throughout the “70s, culminating with a record-equalling 5 SHORT HISTORY OF THE in 1979/80. The History of the Mentone Cricket Club, MENTONE CRICKET CLUB by Martin Smith (Secretary) was published to great th acclaim in 1982/83. A drawn Premiership for the First X1 The Mentone Cricket Club was formed on Monday 17 in 1984/85 was probably unique – all eleven players had September 1888, as a result of a notice which had played their junior cricket with the club. The club became appeared in “The Brighton Southern Cross” two days Incorporated on 26th February, 1985. Season 1988/89 saw earlier. The club became one of the original members of the Centenary celebrations of the club, and the re-naming the Brighton-Moorabbin District Competition which began of the Mentone Recreation Reserve as the Hogben- in 1897/98. Meckiff Oval, as well as the unveiling of the Wally The first few years of the Twentieth Century saw the club Meckiff Honourboard. Both occurred at the club’s struggle to field even one side, after fielding two in some Centenary Day on 23rd October, 1988, when the Mentone previous seasons. Calls were made in 1905/06 for the club CC Centenary Book, by Brian Quinn, was published. A to disband, with crisis meetings held to discuss the future limited number of copies of both the History and the of the club. The first Premiership was won in 1910/11, in Centenary books are still available. B Grade of the Caulfield-Moorabbin District CA. A From 1987/88 to 1990/91, the First X1 lost 4 Grand second was won in 1912/13 before the club went into Finals in succession, all major disappointments. 1991/92 recess for the duration of World War 1. saw our Turf teams transfer to what is now known as the Future Australian Test player Leo O’Brien won Victorian Turf Cricket Association. All 3 made Grand Mentone’s “B” Grade batting average as a 16 year old in Finals with the Firsts and Thirds triumphant. The Under 1923/24. Nine years later he was participating with such 14s had an unbroken opening partnership of 262 in a legends as Don Bradman, Bill O’Reilly and Stan McCabe, game, with 6 boys contributing. against England (Douglas Jardine, Walter Hammond and The Doug Lewis Memorial Scoreboard was unveiled Harold Larwood) in the infamous Bodyline Series of during the season. Life Member Doug had died of cancer 1932/33 in Australia. in August 1989. A very successful fundraising Mentone became instrumental in the formation of a new Sportsman’s Night was held at the club to aid the future Association, the Frankston-Glenhuntly C.A. in 1924, and schooling of Doug’s children. celebrated by winning five premierships in the next Veteran Max Harris retired in 1995 after 487 Games, decade. In 1928, a new Pavilion and Grandstand was 9,191 runs and 7 Premierships. In Under 14s, Matthew erected at the Mentone Recreation Reserve. Stan Hogben Collins and Daniel Schwarze put on a record 273 for the joined the club in 1935, and remained a member until his third wicket in a semi-final. In 1995/96, ten teams made death in 2006. the finals, but only the Thirds were Premiers. Dean Like all clubs, Mentone struggled through World War 2, Edwards made a club record 260 in the Second X1. The fielding just one Senior team. For four seasons, from following season, there were 3 Premierships, including the 1947/48 to 1950/51, a left-arm fast bowler named Ian First X1 where a new club record 3rd wicket partnership of Meckiff played in the Under 16s at Mentone, taking over 251 was made in the Grand Final between Robert Stevens 200 wickets at under 5 runs each. A few years later, Ian and Darren Russo. November ’96 saw Fourth X1 captain was opening the bowling for Australia; his 6/38 v England Geoff Deas take a sensational 10/21 against Carnegie. at the MCG in 1958/59 being outstanding. No-one was The First X1 won the Premiership in their first season in prouder than his brother Don, destined himself to take Senior Division in 1997/98, with David Youngs scoring 1,136 senior wickets for Mentone. 159 not out. Also Premiers that year were the Under 16s 1958/59 saw the Frankston-Glenhuntly C.A. renamed the and the Under 14s. David Youngs won the Senior Club Federal District C.A., and remained the main local Senior Champion trophy for the 11th time. CA until its demise in 1998/99. A Turf strip was laid at the On the 18th Nov, 2000, a “Life Members’ Reunion Mentone Recreation Reserve in October 1960, soil having Dinner” was held at Mentone RSL, at which time the been obtained from Mordialloc Creek. Mentone CC Team of the Century was announced (see In 1963/64 Mentone set a record which remains: all the Page 3 of this Information Booklet). club’s 7 teams made the finals, culminating in 5 In Oct 2001, the club ran the “Rex Blackmore Roast” to premierships. The Second X1 and the Under 16 (1) teams honour one of its favourite sons. A Veterans X1 Reunion lost their semi-finals, whilst all 5 Grand Final sides were was held in the clubrooms in Feb 2003. Betty Hogben successful. Long discussions took place during 1963/64 as passed away unexpectedly shortly after. to whether Mentone should enter the Victorian Sub- District Cricket Association. The next season, two boys, The First X1, led by Nick Youngs, won the Senior A flag Rex Hunt and David Clarke, starred with a record in 2003/04. Stan Hogben passed away in Jan 2006. He and unbroken partnership of 249 in the Grand Final as the Betty had contributed 100 combined years of service to the Under 16s won the Premiership. Rex made 921 runs in the Club. A Tribute Night was held in Jan 2006 to honour Robert Bromley and Michael Young, two Club Legends. Under 16s and 304 in the First X1 with the Seniors. Premierships were plentiful and spread across most The Third X1 under Stephen Oliver won the Flag in grades during the 1960’s, with the First X1 excelling with 2008/09, and uniquely the team included two father/sons, Stephen and Lewis Oliver, and Brian and Lachlan Quinn. 5 in 6 seasons, truly a Golden Age for the club. Guest speakers at various club social gatherings of the era After a relatively lean period, the Junior part of the club included Ian Meckiff, Lindsay Kline (Test spinner), Test is again flourishing. In 2008/09, we had 5 Junior teams Umpire Bill Smyth, wicketkeeper and football coach Ray plus a Milo program. The U/16s, U/14s and U/12As all “Slug” Jordon, Paul Sheahan (Test batsman and superb made the finals, with the U/14s winning their Grand Final. fielder) and Des Tuddenham (Collingwood FC captain). At the beginning of 2010/11, the club is looking forward Premierships continued to be won quite regularly to an enjoyable and successful season, on and off the field. .