WANGARATTA & DISTRICT ASSOCIATION 2008/09 PRESENTATION NIGHT & HALL OF FAME

Written by – Kevin B. Hill

25th March, 2009

Stuart Elkington

Born 23 rd December 1945

Clubs : Whorouly & Wangaratta

WDCA Record: : Games 236 1959/60 to 1983/84

: Runs 6515 Average 27.61

: Centuries 9

: ½ Centuries 33

: 744 Average 12.12

:Chronicle Trophy (5) 1965/66, 1970/71, 1971/72, 1977/78, 1980/81

: Cricketer of the Year (2) 1977/78, 1978/79

: Batting Average (1) 1977/78 112.4

:Batting Aggregate (1) 1977/78 780 runs

:Bowling Aggregate (3) 1965/66 (46), 1970/71 (48), 1981/82 (47)

: 5 Hauls 53

: Premierships (3) 1971/72, 1974/75, 1981/82

Melbourne Country Week: 11 Trips as a player, between 1964 & 1982 (29 games)

: (2) 5 Wicket Hauls – 5/56 v Ballarat, 5/78 v Warrnambool

: Captain 1981 & 1982

Bendigo Country Week: 6 trips as a player between 1962 & 1973

: 2 Centuries – 146 v Tyrrell, 109 v Castlemaine

: 1 ½ Century

: Best Bowling 8/39 v Emu Valley, 6/40 v Donald

: Captain 1973

North East Cup : 50 Games, 1143 runs, 120 wickets @11.44

: 1 Century – 134* v O & K

: Best Bowling 8/45 v O & K, 7/46 v O & K

North East Colts : 1 Century – 106 v Albury Border

: Best Bowling 8/41 v Yarrawonga

District Cricket : 4 First XI games for Melbourne University

: Also played District Cricket for Kensington ( SACA) and University of Tasmania

(12) (TCA)

Stuart Elkington

Stuart Elkington

He was just 14 when he played his first game for Whorouly, helping the veteran Wils Nicol to stave off defeat in a determined stand. He was more or less born to cricket, his family’s strong links to the game ensuring that Stuart Elkington would follow in that tradition.

When his troublesome hips forced him to limp off the Memorial Oval for the last time in 1984, Elkington had left an indelible imprint on record books. He had played 233 games for Whorouly; taken 754 wickets (277 more than the next best) scored 6348 runs and played a central role in 3 premierships. But that tells only part of the story. “Stuie” was one of the characters of cricket. A nonchalant personality he was vital to the chemistry of representative teams. As the “straight man” to GregRosser, he lightened many a situation when spirits were sagging.

He has the distinction of playing District cricket in 3 states – with Melbourne University, Adelaide club Kensington and University of Tasmania in Hobart.

Elkington is the best performed wrist spinner at club or representative level for the past half century. He was able to “run through” sides, as evidenced by 15 “bags” of seven or more wickets in his career. With a longish approach to the crease and a rolling gait, his leg spinners turned prodigiously and were well controlled. He received no favors from the Whorouly track, as it was usually a batsman’s paradise. Once settled, he was extremely difficult to dislodge from the crease. A strong puller and cutter, he would bat anywhere from one to eight in the order, whatever the situation demanded.

Stuart’s only WDCA season away from Whorouly was in 1969/70, when the Maroons were unable to muster a side and he played part of the year with Wangaratta.

He hammered 3 centuries in a dream 1977/78 season, scoring 785 runs at an average of 112.44 and taking 23 wickets. His 585 runs and 58 wickets in 1971/72 helped to propel Whorouly to the flag.

And if you needed proof of his influence in the big games, have a look at his bowling figures in Whorouly’s winning Grand Finals- 7/36 against United in 1971/72, 6/22 against Rovers in 1974/75 and 6/17 v City Colts in 1981/82.

Stuart thrived at Bendigo Country Week, where he could occasionally enjoy the social life at night and throw himself into his cricket on a usually blisteringly hot day. He and Greg Rosser produced a monumental 257 run stand against Tyrell on the fourth day of what had been a typically hard week, in 1965. Having already taken 4/18 to dismiss the Mallee team for 105, he and Rosser opened and began a race to reach 50, then 100. Rosser was dismissed for 112, but Elkington triumphed with 148* in Wangaratta 2/302.

Always a serviceable player in his 11 trips to Melbourne Country Week, he captained the side in 1981 and 1982. His spin bowling was a vital component of any Country Week team.

