OIU news caught up with Australia Day Honours recipient and Alumnus James Rodgers (OR1971). We began by going back in time to when he first fell in love with the game, we all know (and love), cricket. 

OIU news: Can you unpack what attracted you to the game and just how it how it became part of your persona? 

Rodgers: I loved the game right from the start. I mean, my grandfather, my dad's father, was a passionate cricket spectator. If a test match was on, dad would pick him up and we would go out to the SCG. So, three generations, my grandfather, dad and I saw my first test in 1962. I started to play cricket in 1963 when I played for Turramurra. When I went to Riverview, I started off in the 13As. We learned how to play the game properly and how to play it within the spirit of the game. 

OIU news: Can we talk about the school environment and getting the best out of the boys. Did you see a marked transformation in some boys from November to March? 

Rodgers: Well, I used all that experience that I'd had in grade cricket and tried to teach them the technique of game, tactical aspects of game. We won two premierships in 1980 and 1981. we hadn't won it for 47 years. When Michael Punch took over coaching the First XI, he showed them how to win. He coached a couple of premierships there, and when I took over, we had won one premiership in 10 years. I tried to show them how to win again, but also how to win graciously and gratefully, and also how to lose. That's probably why teachers make good sports coaches. They know how to deal with people, how to deal with young men, and it gives those people confidence when the coach knows. 

OIU news: Let's just talk in very general terms about some of the headmasters you worked with? 

Rodgers: I was very fortunate in that I was well guided and encouraged by a succession of three Jesuit headmasters, Fr Peter Quinn, who first employed me, and he was very encouraging of my life outside the school. Greg O'Kelly was his successor, and Greg understood that sport is a very important thing in a boy's school. And then Chris Gleeson. I'd known Chris since he was a scholastic in my last year. Those men understood the role of extracurricular activities in the formation of boys. 

OIU news: Can we chat about the role of extracurricular formation and those lifelong friendships. 

Rodgers: Sport is about a number of things, about health and fitness. It's about enjoyment. It's about stretching your abilities. It's about developing your talents. It's about playing within a team. You play as part of the team. Any runs you score are team runs; any tries you score are team scores. If your passion is dancing, be the best dancer in the school. If your passion is rowing, be the best rower in the school, whilst all the time being part of a team. I think that we sort of got it right at Riverview and in other Jesuit schools. 

OIU news: That must have been a wonderful feeling to have that recognition by the broader community for all those hours over all those years. 

Rodgers: I never expected it. When the initial phone call came, I was shaking my head. This happens to other people, not to me, and I also felt that there are many more people who are far more worthy of this. It just was a wonderful recognition. I'm very proud to receive it. Very grateful. I'm also very surprised. 

OIU news: What would your advice be to our younger Old Ignatians? 

Rodgers: Try and follow your passion, and if that passion leads you to good things like understanding values, then that's good. And eventually, when you follow your passion, it'll become a vocation. And I have always thought that my teaching was a vocation. It wasn't a job, it wasn't a profession. I never thought of it as a job. Can I also add a shout out to the two other Riverview Staff members who've received the Award. Leanne Neal and Kim Prodinger. Such fine examples of the award system, who have been inspirations not because they've got a Medal but because of who they are. 

OIU News: Congratulations once again James from all our members.