Home >> Main Bill >> Headliners

 

Joe and Fos make it

A walk to the park
Caught by KID KALIN Kamera

Gathered round the Famechon throne are (from right): Foster Bibron, driver Rowland, Joe Bridges and Cancer Council chief Fogarty.

POINTING TO FAMMO. "Here’s a man worth bussing all night from Narooma to see," say Leroy Brown and Mark Zielinski.

THREE BIG MEN. Bibron, Ziggy and Bridges.

Into the Melbourne city park at noon Thursday (April 26), Joe Bridges and Foster Bibron, walking from Adelaide, paced their last sixty steps.

A squad of staffers of the Cancer Council clapped approval of the fight game’s gamest walkers, who in three weeks had legged it 750 kms for cancer research.

Leroy Brown went down the path to meet them. Bad Boy and trainer Ziggy had ridden a bus all through the previous night from Narooma, NSW to pay respects.

The Fight Cancer pair strolled up to face quips from Johnny Famechon seated in a red chair, a welcoming king.

Not one man in a thousand could last a week walking 40 k every day.
Bridges and Bibron did it for 20 days. An hour a time, taking turns.

We listened in as Bridges talked to The Age reporter. "You’ve been walking for cancer funds," said the reporter, "but what drove you to this cause?
"What made you to do it?"

"I did it for Julie," murmured Joe.

Joe and Julie Bridges used to publish ’Amateur Boxer’ magazine together. Julie died of breast cancer in 2002.
Joe himself then had prostate cancer. It is presently under in remission. He is gathering the fund, for research into these two malignant forms, aiming for six figures, and will keep the fund open until June.

Foster Bibron was Joe’s indispensable ally. Fos’ mother survived cancer. His RAAF friend, B J Hurley had cancer. When he heard about the walk plan, Fos at first offered a $1,000 contribution. Thereafter Fos threw in the lot – bought a van for the task and volunteered the strong (1.9m) frame that made him the Heavyweight Champion of Australia in 1970 and boxing imstructor of Port Adelaide (Port Power) AFL football club in 2007.

.. Motivated by their personal contact with cancer, Joe and Fos were accompanied on the long, long road by Frank Rowland driving Foster’s van painted up with the Fight Cancer signage.

’Impossible dream’

..Those who knew Joe Bridges’ physical shape reckoned a 500-mile marathon "for Julie" a physical impossibility.
His right knee is bone on bone – no cartilage. He wobbles when he walks a city block.

On the road across two Australian States, they took turns by the hour. After each day’s walking Joe’s leg was swollen its entire length to the size of the thigh.
He would recline, leg raised, and "Doc Fos" massage the fluid to the upper body to absorb.

Impossible, but he made it. The kitty at the Cancer Councils in two States is swelling. Joe’s gone home to Morphett Vale in Adelaide to recuperate a fortnight.

Then back to Melbourne to take on Fighting Father Dave Smith, the Anglican priest of Dulwich Hill, Sydney, in a live bout for Channel 9 television
..Joe already exchanged biffs with Nermin Sabanovic on Adelaide TV.

Side notes. Louie Korica and Charlie his promoting pal came to the welcome.
+ Port Adelaide football club gave a jumper signed by its AFL star players that raised $2,200 for the cause.
+ Foster Bibron’s daughter Tracey had the walkers stay over an evening to provide long-missed home comforts.