Carl Ditterich in trouble

[rollinson 65]

“Big Carlâ€

[bigcarl]

sorry to hear that my boyhood idol is in trouble. here is the article


http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/ ... 62,00.html

LEGENDARY footy hard man Carl Ditterich won many fights on the football field, but faces a new battle he fears he won't win.

"Big Carl", 63, and his family face eviction from their century-old Swan Hill wheat farm over a contentious $600,000 water debt.

Lawyers for the former St Kilda and Melbourne star claim Goulburn-Murray Water officials knowingly took advantage of his ailing father-in-law by signing him up to a costly regional pipeline.

Bruce Currie, now 81, had just had surgery for cancer of the stomach and oesophagus, and was on morphine, when he signed the document in September 2000 without legal representation, according to court documents.

Now the water company wants the money and is threatening Supreme Court action to seize the land.

[St Fidelius]

http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/ ... 61,00.html

[rollinson 65]

thanks, guys...

that is the article I read...

I am mad as hell, and I want to do something about it, but I am at a loss for ideas...

[SteveStevens66]

Well the club's motto is Strength through Loyalty. Let them show it toward Carl, a genuine hero and one of our greatest ever players.

Two suggestions: (1) The club should come to his aid in some way and; (2) my old school mate, David Grace, QC, should take the case pro bono.

This is a very worthy cause not just because Carl is one of ours but because this case is a perfect example of how un-Australian Australia can sometimes be nowadays.

[Eastern]

thanks, guys...

that is the article I read...

I am mad as hell, and I want to do something about it, but I am at a loss for ideas...

The problem is that Goulburn Murray Water would have the full support of the State Government. That makes it bloody big fight that will cost mega bucks !!

[bigcarl]

could he sue them for the pain they've caused his father-in-law? i've heard of those no win/no pay lawyers, but don't know whether they take this sort of case.

[Eastern]

You're talking the Slaughter & Gettum type Lawyers and their no win-no pay policy? They ONLY take on the cases they can realistically win !!

[Mr Magic]

Rollo,
Maybe you need to talk to Redleg from Demonland.com and he can talk to Mordy Bromberg at St Kilda to see if between them they can figure out a way to assist Carl?

[Enrico_Misso]

Really sad.

The unfortunate thing is that with all his connections via his stint in parliament he must have already extensively investigated his options.

So obviously feels he has none.

This might not leave him with any money.
But he still is and will always be a legend.

If the worst comes to the worst hopefully the club could find a role for him.
Like looking after the past players.
Or taking over from Choco (who is getting on in years) and running/speaking at club events.

[rollinson 65]

It is not a secret, but I should state for the record that I am a Melbourne supporter, read this site regularly (best footy site in the universe), but only post on here at forum footy time...

At forum footy time, the trophy we play for is called "Big Carl" for good reason...

My fondest memories of Carl were his games against Melbourne...

I remember his first ever game, when he had no respect for reputations and ruffled quite a few feathers...

years later, I remember another game when robbie flower was influencing a game more than Carl was prepared to put up with, so Carl hit him in the head a few times, and robbie did not play so well after that...

back to the point of this thread...

Carl gave everything for both clubs, but what can we do for him now he needs us ??

(a recent post on demonology suggests a celebrity match to raise funds for the legal defence, but also asks how these things are organised)....

looking for ideas, people...

[St Fidelius]

We play you twice this season.

Unfortunately our home game is at the GC

It may not be much, but maybe both Clubs can organise something at those games. Something like a $5 donation or a raffle

[matrix]

well if someone starts whipping a hat around make sure everyone knows about it.
as many on here would gladly donate to the cause to help the legend.

[casey scorp]

Really sad.

The unfortunate thing is that with all his connections via his stint in parliament he must have already extensively investigated his options.

I don't think Carl ever got into Parliament. He stood unsuccessfully for the seat of Swan Hill in the 1999 elections.

He beat the Labor candidate on the primaries, and then almost overhauled the National Party candidate with the distribution of preferences. Carl got preference flow at a ratio of 3:1.

In the end if around 760 people had voted the other way, it would have been Carl Ditterich MP.

I suspect that Carl portrayed an image of a lovable rougue, and as a rural battler independent candidate.

I doubt that he had too many connections in the corridors of power.

I'm sure we all wish him well, but I think he's taken on a fair battle. No doubt some bad PR will come the way of MGW, they'll stick reasonably resolute initially but in the end there'll be a settlement as all parties will just want it to go away.

