According to Brian Jones, cricket is always the memory of cricket.
As some 60 guests came together to mark the 100th anniversary of the Hunter Valley Region Cricket Council Inc. (formerly Hunter Valley Cricket Council) on Sunday it was exactly that, the memories of cricket that dominated the conversations.
The gathering at East Maitland Bowling Club saw those involved in the Council, life members, dignitaries from New South Wales Country Cricket Association come together to hear of the extraordinary achievements of the sporting body that lay the foundations of a cricket competition that, in many cases, set the policies and procedures for other regional cricket councils and clear pathways for representation opportunities for players at a State and National level.
Lindsay Wood OAM delivered the main address drawing on his vast research over many years to deliver an entertaining and informative speech.
As he spoke, nods were seen around the room, smiles and occasional laughter as his words reminisced in the experiences shared by those in attendance.
Hunter Valley Cricket Council was formed at a meeting held in West Maitland School of Arts on October 5, 1923.
The original affiliated Association members for the inaugural 23-24 season were Hunter River (later known as Maitland), Upper Hunter, Singleton, Cessnock and Newcastle.
Later associations to affiliate at various stages have been Gloucester, Wyong, Gosford, Dungog, Muswellbrook, Allyn River, Paterson, Murrurundi, Merriwa, Cassilis, Newcastle City and Suburban.
At the time of the merger in 2022 with Hunter Valley Junior Cricket Council to form Hunter Valley Region Cricket Council Inc. the associations affiliated were Cessnock, Dungog, Maitland, Singleton and Upper Hunter.
Lindsay told the gathering that the Hunter Council had the distinction of being the very first Cricket Council to be formed in country NSW and became the model for the organisation of NSW Country Cricket on a Council structure.
Over the past 100 years HVCC has conducted a number of different competitions but the standout is the John Bull Shield competition.
The Shield was part of the original reason and catalyst for the formation of the HVCC
The Shield was donated by the large commercial wholesale firm of David Cohen & Co at a sizeable sum of fifty pounds.
“People often ask who this John Bull was, he must have been a good cricketer to have such an impressive Shield named after him,” Lindsay told the crowd.
“Actually the name comes from a British trade mark of products, tea, flour, baking powder etc that were stocked by Cohen & Co warehouses and stores, you may recall the John Bull character that appeared on the packets, a stout elderly British figure decked out in full riding gear of top hat, frock coat with tails and white riding breeches and boots,” Lindsay said dispelling the myth of the John Bull man himself.
The Shield has been contested annually some 90 odd times with the early provision that if any Association won it three times, they could keep it.
Upper Hunter managed to do that in the years 1927 to 1930 but they insisted the Shield remain in the hands of the Council.
Lindsay went on to speak of the competitions conducted by the Council and the players of significance.
Among those special mention was made of Gordon Whatham who holds the record for the longest player in the John Bull Shield, playing from 1959 to 1994, scoring close to 5000 runs including 536 runs in 1968-69.
NSWCA & NSWCCA have provided opportunities and a pathway for HVCC players to go on to higher honours.
Test players have been Alan Davidson from Gosford and Doug Walters from Dungog
Other State players have included David Johnston (NSW); Tim Caban (Qld) and Michael Cox (WA).
The most recent HVCC player to play for NSW has been Riley Ayre from Denman who played in the Muswellbrook competition. He made his Sheffield Shield debut in 2022 for New South Wales.
“And let’s not forget the women, Maisy Gibson a former Singleton and Maitland player who has represented NSW and Australia, Kirsten Smith from Upper Hunter, Jaclyn Vickery and Synetta Manns from Maitland, Laura Avard and Nell Smith who played for NSW Country Women in the Australian Country Championships,” Lindsay said.
Lindsay also paid tribute to those who have served in administration and the 21 life memberships including the longest serving presidents in Col Johnston, Pat Wills, Bill Martin and Graham Hudson.
Most recent recipient is Helene Goadsby from Singleton who received life membership in 2020 for her long service as treasurer.
In conclusion Lindsay said the centenary celebration is a day all can look back with pride on what Hunter Valley Cricket Council has achieved over the past 100 years in the organisation of rep competitions, the implementation and participation in the country programs and helping many a cricketer along the way to go on to higher rep cricket honours.
“I think we can say well done and we look forward to what the future holds for the next 100 years in the Council’s history,” Lindsay said.
See more photos in Issue 97 of The Hunter River Times
-Di Sneddon