Stuart Elkington’s considerable individual achievements (5 Chronicle Trophies and 2 Cricketer of the Year awards, among them) are matched by his reputation as an excellent team player and his contribution to Wangaratta Cricket.

ALEC FRASER

Born

:25 th December 1908 - Died 13 th September 1983

Clubs

: Wangaratta, East Wangaratta, Footballers Combines, St Patrick’s, Magpies.

WDCA Record

: Games 189 – 1928/29 to 1955/56

: Runs 7131 – Average 37.53

: Centuries 15

: ½ Centuries 37

: Batting Average – 1932/33 (50.0), 1954/55 (69.7)

: Premierships (3) 1933/34, 1934/35, 1938/39

Melbourne Country Week

: 10 Trips as a player between 1929 & 1950

: Centuries 5 (Shares record with B. Grant)

: ½ Centuries 9 (including 8 scores over 80)

: Twice scored over 300 runs for the week.

: Shares record opening stand (250 v Wimmera) with Clem Fisher.

: Played in 3 Country Week Premiership teams & was captain 1949 & 1950.

Representative Honors

: North East v N.S.W. at Benalla 1937

:WDCA Life Member

ALEC FRASER

The great opening combinations in world cricket roll off the tongue quite easily – Hobbs & Sutcliffe,Morris and Barnes; Haynes and Greenidge; Lawry and Simpson; Langer and Hayden………

Wangaratta laid claim to its own pair of record breakers in the era preceding World War 2 – Fisher and Fraser. Much has been said of the redoubtable Clem Fisher and his role in local cricket history, but his opening partner in representative fixtures was a player of the highest quality.

Whilst Fisher was a ruthless, win at all costs cricketer who wouldn’t mind stretching the rules of the game if it could achieve victory, Alec Fraser was the direct antithesis. Universally admired for his sportsmanship, he was gentle, quiet and easy going. But he and Clem just clicked. They came together at Country Week in 1929 and rarely failed to give Wangaratta the start they needed over the next decade. Their stand of 243 against Yallourn-Traralgon in 1934 took Wangaratta to a total of 2/319 (Fraser 158*). They again got away to a “flyer” in the semi final against Swan Hill. Two days later, in a score of 8/398, Fraser retired on 119. Their unbeaten stand of 250 against Wimmera in 1937 remains the WDCA Country Week record.

Fraser, nicknamed “Tony” by his team mates presented a veritable brick wall to the best of opening bowlers. Technically correct, patient and stylish, he coped easily with the lift in standard at Country Week. In 41 matches, from 1929 to 1950, he scored 80 or more on 13 occasions. This included five centuries. Born in Albury, Alec Fraser showed exceptional promise as a youngster and was labelled the “next Ponsford” by the Border Morning Mail.

He made his football and cricket debuts with Wangaratta in the same year – 1928. He was to become a champion Magpie mid fielder over the next 14 years, playing over 200 games and coaching Wangaratta in 1940 for the princely sum of 2 pounds 10 shillings per week. He also ran professionally with a deal of success and always looked forward to competing against the big names at the Wangaratta Carnival.

Alec christened the newly laid Show grounds wicket in 1928, by becoming the first century maker on the turf that he was to call his own for most of the next 28 years. That was the first of 15 centuries and 37 half centuries in 189 games of WDCA cricket.

Alec was finally enticed to try his luck with St Kilda Football Club in 1931. He farewelled the locals with a knock of 135 against Everton and moved to Melbourne. He played 3 games rounds (6, 7 & 8) with the Saints, but was happy to return home during the season.

One of the highlights of Wangaratta cricket pre-war, was an annual Easter fixture against one of the visiting District teams. In 1934 Hawthorn-East Melbourne, taking advantage of a superb wicket at the Show grounds amassed 340. In reply, Wangaratta’s total of 408 was led by Fraser’s majestic 95. Consistency was the keynote of Alec Fraser’s career, as evidenced by his 7131 runs in club cricket.

Frasers first batting average was won in 1932/33; his last was 22 years later, in 1954/55, when he averaged 69.7. consistency was the keynote of his career, as evidenced by 7131 runs in club cricket.

His first two premierships, in the early 30’s were with Wangaratta. By 1938/39 he had transferred to Footballers and his 104 in a team total of 319 guided his side to an easy victory over Maroons in a Final.

