By sports editor Russell Bennett
Digby Hogben thrived off the love he shared with his family and friends, and it’s that shared love they all miss so desperately in his passing.
He was born David Charles Hogben on 23 July 1943, but was better known to most over the decades since as, simply, Digby.
Attending Kooweerup Secondary College after his family settled in the area, Digby’s love affair with sport blossomed.
He loved his footy and was a true dyed-in-the-wool Hawks man, but it was his involvement in local cricketing circles that he truly became synonymous with.
He fast became a favourite son at Pakenham – going on to be a premiership-winning skipper and, later, a life member.
In his early 20s, Digby went to work for Nestle as a fitter’s assistant and general hand.
It was there that he met a fellow worker by the name of Doris Helen Potter, and he asked her if she’d go to a wedding with him.
She said she would, but only if he didn’t drink any beer.
Digby said he wouldn’t, and was true to his word.
But by her own admission, Doris said it didn’t hurt that Digby was particularly good-looking.
And that’s where the nickname came in.
In the 1960s, a handsome English movie star named Digby Wolfe came to Australia, and David was the spitting image of him. So from that point on, the nickname ‘Digby’ stuck like glue.
Doris and Digby were married in 1965, and their courtship only began 12 months prior.
In the coming years, Brett (or ‘Digger’, having been born on Anzac Day as the son of Digby) and Greg (‘Little Dig’) were born.
And it was through them, and the greater Hogben family, that Digby found his true calling.
Over the decades since, in Pakenham and – most recently – Bunyip, Digby supported his family and friends however he could, even while experiencing his own personal battles.
Pakenham Cricket Club president Phil ‘Mitsu’ Anning first knew of Digby when he was living in Deveney Street, Pakenham.
On the way home from work, he used to drive past Mitsu and his mates kicking the footy in the street and give them a beep and a wave.
As a junior at the Pakenham Cricket Club at the time, Mitsu had seen Digby play in the A Grade side of a Saturday afternoon, and in the season of 1972/73 he got to know him that little bit more when he had his first taste of A Grade – as a 15-year-old.
That kick-started what would become a brilliant friendship for so long.
“I remember it well for two reasons in relation to Digby,” Mitsu explained as part of his eulogy at Digby’s funeral recently.
“Firstly, he was so friendly and welcoming towards me and put me at ease.
“As you could imagine, I was extremely nervous for my first game with players I had always looked up to, and secondly I remember the match well as I got to bat with the great man.”
Digby batted at number 10, with Mitsu the last man in.
Digby greeted him as he made his way out on to the ground, and Mitsu still remembers his words of wisdom clear as day.
“We probably need another 30 runs to have a competitive score, so you just hang around with me and I will get those 30 extra runs,” Digby said.
Mitsu thought it was a good plan.
“I had to last two balls of the over so nervously I took centre, looked around and set myself up to survive, and that I did,” Mitsu explained.
“Even though I didn’t lay bat on ball, the bowler just never had the brains to bowl at the stumps and I played and missed at both balls.
“Digby, at the end of the over, greeted me with a ‘well done, now leave it up to me’.
“The first ball of the next over Digby proceeded to hit over the fence for six – to clarify the six, we played at St Pat’s, which had a boundary of about 35 metres, but it didn’t matter. I was in awe of this man for what he’d just done.
“But the next ball it all went pear-shaped as Digby had all three stumps sent flying through the air, so our 30-run partnership turned into a six-run partnership, lasting just three balls.
“As we made our way off the ground, Digby said to me ‘if we get the chance to play together again, just remember do as I say, not as I do’.
“Ever since that day I have constantly reminded him that he cost me a hundred, but that game, more importantly for me, was a start of a friendship that has lasted nearly 50 years and my respect and love for him as person started that day and will remain with me forever.”
Though Mitsu and Digby did play a few more games together, it was in the twilight of Digby’s playing career that he became the instigator, and founder, of a Pakenham team called ‘Dads Army’ – a rag-tag group of mates who just wanted to continue to play the game they love, but have plenty of fun and enjoyment in the lower grades at the same time.
