This man just made a solid contribution to sporting history

FOR half a century, Colin Hamilton OAM has painstakingly collated the sporting history of Rockhampton and beyond.

50-YEAR HISTORY: Councillor Rose Swadling with Col Hamilton and his collection of scrapbooks he has donated to the library. Picture: Allan Reinikka Rokascrapbooks

FOR half a century, Colin Hamilton OAM has painstakingly collated the sporting history of Rockhampton and beyond.

He has pieced together and precisely indexed an extensive collection of newspaper articles, photographs, letters and commentary in 300 well-preserved scrapbooks.

Now the local community will get to enjoy the fruits of his labour after the 86-year-old donated the priceless resource to the Rockhampton Library History Centre.

While the collection covers predominantly the local hockey scene, it also features cricket, boxing, cycling and articles on the Olympic Games.

Colin started the collection when he first started playing hockey in the 1940s.

"That's when I first started putting pieces away and I went on to other avenues and this is the result," he said, as his collection was carefully moved into its new home.

"It was something to do. I didn't smoke and didn't drink so I had to do something, didn't I?"

Colin's uncle, Arthur Smith, also collected clippings from national newspapers starting in 1927 through to the late 1940s.

"He mainly collected cricket," Colin said. "He used to sit up all night and listen to the radio and got all the scores down in a book. I've got about 100 of those at home."

Colin said he treasured the collection and would often get lost in the fascinating articles in the yellowing pages of his scrapbooks.

But he said he was pleased it was now in a place where it would be preserved and other people could look at it.

"I'm very happy that they're here, very happy. In 20 years' time, when they look back, the history will be there for them."

Rockhampton Regional Council's community services committee chair CrRose Swadling said the donation was a valuable and significant contribution.

"It really is an extraordinary collection and one we're very proud to have a role in preserving for our community and future generations," she said.

PARK AVENUE TO CELEBRATE

COLIN Hamilton OAM will be among the guests at the Park Avenue Hockey Club's 80th anniversary celebrations this weekend.

He has been involved in the sport for more than 70 years, and finished his playing career with Parks in 1972.

Colin is the club's patron and he and wife Ruth are both life members.

Current and former members of the club are encouraged to join in the anniversary celebrations, which will include a gala dinner on Saturday, June 11.

For tickets call Marie Sweeney on 4927 2125 or email [e-mail].

Originally published as This man just made a solid contribution to sporting history