Tributes poured in from around the world for the man who was regarded as the greatest batsman in the history of cricket.
Donald George Bradman was born at Cootamundra, New South Wales, on 27 August 1908, the fifth and youngest child of George and Emily Bradman. In 1911 the family moved to Bowral where "the Don" grew up and learned to play cricket.
He scored his first century at age of twelve for Bowral High School. At 17 he was the youngest member of the Bowral Cricket Club and breaking the club's records with his batting ability.
Sir Don's record breaking cricket career has covered acres of newsprint and volumes of books and magazines. But not quite so much is known about the man and the tribulations that he and his beloved wife Jessie faced through their lives.
Sir Don met Jessica (Jessie) Menzies at school in Bowral and decided to marry her when he was 11 years old. He didn't tell her this until later. They married in 1932 at Burwood, New South Wales when he was 24 years old.
Sir Don and Jessie had three children. The first, a son, died in infancy. The second son, John, who is now 62 years old became seriously ill with poliomyelitis as a teenager. Polio can be a fatal disease or leave permanent paralysis. Fortunately he recovered without ill-effects.
But John was seriously affected by the pressures of his father's fame and for a time changed his name to John Branson by deed poll. He has now reverted to his birth name.
The Bradman's third child, a daughter Shirley suffers from cerebal palsy.
Don and Jessie's marriage was a true love match. In spite of the long separations caused by overseas cricket tours and the sadness of losing a child and the illnesses and disabilities of the others, they remained extremely close until Jessie's death from cancer in 1997.
Overseas cricket tours meant many months of separation in the days before airtravel was routine and it was a many weeks long ship voyage from Australia to England and other places.
He was born and lived a large part of his life at a time when medical science is not as advanced as it is today. Sir Don almost died from appendicitis and peritonitis in 1934 on a cricket tour in England.
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