Member Spotlight on Henry Vaughan

1. Name:

Henry Vaughan

2. Nickname(s):

H, Harry, Harold, Callaghan

3. High School:

Scots, Sydney

4. What city are you living in:

New Orleans (anyone who would like to send me two airfares out of here is welcome and will be my friend for life).

5. First Fanatics Tour:

DC Final Nice '99. Although I had been doing the rounds of sporting events for a while, doing it with the Fanatics is definitely more fun, but make sure your health insurance is paid up!

6. What do you do when you are not on tour:

Good question. Plan for my takeover of the world, if I can get my backside out of the couch.

7. Favourite sporting moment while on tour with the Fanatics:

Watching the Woodies come from one set down and 1-4 in the second to win the match in Nice (Final '99) was awesome. The way they started they couldn't fight their way out of a wet paper bag until Newk good them words they "didn’t want to hear".

They were so pissed off after that they simply annihilated the French. The following day watching the Poo win his match and the DC for us was surreal. 1000 Aussies made more noise than 9000 French. The highlight of which was watching Poo race over to Newk and throw his arms around him as though to say "You were right" and Newk was saying "all is forgiven". It was fantastic tennis.

8. Favourite non-sporting moment while on tour with the Fanatics:

Too many to list but….

Nice '99 was fantastic for many reasons but especially winning the Davis Cup. Being part of that crowd was "special" as Bruce would say. The quiet little evenings we had at Waynes bar were interesting as well. Amazing what you can get away with in a sweat covered tee-shirt with face paint dripping off you after having consumed a small countries worth of beer.

Zurich (Feb 2000) was fantastic as we were a small group - around 40, who all got along great guns and have remained mates since. The same nucleus keep reappearing at each of the finals.

The look on Matt W's face as I barged in on him late one night with a young lass from the ATP was priceless.

Watching a few of the lads mug the muggers in Barcelona was good too. (God knows they deserved it).

Having John Williamson sing Waltzing Matilda at the Olympic Stadium in Sydney and then walk straight from the podium across the field to us and join us for the match. We naturally sang True Blue for him and he returned the compliment by singing the Wallaby song for us.

Sorry I could go on and on, as there have been so many fantastic moments on each of the tours I have been on.

9. One sporting event you haven't been to but would love to attend:

Volleyball match at Hugh Hefners mansion, closely followed by the crab races at Airlie Beach, Qld. OK I have actually been to the crab races but I would love to go back again. Also, my die hard sporting attendee mates inform me the tomato throwing festival in Spain is worth the trip as well although I am not quite sure if that is actually a sport.

10. Where would people find you at 3am on a regular Saturday night:

Bourbon Street, New Orleans or kipp'n !

11. Which song will always get you dancing on the bar:

Its not a pretty site, but I would have to say - Rolf Harris and Two Little Boys. I cant but help swell with ANZAC pride with more than just a hint of a tear in my whenever I hear it!

12. Favourite drink:

James Squire Amber Ale, Coopers Red Label (preferably in the old grenade bottle). Hell, for that matter, any Australian Beer (except Fosters and Boags which almost killed me once). I am sick of drinking pissweek American Beer.

13. Creation or evolution:

Hmmm I have put a great deal of thought into this one. I know great wine "evolves" over time, but beer seems to "create" a world full of gorgeous women........ In that regard I would have to say I prefer creation, but only up to 3am. Past that things turn pear shaped.

14. Coke or Pepsi:

Pepsi ruins Bundy so I guess I would have to say Coke. But the sooner Australia develops a decent Cola and we can stop siphoning off money to the Yanks the better!

15. Capitalist or Socialist:

I believe in free beer for all but charging entry for all non Aussies(double price for yanks).... I am not sure where that puts me.

16. Club or Pub:

I still remember the days when pubs would shut at midnight (if not earlier), and then the only thing open would be the local Bowling or RSL Club. For this I am eternally grateful as not only were the beers cheaper, but this was also my more successful time to pick up. So all in all, I guess I am a club man.

17. Which moment has the most significance in Australian sporting history, was it Cliff Young winning the Sydney to Melbourne marathon running in gumboots, Australia 2's winged keel, Pat Cash's checkered headband,the invention of the padded Torpedo bikepants for under rugby shorts, David Boons 56 tinnies on the flight to London, the collapse of the Hobart Devils NBL franchise, Warrick Cappers pink Ferrari & mullet haircut or something else:

The poisoning of Phar Lap by the Yanks. The great lesson here was that we should never need to go overseas to chase dollars when we have all we want right in Australia! Also it gave us a healthy disregard for the yanks.

18. If you could invite 5 people to share a six pack of long necks with who would they be & why:

• Ned Kelly. He would have a few good stories to tell and he probably deserves a beer.
  
• Doug Walters. I played french cricket with him once and he is just a great bloke. Also, it is a little known fact that when Rod Marsh drank 52 tinnes on a flight back from London to take the record, Dougie, ever the shy, just get on with it type of guy, drank one less but carried Swampy Marsh off the plane. Doug Walters we salute you for showing committment to the cause with humility and looking after your mates! (But we would need more than a six pack).
  
• Sir Les Patterson. His sense of political correctness is just what is needed in todays nancy boy society.
  
• Elle Macpherson. The love affair continues and she wouldn't drink too much.
  
• Rocket Rod Laver. Possibly Australia's greatest living sportsman. (Tough call, I know. Dawn Fraser is deserved rival to that tag as well as KP..... no, not Kerin Perkins, but Kerry Packer. he plays a very savage and unrivalled game of poker).

20. Can you give the people of Australia a tip:

hmmmm Good question....Can I ??? Australia is unique. Lets keep it that way.