[rollinson 65]

"I'm sure we all wish him well, but I think he's taken on a fair battle. No doubt some bad PR will come the way of MGW, they'll stick reasonably resolute initially but in the end there'll be a settlement as all parties will just want it to go away."

hey, casey...

I am a litigation lawyer, but Carl's problem has nothing to do with my specialty, so I asked arround and I have been told that MGW do not settle these sorts of cases...

they fight them to the finish (I am told)...

I like the idea of a celebrity match to raise funds for the legal costs to fight the bastards, but I also do not know how these things are organised...

[casey scorp]

I am a litigation lawyer, but Carl's problem has nothing to do with my specialty, so I asked arround and I have been told that MGW do not settle these sorts of cases...

We're all in ignorance of the facts of the case, but there will no doubt be some grey areas which I can see being leveraged by others to bring pressure on GMW to assist in finding a settlement.

Rarely is anything black and white, as I am sure you regularly advise your clients (without grey we wouldn't need the lawyers nearly half as often as we seem to. ).

[Enrico_Misso]

Really sad.

The unfortunate thing is that with all his connections via his stint in parliament he must have already extensively investigated his options.

I don't think Carl ever got into Parliament. He stood unsuccessfully for the seat of Swan Hill in the 1999 elections.

He beat the Labor candidate on the primaries, and then almost overhauled the National Party candidate with the distribution of preferences. Carl got preference flow at a ratio of 3:1.

In the end if around 760 people had voted the other way, it would have been Carl Ditterich MP.

I suspect that Carl portrayed an image of a lovable rougue, and as a rural battler independent candidate.

I doubt that he had too many connections in the corridors of power.

I'm sure we all wish him well, but I think he's taken on a fair battle. No doubt some bad PR will come the way of MGW, they'll stick reasonably resolute initially but in the end there'll be a settlement as all parties will just want it to go away.

Thanks for the correction.
I think i'm mixing him up with that other independent from up there (Craig someone? Ingham?) who did get in.

[casey scorp]

Craig Ingram, but he was East Gippsland

You are thinking of another independent - Russell Savage, Member for Mildura.

[Enrico_Misso]

Yes I was thinking of Savage.

But the Big Carl think is very sad.
Met him at one of those SOS rallies.
Felt intimidated going up to chat to him.
But he was very friendly and signed my SOS hat.

Most of the great teams in history had an enforcer like Carl.
We don't really have anyone (though Baker tries but needs to be twice the size to intimidate like a Carl or a Dermie).

[rollinson 65]

"I'm sure we all wish him well, but I think he's taken on a fair battle. No doubt some bad PR will come the way of MGW, they'll stick reasonably resolute initially but in the end there'll be a settlement as all parties will just want it to go away."

I wish you were right, mate, but have today spoken to a number of people in the know, and they say that GMW will not settle this type of case...

Carl does not want money, just the chance to take his case to court..

I like the suggestion (made on demonology) of a celebrity match to raise money for the legal defence...

any other suggestions ??

[borderbarry]

I had an irrigation property in the Numurkah area for 12 years. My water came from Murray Goulburn Water, I am surprised that they control the water at Swan Hill, I thought they were based at Shepparton. Anyway I always found them reaonable to deal with, (except for my water bailiff). I read the item re Big Carl, and it looks like the water board are being way over the top in this instance.
DOes anybody remember the impact 17 yr old Carl had on the media with his first game. A 17 yr old 6'5" ruckman who was fast, had a mighty spring, and could run all day. They had never seen anyone like him I remember Lou in particular nearly wetting his pants when describing Carl. Lou was wrapped.

[rollinson 65]

I remember...

I was there...

he had no respect for the opposition players or their reputations...

hated him that day, but loved his commitment later on in the dees' red and blue...

(sorry, not trying to irritate the good people who post on here, but Carl is joint property)...

regards,

rollo

[bobmurray]

Carl is an AFL legend,i'm sorry to hear of his plight...

I think he's as much a Melbourne legend as he is a Saints legend..

I hope the demons help him as well....

In reflection, i always have more apathy with one club players....

we let some good ones go...

Carl
Glenn Elliot
Stuart Trott
Perovic
Plugger
Stewart

Good luck Carl....

[St Fidelius]

I think from memory that Carl lives in Toolybuc and have had friends that know him.

Toolybuc is just a fantastic place, and only 15 odd minutes away from Swan Hill.

I hope our Club and Melbourne get something in place to offer some help

[saint66au]

I wore the #10 with pride on my first footy jumper

His wife was my cousins English (?) teacher..and organised an autograph for me. Its still a treasured posession