SOUTH BRISBANE DISTRICT CRICKET CLUB A History - 1897-2018 Compiled By Clayton Bradford (Based on the 100 year book by Athol Fulwood) 1 CONTENTS Introduction & forward 3 Club History 4 First President 6 First Game 8 1897-1914 11 World War 1 20 Between the Wars 32 World War 2 38 1940’s - 57 1950’s 58 1960’s 61 1970’s 64 1980’s 67 1990’s 71 2000-2010 74 2010- 2020 79 Peter Burge Medallists 86 Fehlberg Park 88 Life Members 99 Premierships 140 Representative Players 142 First Grade Captains 172 Outstanding Performances 173 First Grade Players Since 1897 181 The Redgraves 240 Officials 242 2 SPARE 3 INTRODUCTION Centenary Year Introduction by Athol Fullwood. 1997 In this centenary year of the South Brisbane District Cricket Club, a decision was made to update the history of the Club. After the first fifty years, the then Secretary, Jack Hoelscher, wrote the Club history. In his speech at the nineteenth anniversary dinner, Bob Young enlarged on this history. This history has drawn upon parts of both efforts. Prior to this current publication there has not been a list of players. Information has been gathered from annual reports post 1924, and newspaper results from 1897 to 1924. My thanks to QCA historian Warwick Torrens who provided information from his vast knowledge of Queensland cricket, and Ian Sturgess also of the QCA who is collecting information on club cricket in Brisbane. The material contained in this book has been collected over a period of three years. I hope you enjoy reading the Club’s history in its hundredth year. I apologise in advance for any errors and omissions and would appreciate any corrections so that the master copy can be updated. Forward by Clayton Bradford, 2019 For a number of years, I have been collating the history of the Club using the incredible amount of information already gathered, and memories of such club luminaries as Athol Fullwood who wrote the original version of this document in 1997 on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the club. Other Club statesmen such as David Applegarth, John McKnoulty and many others have also provided material for this club history update. My intent was not to re-write, but to add to the information, using modern technology and research, including archive material, images and war records that were not available previously. I hope you enjoy this updated version. Like all of our members, and as a member driven club of over 120 years, I hope you will all add to the glorious history of South Brisbane District Cricket Club during your time here. Forward by former President and Life Member, Sal VASTA (Former Chairman, Queensland Cricket) South Brisbane District Cricket Club has one of the richest histories of any cricket club in the nation. We are a foundation club, and it is to our club that others look for guidance and example. But in the rush of modern day life, it is sometimes difficult to take stock of where the club has been, and therefore, the historical importance of decision that are to be made. This is why it is imperative that our Club has a record of its history. But this history is not a dead document, on the contrary, it is a living document and, as Clayton has said, all member of our great Club are contributing to writing the next chapter. I commend the work of both Athol and Clayton who have ensured that our Club will always know our history. For it is in knowing from where you have come, that you can truly know where you are going. NOTE: This book contains the names and images of deceased indigenous players. The club has determined to use these images to celebrate their inclusion in the rich history of the club and what was likely some of the first inclusion into grade cricket in the early 1900’s. 4 History One of the first mentions of cricket in Queensland was in the Sydney Morning Herald on 18 April 1844, when it was reported that a cricket club had been formed at South Brisbane. This was the Albion Cricket Club. The article announced that field operations would commence as soon as bats, ball and stumps were received from Sydney. There was mention of a South Brisbane Cricket club as early as 1859 including many games against various clubs in the area. A diary entry, kindly donated by Mr M W Stevens of Montague Rd Hill End in the late 1970’s, from his late Grandfather Samuel Stevens. The diary entry says – Aug 5th/59 – Attended a meeting for the purpose of organising a Cricket Club in South Brisbane which was done, the entrance fee being fixed at 5/- and the Annual Subscription 10/6. About 18 or 20 gave in their names for enrolment after which a Committee were balloted for when