The Early Years - Home for a growing family
Frederick Mann remembers John Curtin as a cricket player

JCPML. Records of Frederick Mann. Interview of Frederick Mann, 29 November 1997. JCPML00250. (Interviewer Isla MacPhail)

"I can remember Jack Curtin, he was then editor of the Westralian Worker, I can remember him coming and I was struck with him because he had a very distinct cast in his left eye. He didn't field in too close to the wicket and I came on to bowl in one stage of the business, to bowl against him. He came in about the middle of the order and I thought 'now how in the devil is he going to see the ball with this cast in the eye' because it was most pronounced.

Anyhow I bowled up an over and I found that he was a determined batsman - didn't have a great number of strokes - but very determined and he was going to let the hitters, the two Clifford brothers in particular, they were going to score the runs.

So my attitude to bowling to him after that was very distinct and I let him have the lot. But he was still very defensive and showed what a determined character he was."

JCPML. Records of John Curtin. Member's badge: WA Cricket Assn. 1933-34, No.219. JCPML00287/10
WA Cricket Association members badge belonging to John Curtin

JCPML. Records of John Curtin. Member's badge: WA Cricket Assn. 1933-34, No.219. JCPML00287/10

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