From the Maitland Mercury report:
The medal ensconced in Neville Bates’ care may be losing a bit of its shine but its link to the region’s boxing history will never be tarnished.
On April 27, 1912, the medal was placed around the neck of Mr Bates’ great uncle Harry Emery following a battle with The Maitland Wonder, Les Darcy.
And while Darcy may have been declared the winner of the fight at Summer Park, Newcastle, Emery’s connection to that day – a century ago – lives on.
“Uncle Harry didn’t have any kids so the medal was left to my dad to be handed down through the generations,” Mr Bates, 82, of Cessnock, said. “And even though I don’t remember much of Uncle Harry, I have always cherished the medal.”
Full article by Emma Swain available at Maitland Mercury, 28 Apr, 2012.
