WANGARATTA & DISTRICT CRICKET ASSOCIATION 2007/08 PRESENTATION NIGHT & INAUGURAL HALL OF FAME Monday, 10th March, 2008 2007 / 08 WDCA - PRESENTATION NIGHT - TROPHY WINNERS AWARD DONOR RECIPIENT CLUB HONOURS A. GRADE Player of the Year - Points Kookaburra Jeremy Ackroyd Rovers - United 860 points Chronicle Trophy - votes N E Newspapers Jeremy Ackroyd Rovers - United 20 votes Batting - Average Wang Auto Spares Jeremy Ackroyd Rovers - United 95.83 runs Batting - Aggregate Rowan St Chiropractors Tim Wood Bruck 765 runs Bowling - Average Mr Ken Stewart Craig Startin Bruck 7.40 runs/wicket Bowling - Aggregate Wang Furnishings & Kent Braden City colts 27 wickets Bedding Golden Gloves Award Mr Andrew Walker Vance Curran Bruck 24 wickets A. RESERVE Player of the Year - Votes Lidgerwoods Furniture& Adrian Grantham & Rutherglen 10 votes Electrical Brendon Thompson Beechworth 10 votes Batting - Average Wang Gateway Hayden Murray Myrtleford 67.25 runs Batting - Aggregate APCO Wangaratta Hayden Murray Myrtleford 538 runs Bowling - Average Wingates Sportz Andrew Badrock Bright 8.41 runs/wicket Bowling - Aggregate North East Hotel Richard Worchester Beechworth 38 wickets B. GRADE Player of the Year - Votes WDCA Executive Craig Henwood Wang-Magpies 11 votes Batting - Average Wang Physiotherapy Brian Hargreaves Wh - Gapsted 89.00 runs Batting - Aggregate Abbotts Valley Motors Paul Kent Wh - Gapsted 453 runs Bowling - Average Holloway Vision Cnt Russell Moyle Bright 4.97 runs/wicket Bowling - Aggregate Buffalo Hotel Myrtleford Russell Moyle Bright 33 wickets C. GRADE Player of the Year - Votes Adina Ski Hire Luke Kuschert Corowa 23 votes Batting - Average A1 Tyre Power Shane Wheeler Who - Gapsted 47.76 runs Batting - Aggregate Pryor Printing Shane Wheeler Who - Gapsted 573 runs Bowling - Average Wang Sportspower Wayne Millis Who - Gapsted 6.78 runs/wicket Bowling - Aggregate Park View Motor Inn Matt Elliott Rovers - United 36 wickets REP CRICKET AWARDS Senior Rep Player of the Year B Line Buses Aidan Ryan Greta Best U/21 Rep Player West End Lotto Chris Thewlis Wang -Magpies Best Player – Melb C Week Welch Family Aidan Ryan Greta 20 votes John Welch Award Best Player-Melb Country Stan Treblecock Family Aidan Ryan Greta Week on reunion day Award YOUNG PLAYER AWARDS Con O’Callaghan Award Con O’Callaghan Family Chris Sherratt City Colts Rising Star Award Kookaburra Chris Thewlis Wang-Magpies TROPHIES SUPPLIED BY – MEYLAND TROPHIES & ENGRAVING CLEM FISHER MAX BUSSELL WILS NICOLL CLEM FISHER The portrait of an old-time batsman guards the entrance to Wangaratta’s cricket headquarters. It is a classic right hander’s stance: upright, comfortable, with a glint in his eye and a look of defiance, seemingly inviting the bowler to “come and get me if you’re good enough”. He was the scourge of all opponents, was this gnarled, crusty veteran who had such an influence on local cricket over 50 odd years that he remains an enduring figure. Clement Robert William Fisher was born in 1905. His idol was his father John, who played cricket for 53 years. The Fisher boys were tutored on the concrete wicket at the family property “Glen”, at East Wangaratta and Clem made his debut at the age of 14, with Tarrawingee. He later played with Brookfield alongside his cousins the Kneebones, before forming a new team, East Wangaratta which played on a ground shaped on the Fisher property. Widely regarded as the districts best all rounder Clem led East to three premierships in four seasons. His first trip to Country Week produced successive innings of 61 (against Mallee) and 91 (Bass Valley). He relished the good Melbourne wickets and the lift in standard. He would become a key figure in the famous Wangaratta teams of the 30’s. The opening partnership that Clem formed with Alec Fraser in Representative Cricket served Wangaratta admirably. Although opposites in personality and batting techniques, they moulded well at the crease and the runs usually came in a flood. They shared partnerships of 243 and 250 at Country Week, among their many huge stands. People were busily picking up the threads of day to day life at the cessation of war time hostilities and cricket was not a huge priority. For Fisher though, it was at the top of his list. The WDCA cranked up again in 1946, with Clem at the Helm. His forthright manner no doubt alienated a few, but his love of cricket was contagious and he was a hands on President for 4 years. He was a valuable consultant to clubs who were installing turf wickets in the 50’s and continued to keep a watchful eye on their development. The last 15 years of his playing career were spent with Wangaratta (who emanated from Railways) and he crowned his last innings with a half century at the age of 57. Fisher was looked upon as the “elder