History of the Orange District Junior Cricket Association Incorporated Prior to 1969, junior cricket was played in Orange, but it was conducted by the schools, and no club teams were involved. There is no record of what ages were involved with the schools competition or how many teams took part in each grade. However, much of it was played mid-week, while the older age group at under 17 was catered for by the ODCA who conducted a “Colts” Grade competition. In 1969-1970, Constable Bob Hook from the Orange Police Boys Club asked Carl Sharpe if he would organise an under 15 tour to the North-West and North Coast of NSW, staying at Police Boys Clubs. Carl Sharpe did this and Bob Hook and Bill Gainsford took the teams away. Bill was killed in a car accident shortly after, and the PBC donated the William King Gainsford Shield for junior cricket but no one knows where the shield is at the present time. In 1970-1971, the President of the ODCA, Bruce Casey, saw the need for a separate Junior Association, and he arranged a meeting, and from this the ODJCA was formed with Bruce Casey as President, Terry Rayner as Secretary/Treasurer and Carl Sharpe as Publicity Officer. The ODJCA specifically concentrated on an under 15 competition, and that first season, we had four teams competing, which were Police Boys Club, Orange City, High School and DeLa Salle. The premiership was won by Orange City under the captaincy of Darrel Rosser. Another northern tour was organised by Carl Sharpe, and was managed by Bob Hook and Laurie Baldwin from the Police Boys Club. Also in 1970-1971, we were asked to arrange the teams for the Western Districts Competition in Under 12, 14 and 16, and even though we were unprepared for this, we accepted the job, and Carl Sharpe, Terry Rayner and Bob Hook selected and coached the teams and took them away to their matches at Bathurst, Lithgow and Mudgee. We had no competition to guide us, so we just called a day for selection trials, and virtually picked everyone who turned up on the day. In 1971-1972, the same three people were the office bearers, and Terry Rayner donated a trophy for the most improved junior. Carl Sharpe also organised another junior tour, and Terry Rayner and Laurie Baldwin took this team away. We still had the same four teams taking part in the competition, which was Under 15. In 1972-1973, Bruce Casey stood down as President, and Carl Sharpe replaced him, while Peter Bowyer as Secretary and Don Mansell Treasurer. We still had an Under 15 competition with four teams competing. They had a lot of travel getting people to help them with the inter-district teams, and Terry and Carl Sharpe usually gave up their Sunday competition games to transport the players with the help of a couple of parents. In the same year, the schools abandoned a junior competition, and under the guidance of Mr John Clements, a public meeting was called to try and form a Sub-Junior Association. The meeting was highly successful, and the Sub-Junior Association was formed, with John Clements as President, John Mitchell as Secretary/Treasurer, and they called for teams in Under 8, 10 and 12. They received 18 team nominations and the Junior Association changed to an Under 14 competition and received six teams, and also took responsibility to arrange the inter-district teams at Under 10, 12, 14 and 16. Carl Sharpe was the President with Brother Raymund from DeLa Salle was Secretary/Treasurer. In 1973-1974, the Sub-Junior Association requested that they combine with the ODJCA to make one Association, and at this meeting, Carl Sharpe was elected President, Alan Dowler Secretary, and Bob Stewart Treasurer. The competition was conducted in Under 11, 13 and 15, and 18 teams nominated. Western Districts conducted Under 12, 14 and 16, and they received assistance from Austin Hewitt, Keith Miller, John Mitchell, Ab Cantrill and Michael Carroll, while the actual Junior committee was made up of the three Executive plus Bert Pascoe, Brian Davidson, Terry Rayner, Brother Raymund, Graeme Trethewey, Les Brown, Keith Miller and Ab Cantrill. In 1974-1975, Carl Sharpe, Alan Dowler and Bob Stewart we re-elected, and we offered competitions in Under 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15 and we received 24 teams. The committee consisted of John Mitchell, Brian Davidson, Bert Pascoe, Les Brown, Keith Miller and Ab Cantrill. We also entered teams in the Western Districts Under 12, 14 and 16 and these teams were selected and managed by Carl Sharpe, Alan Dowler and John Mitchell, and were assisted by Peter Kidd and Mike