Page 14 - Pharmacy History 32 July 2007

Bowling a maiden over
Dick E.Bird
T hink of pharmacy memorabilia and one thinks
immediately of Specie Jars, Carboys or Pill Machines.
But, here is something for the
scorer’s book – the Chemists Interstate Challenge Cricket Shield.
This Shield is a magnificent example of the Silversmith’s art and is possibly the oldest item of ‘true blue’ Australian pharmacy memorabilia in Society collections. What’s more, the shield also gives us a record of the results of matches and the players involved in those early days who were pharmacists from NSW and Victoria.
The Shield trophy was initially contested between 1908 and 1934. For 68 Years it laid idle until 2002 when
a group of cricketing pharmacists decided to resurrect the challenge and the competition recommenced with
a match at Bradman Oval, Bowral between teams from NSW and Victoria, in that year.
The original Shield is made of sterling silver and the `assay’ marks show
it was made in England by Atkin Brothers silversmiths of Sheffield, sold by William Farmer & Co of Hunter
14 ■ Pharmacy History Australia
volume 3 ■ no 33 ■ NOVEMBER 2007
Street Sydney, and more recently had the new backing piece with 30 plus sterling silver roundels added by WJ Sanders silversmiths of Sydney.
The trophy was acquired through
the generous support of the major drug companies of the day – Allen
& Hanbury (Australasia Ltd)., GA Arnold., The Australian Drug Co Ltd., Burroughs Welcome & Co., Buredin & Sainsbury, Elliott Brs Ltd., Fassett & Johnson, Felton Grimwade & Co., Parke Davis & Co., Potter & Birks Ltd., Rocke Tompsitt & Co., Saves A1lport Proprietary Ltd., and Whitall Tatum Co. These pharmaceutical companies are well remembered by the older generation of pharmacists, but sadly they no longer exist or have long since changed their name.
The Chemist’s Interstate Challenge Cricket Shield will now be the trophy for the winner of the Pharmacy Cricket Carnival that involves all the other States of Australia.
To celebrate the centenary of the first interstate cricket match, the next series will be played in January 2008 and will involve teams from six states. Significantly one of the games will again be played at the historic Bradman Oval in Bowral.
Further information is available from Ron Dymock (WA) and Greg Hodgson (NSW)