statesman” of Wangaratta Cricket in his retirement. He was the Country Week manager for 18 years, continued to roll the showgrounds wicket and threw everything into his role as President of both the WDCA and NEDCCC. Just as important was his attendance at each WDCA game every Saturday in Wangaratta. Like clockwork his green Chev would chug into the ground and Clem would arrive smoke in hand to survey the proceedings. He died in 1978 and his memory is perpetuated by the WDCA pavilion which bears his name and host of stories that can be told about his involvement. CLEM FISHER Clubs - Tarrawingee, Brookfield, East Wangaratta, Wangaratta. WDCA Record - Games - 273 - Runs - 6323 - Centuries - 8 - Half Centuries - 23 - Wickets - 382 Melbourne Country Week - Trips - 20 trips as a player - Centuries – 2 - Half Centuries - 6 - Opening partnerships of 243 and 250 with Alec Fraser at Melbourne Country Week - Manager through the 1950's and early 1960's WDCA - Life Member - President - 1946/47 to 1949/50; 1964/65 to 1973/74. (14 years) Career Highlight - Opening partnerships of 243 and 250 with Alec Fraser at Melbourne Country Week WILS NICOLL He was slight and craggy-faced and as he pushed open the white gate to tread onto the lush grass of the St Kilda Oval, he looked slightly out of place. The old weather beaten hat was pulled down to shield his eyes from the belting sun. His black socks tucked into his pants were in stark contrast to the well worn whites and his trusty pigskin covered bat had seen many a battle. As he sauntered to the wicket he thought he overheard someone say …”have a look at the bush yokel will ya!..........”. His jaw tightened, his eyes narrowed and the battle began………… Two hours or so later, Wils Nicoll returned to the pavilion. He had plundered the bowling in his usual ruthless manner and his innings of 130 had set up an easy victory. Nicoll was a run machine. His career total of 10710 runs, amassed in a career for Whorouly, which extended from 1927 to 1961 was staggering. Of those runs, 2461 came when Whorouly were in the Ovens and King competition for six years. He took 418 wickets (116 in the O & K ) with his slow mediums , and played 293 games (68 in the O & K). He did not purport to style, but was effective and at times murderous. Whorouly were always a formidable combination in the era of Wils and his brother Ron. He scored 20 centuries (14 in the WDCA). They included one at Tarrawingee which the author remembers vividly. Pressed into subbing for the home team and based in the covers, the ball continually came flashing off the Nicoll blade as we made countless trips to the boundary to retrieve. But the intriguing thing from my viewpoint, was that Wils smoked throughout his entire innings. He would have a few drags between overs, then park the cigarette behind the stumps while he dealt with the Tarra attack. Wils Nicoll spanned the Golden WDCA era of the 30’s when he was a key member of some great Wangaratta sides. And he was just as effective in the 50’s as Wangaratta became a formidable Country Week combination. He won the WDCA batting average 5 times in 8 years during the 50’s. One of his biggest thrills came when he shared a 240 run partnership with his son Peter in 1959-60, when the young left-hander was making his way in the game. Nicoll was no stranger to controversy. He was the central figure in Whorouly being sensationally disqualified during the 1947-48 finals series. He had been banned from the WDCA cricket for not playing in a representative fixture without reasonable excuse. He continued to play for Whorouly seemingly illegally and the resultant disqualification caused a furore in local cricket. The Maroons gained retribution by winning the flag the following season. He made 13 trips to Melbourne Country Week with Wangaratta and was captain in 1952. A true cricketing legend was Wils Nicoll WILS NICOLL Club Whorouly WDCA Record Premierships – 5 Games – 225 Runs – 7723 Centuries – 14 Highest Score – 178 * Wickets – 302 Winner of WDCA Batting Average – 1948/49, 52/53, 53/54, 56/57, 57/58, 59/60 – (768 runs @96.00) Shared in a 240 run partnership with his son, Peter in 1959/60. Chronicle Trophy – 1959/60 Melbourne Country Week Trips – 13 between 1931 – 1956. Captain – 1952 Centuries – 2 Half Centuries – 8 Figured in two double century patnerships 6 wicket hauls – 2 WDCA Life Member Career Highlight Helping to keep Whorouly CC at, or around the top during his long career. MAX BUSSELL Max Bussell first became immersed in the folklore of country cricket during his early teenage years in Wangaratta. On summer evenings in the mid 1940’s he would join senior players at the Railways Cricket Club and help them roll the wicket, avidly listening to their stories of the great cricketers of the past.