Carroll. In 1975-1976, Carl Sharpe, Alan Dowler and Bob Stewart were re-elected, and the competition consisted of 25 teams in Under 10,11,12,14, and 15.The committee was Bert Pascoe, Brian Davidson, Les Brown, Jeff Edwards, Ab Cantrill, Greg Dallas, Bruce Gordon, Alan McMaster, Graham McNamara and Peter Murphy. In Western Districts, we competed in Under 10,12,14 and 16, and these teams were selected, coached and managed by Carl Sharpe, Alan Dowler, John Mitchell, Bruce Gordon and Les Brown. In 1976-1977, Carl Sharpe, Alan Dowler and Bob Stewart were re-elected, and the committee was Greg Dallas, Alan Ralston, John Mitchell, Peter Regan and Ken Pratt. The competition was for Under 11,12,14 and 15 with 24 teams nominated. In Western Districts, we had an Under 12,14, and 16 and Carl Sharpe, Alan Dowler and Les Brown looked after these teams. In 1977-1978, Carl Sharpe, Alan Dowler and Bob Stewart were the Executive and there was no formal committee. The competition was for Under 11, Open Primary, and Under 13, 14 and 15 and 24 teams nominated. Western Districts was Under 11, 13 and 15 and the selectors were Carl Sharpe and Alan Dowler and they received assistance with the teams from Les Brown, Geoff Monk and Gavin Alston. 1978-1979 was a big year. Carl Sharpe and Alan Dowler were re-elected but Bob Stewart stood down and was replaced as Treasurer by Mrs Jan Ogilvie. The committee was Les Brown, Geoff Monk, Gavin Alston, Russ Wicks, Alan Ralston and Graham McNamara. The competition was conducted in Under 11,12,13,14 and 15, and 40 teams nominated. Western Districts was in Under 11, 13 and 15 and Carl Sharpe and Alan Dowler were selectors and were assisted by Peter Regan, Geoff Monk and Chuck Frame. In 1979-1980, Carl Sharpe, Alan Dowler and Jan Ogilvie were re-elected and the competition was in Under 11,12,13,14 and 15 and there was again an increase in teams, this time with 46, and unfortunately, there was a great lack of workers, and the whole load virtually fell on Carl and Alan, including the three Western Districts teams at Under 11,13, and 15. By the end of the season, Alan and Carl were “burnt out” and did not seek re- election the following year. In 1980-1981, there was no annual report produced to the ODCA but Russ Wicks was President and Jan Ogilvie was Treasurer. In 1980-1981, Russ Wicks and Jan Ogilvie were re-elected with no records on who was Secretary (Brother Bernard may have taken on the position). However, the competition was conducted in Under 11, 2 divisions of Under 12, Open Primary, Under 14 and 15 but nominations had dropped to 36 teams. Western Districts was in Under 11,13, and 15 with Russ Wicks and Stuart Gordon looking after the teams. 1982-1983 saw Russ Wicks as President and the competition was in under 11 (2 divisions), Open Primary and Under 14 and 15, with no records on the number of teams. Western Districts was in Under 13 and 15 with the Under 11 deleted. In 1983-1984, Kevin Giumelli took over as President with Brother Edwards as Secretary/Treasurer. “Average” cricket was introduced, and the other ages were Under 11, Open Primary, Under 13 and 15, and the competition reached an all time high of 50 teams. Teams were entered in Western Districts at Under 13 and Under 16. In 1984-1985, no report was received, but Kevin Giumelli and Brother Edwards were still the Office Bearers. There were no records on the competition but Western Districts was in Under 14 and 16. 1985-1986 saw Graham Milne elected President, Mike Middleton Secretary and Dave Ferguson Treasurer. There is no record of the number of teams, but the report refers to it as being a “record”. The committee consisted of Brother Gerald as Vice President and John Lomas as Publicity Officer. Western Districts was in Under 14 and 16. In 1986-1987, Graham Milne was again President, Mike Middleton Secretary and Dave Ferguson Treasurer, with Brother Gerald on the committee with John Lomas. Again there is no records on teams with Western Districts was again in Under 14 and 16. In 1987-1988, Graham Milne was still President, but Ian Kind was Secretary and Dave Ferguson Treasurer. Brother Gerald was still on the committee. No record of teams or Western Districts. 1988-1989 saw John Lomas elected President, Ian Kind secretary and Dave Field Treasurer with still no record of teams or Western Districts. 1988-1989, the Office-Bearers consisted of Ron Gander President, John Lomas Secretary, and Dave Field Treasurer. 2016-17 saw the introduction of the first Girls Competition, with 4 teams, including two Kinross Wolaroi teams, CYMS and Orange City.