Giving back: Rachel Syers presented her new book to the Rochester Sports Museum at its Sports Gala.
Photo by
Luke Sorensen
Author Rachel Syers had the opportunity to present her new book Sir Bruce Small: From Malvern Star to Mr Gold Coast to the Rochester Sports Museum at its Sports Gala on Saturday, March 16.
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Ms Syers toured through Victoria to promote the book, a biography on the life of Sir Bruce Small.
She was invited to address the guests during a portion of the evening honouring Sir Hubert ‘Oppy’ Opperman — champion cycler, close friend, and business partner of Sir Small.
Sir Opperman was born in Rochester and is a crucial figure in the rich sporting history of the town, with a statue of him riding a Malvern Star bike on display in Rochester.
Sir Small’s family approached Ms Syers to write the book 10 years ago and has regularly contacted them along with the Opperman family.
Ms Syers was thrilled to present the biography to a town that played a small role in Sir Small’s and Sir Opperman’s lives.
“It was a great honour to personally present this book about the friendship between Sir Bruce Small and Oppy, who is so much a part of the town’s history,” she said.
“It was great to see Oppy and Bruce celebrated by everyone who is held in such high regard in cycling and sporting circles; they were remembered and honoured as sporting legends.
“The Opperman and Small families knew that I would be doing this, and they were thrilled to hear that I could present this book in front of so many passionate sporting people in the town.”
Messenger: Rachel Syers giving a speech to a sold-out Sports Gala crowd about the history of Sir Hubert Opperman and Sir Bruce Small with Peter 'Spida' Everitt.
Photo by
Luke Sorensen
Ms Syers was fortunate enough to officially launch the biography at the Melbourne Cricket Club Library at the MCG, with members of Sir Small and Sir Opperman’s family in attendance.
Yet, Ms Syers was just as pleased to be at the Rochester Sports Gala, where she said she could feel the palpable passion for sporting history among the attendees.
“It was a real celebration of sporting history, and I felt quite honoured and privileged to be a part of it as the author of the biography,” she said.
“I really enjoyed it. I met fantastic people and locals, and you could tell that Rochester is a town that sets itself apart through its passion and appreciation for its sporting history.”
Ms Syers appreciated the warm reception she received at the Rochester Sports Gala and the support she received throughout her Victorian tour.
She believes Sir Small and Sir Opperman would have been happy to stand shoulder to shoulder with John Forbes and all the sports people celebrated on the night.
“I was overwhelmed by the reception of this story of Bruce and Oppy. I felt so welcomed and supported throughout the tour,” she said.
“I thought that if Bruce and Oppy had been there, they would have felt honoured to be there among other sporting greats and legends.”
If you want to purchase a copy of Sir Bruce Small from Malvern Star to Mr Gold Coast, it is available at Rochester Newsagency and other retailers in Campaspe Shire.
