CLAUDE AND PHYLLIS SIM
by Alvyn Hopgood
Claude Sim was born in ‘Kyangi’, just over the Victorian border, in 1919. His wife Phyllis (nee Hall) was born in 1921 at Milang. Claude’s early years were often spent at Ashbourne, with his uncles, working in the apple orchards for the Meyers. Claude played a few cricket matches for Ashbourne prior to WWII, then he enlisted and served five years overseas.
Claude met Milang girl Phyllis Hall who served in the Australian Women’s Land Army at various locations around South Australia, mainly working on farms.
Claude and Phyl married in the 1940s and had a family of four: Danny, Dorothy, Terry and Bob. They lived in the South Australian Farmers Union (SAFU) factory house, next to Milang Butter Factory for many years. Claude and Phyllis vacated this house in 1974.
Claude’s employment with the SAFU began after he was discharged from the army. He remained working with SAFU until the depot closed. Claude was mainly employed as a milk truck driver, which he was still doing when the factory closed in 1951.
Claude and Phyl were good town people, who helped the community in many ways, including at the primary school and sporting clubs. Phyl played tennis for the Milang Tennis Club. Claude’s sporting achievements were outstanding. He was Captain of the Milang Football Club – firstly, a tenacious rover with ruckman Jack Michelson; and then a very reliable back-pocket to finish his career.
In cricket, Claude reached his pinnacle in the Alexandrina Cricket Association, where he achieved the second highest score of 266 runs. He was captain of numerous association teams, including during Milang’s golden years of premierships in 1956, 1957 and 1958. Claude remained captain of Milang Cricket Team for about 15 years. He was a superb slip fieldsman and a very useful leg break bowler, as well as a ruthless batsman. Claude’s favourite saying was, nothing succeeds like success.
I used to visit Claude in his latter years and discuss Milang Cricket Club’s good and bad moments. He was always interested in the sport, right up until his final days. The cricket club’s afternoon teas and premiership dinners were some of Phyl Sim’s happiest achievements. Phyl, and Claude, made them memorable occasions. They are both buried in the RSL section of the Milang Cemetery.