Mike von Berg has been a member of Old Collegians since
1988 and was the 1st XV coach until 1993, a period that included the Premiership win of
1991. He is still the only current Level III accredited coach in the club and
has been a member of the National Coaching Committee and is a Life Member of
the SARU.
His achievements include:
SARU Life Member 2006
SARU Chairman 1994 to 2005
Senior State Coach 1994 to 1999 (6 years)
ARU Director 1997 to 1999 (first SA member appointed to the ARU Board)
ARU Delegate 1994 to present (as at Oct. 2005)
ARU Marketing Committee 1994 to 1996
Old Collegians 1st XV Coach 1989 to 1993
SARU Under 21 Coach 1991 to 1993
SARU Schools Coach 1995 to 1996
Mike's partner, Denise Rowe introduced the Friends of Rugby Ball and ran that event as
a chairperson for the first three years. Over these three years 1400 people attended.
... 31st May 2001, updated Oct. 2005
Michael Deak von Berg is a central character in the book Crossfire by Peter Haran
& Robert Kearney, New Holland Publishers, 2001. The incidents described in
the book occurred in 1966 when Mike was platoon commander of 5RAR Reconnaissance Platoon.
Mike was awarded the Military Cross in 1966 for his actions during an operation in
October 1966. He remained in the Army where he served with The Royal
Australian Regiment, The Special Air Services Regiment, 2 Commando Company
and Special Operations. He resigned his commission in 1973 and lived and
worked overseas for the next twelve years. He returned to Australia in the
mid eighties to take up a senior management position and since 1990 has been
the principal of his own strategic management consultancy in Adelaide.
... From 'Crossfire'
From The Advertiser, 13th October 2001:
"Mike became Cadre Commander - the man heading up the gruelling selection programme -
at SAS Swanbourne headquarters, Western Australia."
"Bruce" McQualter was one of Mike von Berg's
instructors when Mike went through Portsea prior to commissioning. They met up again when
he was posted to 5RAR after graduation. A coincidence that Bruce McQualter should be
an ex-member of Old Colls and Mike an ex-coach and member. As well, the father
of one of Mike's good mates in Vietnam, Lt. Roger Wainwright, was an ex-Chairman of the
SARU.
... From Mike von Berg, 31st May 2001
Visit the 5RAR Roll of Honour
Visit the Crossfire site
 "The cover shot captures Platoon
Commander Mick Deak von Berg, map in hand, preparing to call in mortar and artillery."
Mike ... as at October 2005
Mike with John Eales,
Adelaide, 17th February 2001
(Photo courtesy Adelaide Advertiser)
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