“It became what I have often said is a golden era for our club – both on and off the field,” Mitsu explained.
“This group, in about a 10-year period, won four premierships, but it’s what they did for the club off-field that will be remembered just as importantly as the premierships.”
Whether it was back to the top pub after a day’s play, or supporting the club at social functions, it was all mainly due to the influence of one man – Digby.
“After each day’s play you would look forward to, over a drink or 20, stories that would eventuate from the Dads Army games, and most of the most humorous would involve Digby,” Mitsu said, adding his great mate had a ritual of wearing Hawthorn footy socks while playing, despite the rules specifically stating white socks had to be worn.
Digby would use his trademark pipe – along with his car keys, wallet, and watch – as his bowling marker. He’d just drop them on the ground at the top of his mark, and away he went.
But, one day, disaster struck as Digby lost his pipe in the long grass at the end of an over. It resulted in his team mates and opponents alike commencing an extensive search – because he wouldn’t allow the game to resume until it was found.
Unfortunately for him, as he was coming in to bowl, he accidentally stood on it – pushing it further into the grass.
On another occasion, one of Digby’s opponents ran approximately 13 runs (as his team mates counted) as he lost a ball while fielding – only for the whole team to end up searching for it and finding it six inches down a surface crack on the dry ground.
Mitsu spoke with adoration about the impact his great mate Digby had on the Pakenham Cricket Club over an extended period – including after his playing days had come to an end.
“Once his playing career finished his interest in the club was still strong – he always checked the scores to see how the teams and individuals were going; he was a regular attendee at our life members day; he was a social member of the club; and at the start of each season he would ring me to see if we had any new clothing that he could purchase so he could show everyone how proud he was to be part of the club,” Mitsu said.
“Whenever any sides – senior or junior – achieved the ultimate success, he would be one of the first people on the phone to me asking me to pass on his best wishes to those sides and everyone involved.
“Two years ago we had a reunion to celebrate the four Dads Army premierships and what a great day it was – all the players sharing stories of their glory.
“The cricket was washed out that day, so our current day players were able to spend time with these greats of that era and one man (Digby) stole the show with his stories of those days.”
Mitsu said it was always a pleasure to be in Digby’s company – at the cricket club, or away from it.
“Whether it was on a Friday night or a Sunday afternoon, you were always welcome to come and have a beer with Digby – his shed was always open for you to pop in, and these sessions were to become that popular and well-attended that the place became known as the ‘Hilton on Henry’,” he explained.
“When a social golf group was formed, it was known as the ‘Hilton on Henry Golf Club’ and, further to that, when a few of the group members formed a horse racing (punting) syndicate, you guessed it – it was named the Hilton on Henry Racing Syndicate.
“Our first horse won its first race at pretty good odds – it paid on the tote $60-odd.
“Digby backed it with the bookies and got 35/1, and after the race I said ‘are you a bit disappointed that you missed the bigger odds on the tote?’
“His reply was that it doesn’t matter how much you collect, there is no better feeling than having a bookmaker hand over the money to you – they hate, and I love it.”
In the 55 years of Mitsu’s involvement at the Pakenham Cricket Club, he said he’d never known a more popular or respected club person than Digby.
“Digby Hogben is the epitome of what our club is, and Digby is one of the reasons our club is what it is today,” he said.
“The legacy he has left will never be forgotten and will continue for generations to come.”
Digby is survived by his wife, Doris; his children, Brett and Greg; his daughter-in-law Kylie; his grandchildren Cassie, Shae, Lachlan, Tieanna, Jayden, Corey, Taylah, Chase, and Harvey; and his sisters Leanne and Margaret.
Those struggling at such a challenging time should contact: Lifeline on 13 11 14 or by visiting www.lifeline.org.au; or Beyond Blue at 1300 22 46 36 or www.beyondblue.org.au.