With the advent of war, Alec took his family to Melbourne and turned out with Balwyn. He won the batting average in both of the years he played and his score of 182 in 1944/45 still remains the record for the sub-district club.

Upon the reform of the WDCA in 1946/47, he was appointed captain of the newly- formed St Patricks Club. Some observers regarded his century in the 1949/50 semi-final (104 out of 173) as his best ever knock in Wangaratta. St Pats won their way into the Grand Final against Wangaratta and had them 7/188 when bad light stopped play. The game never resumed, through a combination of bad weather and the encroaching football season and St Pats who finished on top, shared the Flag.

Alec played his last season, appropriately, with new club Magpies in 1955/56. As the elder statesman, he showed glimpses in a handful of games, of the master of the crease he had been over 2 ½ decades.

Alec Fraser

CHARLIE HEAVEY

Born 8 th November 1907 – 1981

CLUB – Footballers.

WDCA Record : Games 49 1933-34 to 1938-39

: Runs 3137 Average 43.13

: Centuries 7

: Half Centuries 16

: Wickets 224 Average 10.01

: 5 Wicket Hauls – 22

: 10 Wicket Hauls – 6

: Premierships (2) 1935/36, 1938/39

Melbourne Country Week

: Trips 6

:Captain: 1935-1939

: Centuries :2 ( 107* v Seymour) & (114 v Sale-Maffra)

: ½ Centuries : 2

: 5 Wicket Hauls :2

Career Highlights : 299 v Eldorado, 1936-1937 (WDCA Record Score)

929 runs & 59 wickets (1936-1937)

Also Played : Essendon ( 2 Seasons, 13 games), Melbourne ( 2 Seasons, 8 1 st XI games)

Representative Honors: VCCL v England, at Benalla, 1937

North East v N.S.W. at Benalla, 1934

Charlie Heavey

There have been few better performed players in the history of the WDCA than Charlie Heavey. Certainly, none could have been as entertaining. His five and a bit seasons produced displays which, even today, are spoken of in awe.

To examine the Heavey phenomenon, we need to delve back a touch over 75 years, when he arrived in Wangaratta. He was immediately “snavelled” by ace wicket keeper Frank Archman, to play with his club, Footballers. Heavey, a Shepparton boy regarded by some as the best sportsman to come from the Goulburn-Murray area, had moved to the city to play cricket with Essendon. He scored the fastest District century in his first season, revealed his potential as an all-rounder and produced performances good enough to earn him a spot in the Victorian Second XI side.

An eagerness to ‘clear out ‘ of the city for a while, saw him land a job driving an oil tanker for the Vacuum Oil Company under the watchful eye of his father’s great friend Norm McGuffie. Standing 6 foot 3 and weighing 16 stone, he was also a brilliant footballer, excelling as a high marking forward with the Magpies. Wangaratta’s “golden era” of cricket in the 30’s was helped in no small part by the contributions of Heavey. He had a languid bowling action which generated great pace. He was a batsman of style and immense power, a brilliant fielder and a keen competitor.

His capacity to socialize brought the comment from his contemporaries that he would have been an even better player had he not been so partial to a glass of ale.

One occasion that no one would have blamed him for tucking into a “frothy one” would have been the celebration of his record breaking innings of 299, compiled at the show grounds in 1937. In a team total of 388, he hit 34 fours and 11 sixes off the Eldorado attack. He hammered 32 off one over and 29 off another and two of his sixes landed over the tin fence, which bounded Edwards Street.

The luckless Eldorado were also on the end of another Heavey onslaught in the 1935-1936 Grand Final when he scored 187 in Footballers 8/634, and took 3/31.

Heavey made 3137 runs and took 224 wickets in just over 5 seasons of WDCA Cricket. He scored 9 club centuries, five of them in excess of 140.

Charlie revelled in the companionship of Country Week and his capacity to swing the ball both ways and produce telling inning’s under pressure lifted his team mates. He captained Wangaratta from 1935 to 1939 and led the side to the A Grade title in 1936. Vice Captain Clem Fisher was moved to say at the Mayoral reception on the team’s return“ This has been our best performance yet. Charlie Heavey captained the side brilliantly and whenever we were in a

bad position, Charlie was able to pull it together with his batting and bowling”………….

Heavey and Ken Kneebone won selection in the Victorian Country side which played the M.C.C. at Benalla in 1937. Using a giant lump of willow which he nick-named “Big Bertha”, he raced to a quick 30 before being by George Duckworth. It was Duckworth who sought him out after the game and talked him into playing a season of English League Cricket. He made over 1000 runs and took 100 wickets in his 6 month sojourn with North Devon.