the following Members were returned in order given – Messrs D Peterson, S Stevens, J Harrison, J Wonderly, D Donovan, Mr Seth Peterson Hon Secretary and Treasurer. After 1876, the Queensland Cricket Association was established as the official body to control cricket in Queensland. For some years there were rival associations and clubs, and it was not until 1899 that the three rival associations – the National Cricket Union, the South Queensland Cricket Union and the Queensland Cricket Association were amalgamated. The amalgamation and the Electoral System brought to a close the strong clubs, such as Alberts, Balmoral, Graziers, Oakfield, Stanley, Corinda, Oxley, and Ivanhoe, which had existed in Brisbane for years. In 1896 only 17 clubs were affiliated with the QCA, in 1907 it stood at 82 by 1912 had grown to 123 clubs. There were no regular fixtures until the QCA commenced electorate cricket in the 1897- 98 season. Prior to this, matches were arranged on an ad hoc basis. Many of our founding players played for strong clubs such as the Graziers prior to the electorate system being introduced, modelling the Sydney Electorate Cricket system at the time. (Abraham Fleetwood) A F LUYA, MLA (1888-1893, 1899), Alderman, Mayor of South Brisbane Municipality (3 years), First Patron and Founder of South Brisbane District Cricket Club in 1897. Presided over the First meeting of South Brisbane District Cricket Club. Mr A F LUYA passed away in 1899 and his wife, only mentioned as Mrs A F LUYA, lived until 1923. The newspaper report of the time indicates that she was a much loved resident. Mr LUYA, with fellow MLA and former South Brisbane Mayor Williams Stephens held the first meeting of the club. He was a business man who had many interests and involvements within the area. Mr and Mrs LUYA are apparently buried at the South Brisbane Cemetery (possibly now Dutton Park). 5 The Foundation Meeting of South Brisbane Electorate Cricket Club A meeting was called of those interested in forming an electoral cricket club for South Brisbane at the Municipal Council Chambers, South Brisbane, on 13 August 1897. His Worship the Mayor of South Brisbane, Alderman A F Luya presided, also present were Mr C McDonald MLA and the Honourable W Bulcock MLC. Alderman Luya moved: That it is desirable to form an electoral cricket club in South Brisbane on the basis laid down in the constitution and rules of the Queensland Cricket Association. This motion was seconded by Mr C McDonald MLA and unanimously adopted. Mr George Fish moved: That the club be called the South Brisbane Cricket Club and that the subscription should be such as to prevent the necessity of making any collection from visiting teams. The subscription should be as low as possible and should not exceed 10 shillings and 6 pence per annum. This was seconded by Mr Thurley and carried unanimously. Mr Arthur Midson moved: That gentlemen seeking membership be requested to subscribe to the roll at once. This was seconded by Mr J Davies and carried. The chairman announced that the club would start with a strength of 40 members. The general subscription was fixed at one guinea. The following officers were elected: Patron - Alderman Luya President - Mr W Stephens MLA Honorary Secretary Mr J J Taylor Assistant Honorary Secretary Mr G Pope Honorary Treasurer Mr W T Fisher Committee Messrs O Hitchcock, G Fish, A Brown, R Wilson, W Lewis Delegates to Queensland Cricket Association Messrs Taylor and Pope Selection Committee O Hitchcock, W T Fisher, W Lewis Meeting closed with a vote of thanks to the Chairman. 6 The Foundation President of South Brisbane Electorate Cricket William Stephens MLA (1888-1904 & 19097-1908), Alderman and Mayor of South Brisbane (1888-1889). b. 1857 – d. 1925. Founding Member and the First President of South Brisbane District Cricket Club in 1897. Son of a Baptist Minister and also a member of Parliament of Qld (MLA). If you are around Annerley, you may notice that there is a municipality in the area called ‘Stephens’ which is named after his family, i.e. Stephens RSL. If you remember the Clansmen Restaurant in Waldheim St, Annerley, which was opposite the Junction State School, you may be interested to know that the house was owned by Stephens father and then William. It is also the site of an old rifle range! The eldest of 11 Children, he was described as a versatile man who owned a Tannery (possibly at Ekibin), and a newspaper. His father died when he was 20 and he was required to manage his fathers considerable estate on behalf of his mother and siblings. He was a councillor for over 30 years, including 7 terms as chairman.