Brian Stoney

John Hill

Brian Stoney was a very special person. I first met him back in 1964 when we were in opposite teams in a cricket match at Watsonia on the outskirts of Melbourne. Brian’s team won. From that time onwards our paths would occasionally cross: a coffee at Cana, a mass at St. Vincent’s Redfern or a chat at St. Aloysius College. We shared the same vision of the way the world should be. I was always eager to get his point of view and his perspective on society and the events in our world.

Brian saw it as a responsibility of a caring society that all people are given the opportunity to live in an environment where they can be safe and secure. Brian was his own man. He lived and taught others to live with less rather than more. The mentally ill or those suffering disability could identify with him. His Koori friends were many because they knew he could walk in their shoes and for that he won their respect. The daily living and sharing at Cana gave his Eucharist celebration more meaning.

When Brian welcomed the marginalised he at times would challenge bad behaviour. He was respected because of who he was and what he was doing in a community of broken people. Seeing Christ in the distressing disguise of the poor was something Brian did so beautifully. His God had the upper hand in his life and attitudes.

Brian loved sport of all codes and would often talk about the Melbourne Demons, his Aussie Rules team, or his favourite Rugby League teams, St George Dragons and later Melbourne Storm. At the same time he rejoiced in cricket and other sports.

So I go back to well over 50 years ago and a cricket match at Watsonia. I can always ponder on how fortunate I really was to have bowled to that resolute batsman with his superb straight bat. Incidentally it was that same straight bat that hit my bowling all around the paddock.