My memories go back to the seasons immediately after World War II when the Gabba ground and
old southern stands were recovering from the Army occupation and the oval was surrounded by a high wire fence to prevent pitch invasion. Two memories from those days stand out:

a. The consummate skill of wicketkeeper Don Tallon whose grace, style and freakish abilities simply dominated Queensland’s Shield and International opponents. A stumper with the speed of a striking snake, he regularly showed his finesse by the removal of one bail only. I have seen all keepers of all Countries since the war, but Tallon remains the best, in my opinion.
b. The controversy surrounding Bradman’s non-dismissal early in his innings in his first Test after the War, in season 1946/47 against the English. Bill Voce,a lumbering, almost unrecognisable survivor from the English Bodyline team, bowled a full delivery outside off-stump. Bradman, who had been very scratchy to that point, came down hard with a back-cut on the ball, which flew sharply to Ikin at second slip. Seated near the front of the old Sir Leslie Wilson stand (which then served as the members’ area) I had a good (but distant) view of the incident, and thought Bradman was out. Those fieldsmen behind the wicket did so too, including Hammond and Yardley, if their subsequent continued appeals were any indication. They argued that the ball had come from the top edge of the bat, whereas the umpire ruled it was a bump-ball. Bradman seemed unconcerned, and Hassett, the batsman at the bowler’s end, wrote later that he agreed with the umpire. The English side showed by their body language for some time after the incident that they feared the worst; as well they might, for Bradman gradually gained in confidence, and finished with a score of 187!