My days playing cricket at East Kew Primary School bring back fond memories.

The funny thing is we're having a 60-year reunion in a few weeks relating to those days when it all started back in 1957. I think out of the 13 players that played in that junior side two have passed away, so with 11 of the original players going to be there it's going to be a big day.

I played in the 1963 cricket premiership side for Carey Grammar in the Associated Public Schools competition.

I was the school cricket captain in 1964 and the late, great English fast bowler Frank Tyson was our coach. Frank was a great man.

Did you play cricket at a higher level?

I played one senior game with the Melbourne Cricket Club, but most of my senior games were played in the seconds and the thirds.

Melbourne had some great players back in that era including Peter Bedford and Graham Watson. We trained at the Albert Ground.

I ended up playing cricket with Old Carey, which played in the Eastern Suburbs Cricket Association.

What was your highest score?

I made 149 runs in one game with Old Carey. I got a couple of hundreds but don't ask me about bowling because I couldn't bowl.

Smokey, you've been a sports commentator for many years. When did your career start ?

It was in November 1970. I had always wanted to be a sports commentator. I was lucky the ABC gave me a chance.

The job at the ABC was advertised and I beat 483 applicants for the job. The first VFL-AFL game that I called with the ABC was in 1974. The game was between Collingwood and Fitzroy at the old Victoria Park.

I was a commentator with the ABC, which used to call footy under the 3LO signal, for 18 years.

Peter Booth, Clarke Hansan, Doug Bigelow, Ian Cleland and a young Tim Lane were also callers back in that era. Blokes like Ian Robertson, Kevin Coghlan, Ray Walker were other callers who I also worked with in the broadcasting booth.

The first shield game of cricket I broadcast was between Victoria and South Australia at the MCG in 1971. 

My first test cricket match was in December 1973. It was a big thrill to call cricket with legendary commentator Alan McGillivray. Former top Australian cricketers Lindsay Hassett and Colin McDonald were also on the broadcasting panel.

I was on the broadcasting panel for the famous Centenary Test between Australia and England at the MCG in 1977. The game contained numerous highlights, including the great Dennis Lillee getting 11 wickets, Rick McCosker getting a broken jaw after trying to hook a delivery from Bob Willis.

It was also the first test match that David Hookes played for Australia. The Aussies won the game by 45 runs.

Smokey, you mentioned legendary commentator Alan McGillivray. What did he teach you?

Alan was a childhood hero of mine. I always wanted to be a sports broadcaster.

Alan used to say “think you are calling the game of cricket to a blind person”. 

Alan would say you must tell them what is going on without going over the top.

How many test matches and one day games would have you broadcast during your career?

I think it's over 300 test matches and more than 700 one-day games. I've been lucky to have broadcast cricket all over the world.

Who would be the top three cricketers that you have seen?

I would have to say Viv Richards, Dennis Lillee and Shane Warne, but in saying that there have been numerous other champion cricketers that I've been fortunate enough to call during my career.

What about footy. How many games have you broadcast?

I've called 1779 VFL-AFL games and out of that number, 40 have been grand finals. The top two footballers would have to be Leigh Matthews and Gary Ablett senior. Both were freak footballers.

During my career, I've been extremely lucky to have been a  commentator calling footy, cricket and athletics.

I've broadcast at the Olympic and Commonwealth games. I've been lucky that I've got paid to do what I love doing.

Smokey, you've now got strong links with Port Fairy. How did that happen?

My wife Shelagh and I first visited Port Fairy in 1983. We had friends down here.

We fell in love with Port Fairy. We kept on coming back for years in-between my broadcasting commitments. We ended up buying a property in Port Fairy in 2010 and went to our first Port Fairy Folk Festival in 2011. The folk festival is the best organised  event that I've ever been to. I've been to numerous sporting events in my career but the folk festival is right up there as one of the best. 

We just love the relaxed atmosphere in Port Fairy. The town has a very strong community spirit which is really wonderful in this day and age. I'm a member at the Port Fairy Golf Club. I love playing golf, I think I got that from my parents who were both excellent golfers.

Our daughter Shona is a teacher at Emmanuel College. She’s been there for six years and just loves it.

Who are you broadcasting the cricket and footy for now?

I've been a commentator for various networks over the years, but now I do the cricket for SEN in Melbourne and the footy for National Indigenous Radio Service.