Almanac Cricket: A History of Cricket in Woomera 1948 – 2014, Part 3: 1958/59 – 1962/63

 

David ‘Dick’ Turpin  is a Brisbane friend of Almanacker Allan Barden. During the late 60s early 70s David spent a few years working in Woomera when it was quite a thriving community.

 

David has researched and written a history of footy in Woomera from the years 1948 to 1992 which The Footy Almanac  published over 18 weeks earlier this year. You can read each part Here.

 

David has also completed a history of Woomera water polo and he has also written about baseball. 

 

Now it is the turn of cricket to receive  David’s extensive and authorative account in the Woomera from 1947 to 2014.

 

A History of Cricket in Woomera: 1947 to 2014

By David Turpin

 

Part 3:  1958/59 – 1962/63

 

1958-59

 

In 1958-59 the teams competing were: Air Trials Unit (R.A.A.F.), Junior Ranks Club (J.R.C.), Staff Mess, Koolymilka, St. Barbara’s (a new team), Staff Mess and Works.

 

The season was also important for John Henderson, son of Arthur Henderson, who made his senior debut for St. Barbara’s. John certainly inherited his father’s love of sport, as did his two brothers Phid and Michael, and he went on to play competitive cricket until he was well into his fifties. He was also an accomplished footballer and played for Village in their 1963 premiership side. Sadly, John passed away early in 2020.

 

A.T.U. won their fourth premiership in 5 years beating Works by 3 wickets. Best for A.T.U.:  Oakley, Casselton, Noblett & Thwaites and for Works: Weser, Leverington, Luxton and Giddins.

 

Two teams in 1959 again played W.R.E. Salisbury.

 

Team 1 – Weser, Buckham, Baumann, Fordham, Puckett, Luxton, Oakley (v.c.), Noblett, Ortmann, Thwaites, Giddins (c.), Turnbull (12^th).

 

Team 2 – Neal, Illingworth, Bertram (v.c.), Mahony, Stringer, Cox, Frigerio (c.), Macaulay, Kee, Turnbull, Burdeu (12^th).

 

1958-59 also saw the first appearance of Max Puckett in the Association.  Max played baseball and cricket at 17 for the Nedlands Baseball Club and West Perth Cricket Club and two years later Claxton Shield baseball for West Australia. Max then returned to South Australia and played baseball for West Torrens, South Australia and Australia (1957 – 1965). He also played district cricket in Adelaide and played one Sheffield Shield game for South Australia. Max arrived in Woomera during 1958 and initially played cricket for Koolymilka in the 1958-59 season. He then transferred to Works and was a member of the Works cricket team that won the 1959-1960 Premiership. He also won the Association Bowling Average for that season. He played football for Works in 1959 and 1960.

 

John Henderson reported that ‘Max played against my team St Barbara’s in Woomera in 1958-59 in my teams first ever match (minus me) and took 10/4 as St Barbara’s was all out for 11. St Barbara’s did much better in their 2nd innings and made a total of 31! St Barbara’s lost that one (really!!!). The next time we played against Kooly was at the McCallum Oval later in that season, and I faced Max for the first time. The ball swung a mile and I was given out lbw first ball! We lost again. Bugger of a life, isn’t it!?!?!’

 

 

1959-60

 

The 1959/60 premiership was won by Works (231) who defeated J.R.C. (62 & 60). Contributors for Works were van Senden 81 n.o., Martin 44, Luxton 4/6, Hemming 3/17 and Stapleton 3/7; and for J.R.C. Turner 4/64 and Jones 3/60.

 

Trophy winners for the season included: Batting Average – Ron Noblett, Bowling Average – Max Puckett and Best Junior – John Henderson.

 

 

1960-61

 

In the 1960-61 season the grand final was won by Staff Mess (107 & 183) who defeated J.R.C. (125 & 95). Best for Staff mess were Archie Ryan, George Wragg and W Ruddock and for J.R.C. Peter Box and Bauman.

 

Association awards were: batting aggregate, A Barnes – JRC; batting average, Peter Box – JRC; bowling aggregate, H Williams – St Barbara’s and John Henderson – St Barbara’s; bowling average Baumann – JRC; highest score, Peter Box – JRC; best junior, John Henderson – St Barbara’s; best fielder, D Neale – Staff Mess.

 

Peter Box was a Goodwood Indians, South Australia and Australia baseball pitcher throughout the 1950s. He twice won the Capps Medal for the best player in the South Australian League in 1957 and 1958. Peter arrived in Woomera about 1960 and played football for Village and cricket for the Jazza and later Staff Mess. He was a member of the Staff Mess 1965-66 Premiership team and not surprisingly won the trophy for best fielder in the competition. His throwing arm was deadly.

 

 

 Staff Mess – Pennant Winners 1960-61
Back: Pat Kelly, I Walters, Reg Paul, Leo Heffernan.
Front: W Ruddick, N McMahon, Dene Lambert (captain), Archie Ryan, George Wragg, D Neale.

 

 

1956 Australian Baseball Team at Melbourne Olympics
The 1956 Australian Baseball team included two players, Max Puckett and Peter Box, who later played cricket in Woomera.

 

 

1961-62

 

Season 1961-62 was won by Works who defeated J.R.C. in the final. Works were undefeated for the season. John Ryan top scored for Works making 40 runs and Brian Hemming took 5/34 for Works in the bowling.

 

Association awards are not available however mention must be made of Works bowler Len Grimes who during the season from 13.4 overs took 20 wickets at an average of 2.1 runs per wicket.

 

 

1962-63

 

This year saw another newcomer to Woomera cricket in the person of Mick Daly. Mick was a very good footballer and cricketer and left Woomera to play football for Central Districts in their first season in the SANFL in 1964. He also played first class cricket for Salisbury in the S.A.C.A. (South Australia Cricket Association) competition.

 

A member of Central District’s first ever league team in 1964, Mick Daly shared with Colin Stutley the distinction of being the first Bulldogs players to amass 100 senior games. Both players achieved the feat in 1969.

 

Strong, adaptable, and boasting more skill than he was often given credit for, Daly was a popular figure at Elizabeth Oval and his tenure as captain between 1968 and 1970 can, in hindsight, be seen as helping in no small measure to lay the foundations for the club’s initial stab at greatness during the early ’70s.

 

The final for the 1962-63 season was won by J.R.C. 179 and 3/134 who defeated Works 135 and 176.

 

 

More stories from Woomera by David ‘Dick’ Turpin can be read Here.

 

 

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