Charlie’s last season of WDCA cricket was interrupted by the war and on the cessation of hostilities he spent two seasons with Melbourne Cricket Club before retiring in 1944, aged 37. He died in 1981.

Charlie Heavey

John Welch

Club : United

WDCA Record : Games 248 - 1961/62 to 1987/88

: Runs 6740

:Centuries 7

: ½ Centuries 32

: Batting Aggregate 1967/68 (653), 1971/72 (605)

: Batting Average 1967/68 (72.55), 1971/72 (40.3)

: Premierships 9

Melbourne Country Week:

: 15 Trips as a player between 1962 & 1981

: ½ Centuries 3

: Captain 1965/1967, 1972/1980

Bendigo Country Week:

: 7 Trips as a player between 1962 & 1987

: ½ Centuries 3

: Captain 1971

North East Cup:

: 61 games – 989 runs, 16 wickets

WDCA : President 1977/78 to 1979/80 (3 yrs)

: Life Member

Other Representative:

: VCCL v Victoria at Benalla, 1968

: VCCL Tasmanian Tour 1967

: North East v Riverina 1967

: North East Harvester Cup Captain 1977

District Cricket : 1 First XI game for Fitzroy 1962/63

JOHN WELCH

The makeshift wicket in Arthur Welch’s Scott Street backyard was a popular summer spot for a few enthusiastic youngsters of the West End neighborhood. Smashed windows, broken fences and Joyce’s bedraggled garden were products of some lusty stroke play by John Welch and his mates.

They played until darkness drove them home, talked, ate and drank cricket and made themselves available for any team that would give them a game. In John’s case it was for the High School and for Glenrowan, who competed in the Sunday competition.

Glenrowan, under the influence of father figure, Lynton Briggs morphed into United in 1960/61 and won their way into the Sunday final. The diminutive Welch had made a classy 89 in the semi and had shown enough during the season, to indicate at the age of 15 that he was a star in the making. The final stretched out into its 6 th day (3 rounds of football had already been played) before United clinched the game.

United gained admission to the WDCA the following year and became an immediate power. They had the perfect recipe. A team of youthful and talented mates with a blend of experience, they were to play in finals for 21 years straight.

The story of John Welch in the WDCA is really a microcosm of the United Cricket Club. He was the lynchpin and was there for almost the club’s complete journey as a separate entity.

John was enticed away for one season. After some impressive batting performances as 16 year old at his first Melbourne Country Week he was recruited to Fitzroy in 1962/63. He debuted in the senior side and won Fitzroy seconds batting average, but a business opportunity saw him return home after six months. A born leader, he assumed the captaincy of United. He was appointed Wangaratta Country Week skipper at the age of 19 and as he strode to the crease at Prahran to open the innings, that Monday morning he felt the weight of expectation upon him. A first ball dismissal was a horrific start but Wangaratta won the game and he was on his way.

Welch ticked all the boxes of successful leadership and was Wangaratta’s longest serving Country Week captain, having 12 years at the helm between 1965 and 1980.

An enterprising stroke player with every shot in his armory, he was always eager to take on the bowling. Almost from the first ball he would be stealing quick singles with daring running between wickets and maintaining command over the bowler.

United took out their first flag in 1964-65 (the first of 6 in 7 years). They hammered most sides. Welch and Terry Hogan’s 261 run stand in 1966 came during a period when he was probably the competitions highest profile player. He scored 3 centuries in successive innings on the Show grounds – 120 in a 1966/67 semi, 151 against Tarrawingee in the final and 184 against Wangaratta in the opening round of the following season.

But in the winter of 1968, he was involved in a serious car accident. Both of his legs were broken and in his recuperation it became obvious that one leg would be shorter that the other. With a specially made boot, he resumed playing a year later, firstly using a runner then “going solo”. He was more circumspect at the crease but still churned out the runs. His occasional turns at the bowling crease would cause a flutter among opposition clubs. He was often able to break up partnerships and once captured 9/20 with his under rated leg spinners.

In 240 games with United, Welch scored 6740runs including 7 centuries and 32 half centuries.

He was an influential figure, administratively for many years, during which the Association embraced considerable change. He had 3 terms as President in the late 70’s, but his was a huge contribution behind the scenes, with the welfare of the game and the competition his sole aim.

John Welch