CLUBS ON THE RISE
A trio of highway cricket clubs, Wallan, Kilmore and Broadford have enjoyed the current season, nearing its close in the Gisborne and District Cricket Association. This competition has 30 clubs, multiple teams (probably well over 150 at senior and junior males and an expanding women’s section). The breadth of the GDCA is some 2,500 square miles stretching from Seymour to Sunbury and Wallan to Bacchus Marsh.
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Wallan, Kilmore and Broadford (plus Seymour’s Eastern Hill) are enjoying good growth and at the helm each has good leaders, men and women who love the summer game which has been Australia’s national summer sport for more than 170 years.
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Last week I received a brief summary of Wallan’s season from club legend Robbie Fowler who for some decades has made a splendid contribution to Wallan cricket and football.
This season Wallan’s first senior women’s team has done well and has been a great asset to the club. Women’s captain Felicity Vance (wife of club captain Bryan) has been an outstanding leader on and off the field. The Johnstone Shield team First XI was narrowly on top, just ahead of Eastern Hill, at time of writing. Coach Steve Bell has led from the front with the ball, whilst the skipper Vance, Nathan Fowler and Ryan Cumberland have led the batting. The 2nd XI will contest the finals, the thirds and fourths missed out. Both under 15s girls XIs have had fine seasons coached by Chris Vecchie and Andrew Avola; while the girls under 18s (Sam Mahony coach) have had a really good year.
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The club’s Woolworths Blasters section is expected to grow strongly next summer. Across 2024-25 the club has fielded multiple elevens, and this number is expected to continue to expand. Among the list of dedicated coaches have been Bailey Fowler, Archie Moore and Hamish Mullavey-Clark. Hamish is captain of Assumption 1st XI and is a fine batsman and outstanding young man.
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Reports indicate the club has some outstanding people in all areas and overall, the financial situation is strong. Major sponsor Hogans Hotel and all others are deeply appreciated. Chris Vecchie (also a club legend) is President with Brooke Matthewman a fine secretary and child safety officer. Club Treasurer is Andrew Bingham. Wallan CC is very grateful to all its helpers and supporters.
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There are more than 4000 registered cricket clubs across Australia. Many of them field upwards of a dozen XIs senior, junior and girls. Also, there are more than a thousand social clubs plus school and college XIs.
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THE TEACHER
A brief encounter with Kilmore resident Wally Arnott the other day led me to recall his fine career as a primary school teacher. Kilmore P.S and Darraweit Guim PS were two of his lengthy porting’s. Contemporary staff members at Kilmore told me the students loved being in Wally’s classes where he taught them well and made sure they enjoyed their schooldays. Many local area men and women fondly remember the annual plays such as “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory” he put on. They enjoyed greatly the pick-up games of footy and cricket enjoyed during recess and lunch times. I’m sure he helped many pupils to progress to local clubs. Wally was a keen and very handy footballer himself, playing with Kilmore FC and Assumption Old Collegians. He held his own as a ruckman despite conceding height to opponents.
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At ACK he spent a quarter of a century assisting senior cricket and football teams in a coaching role. He guided the 2nd XVIII to several premierships and gave great help to the First XVIII and XI boys on the training track. A number of times when I was on leave in the UK he stepped into the breach with success – notable against Parade and SHC Adelaide. In summer he spent countless hours in the nets sending down his accurate medium paces. Wally and wife Pat raised two fine children; Felicity and Matthew. Pat is remembered for years of service as a nurse and matron at Kilmore Hospital. Like her mum, Felicity is a cancer nurse, she has a son Alex. Matthew is now back in Kilmore with his wife and young family. A talented person, he relaxes by being a keen member of Kilmore Cricket Club. Peter Jongeblood, a wonderful deputy for many years at ACK was grateful for Wally’s contribution.
