Almanac Cricket: A History of Cricket in Woomera 1948 – 2014, Part 4: 1963/64 – 1969/70

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 4: 1963/64 – 1969/70

 

1963-64

 

J.R.C. repeated the dose winning the title in 1963-64 against Works.

 

Brian hemming of J.R.C. took 62 wickets for the season, a record.

 

A highlight of December, 1963 was the visit by the South Australian Sheffield Shield team; captained by Les Flavell: and including the great West Indian allrounder Gary Sobers. A crowd of over 1,000 spectators attended the Newman Oval for the Sunday match where over 450 runs were scored and 29 wickets fell. A young school-boy Ian Beckman was included in the Woomera squad as a wicketkeeper. Ian was the son Gordon Beckman who prominent in Woomera cricket in the fifties and starred for Woomera at the 1953 Country Carnival.

 

 

1964-65

 

Season 1964-65 commenced with 9 teams however Army pulled out mid-season with surplus players going to different clubs. R.A.A.F. were minor premiers however they were defeated by the A.S.C.O./Postal (Army Services Canteen Organisation) side in the semi-final. This was A.S.C.O./Postal’s first season in the competition. J.R.C. defeated Works in the other semi-final.

 

J.R.C. easily defeated A.S.C.O./Postal in the grand final to win their third premiership in a row.

 

Ron ‘Nobby’ Noblett of the R.A.A.F. cricket club was awarded life membership of the Association for his contribution to cricket over many years.

 

During the 1964-65 season a cricket ‘first’ was recorded on the Claypan Oval. In a match between R.A.A.F. and ASCO/Postal three batsmen scored centuries. R.A.A.F. batted first and knocked up 5 for 208 with Des Bailey scoring 109. ASCO/Postal replied with 1 for 220 with Mick Clough 103 not out and Jim Harvey 106 not out.

 

Major awards for the season were Jim Harvey (A.S.C.O./Postal) batting average and aggregate; Harry Stapleton (Works) bowling aggregate with 69 wickets; Nobby Noblett (R.A.A.F) bowling average; Davidson (R.S.L.) best fielding award.

 

Mick Clough, the local Postmaster, was captain of A.S.C.O./Postal and along with a few associates was instrumental in reviving junior and sub-junior cricket.

 

Ralph James ‘Mick’ Clough (22 October 1927 – 12 August 2008) left Woomera in 1966 for Bathurst in the Blue Mountains where he was elected the Labor Party Member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly from 1976 to 1981, representing the electorate of Blue Mountains and representing the electorate of Bathurst from 1981 to 1988 and again from 1991 to 1999.

 

Following his retirement from politics in 1999, Clough and his wife Doreen operated the Coolawin Gardens Motel in Nambucca Heads, NSW.

 

In 2002 Clough retired to Perth, Western Australia where he died on 12 August 2008 following a long battle with bowel cancer.

 

 

1965-66

 

The final ladder in 1965-66 was Works (undefeated at this stage), J.R.C., Staff Mess, A.S.C.O./Postal, R.A.A.F., Koolymilka, Senior Mess and R.S.L. (Returned Services League).

 

At around this time the name of the “Jazza” was changed from Junior Ranks Club (J.R.C.) to Junior Staff Club (J.S.C.).

 

In the first semi-final J.S.C. easily defeated A.S.C.O./Postal however in the other semi-final Staff Mess batsmen in the last 25 minutes let loose with everything and with “Lady Luck” playing her part converted what seemed like certain defeat into a wonderful victory. The previously unbeaten Works side had been beaten.

 

In the grand final J.S.C. were favourites however Staff Mess prevailed and through determination eventually won the day.

 

Staff Mess had recruited wisely for the season:

 

• Peter Box left J.S.C. after 3 successful seasons and boosted the bowling.
• A young Trevor Overall who had played District Cricket for Glenelg boosted the batting and scored 103 in the grand final. Trevor was also a very good footballer, a noted high flier and played in a number of Village premierships.
• Peter Orchard, a bank clerk with Westpac, boosted both the bowling and batting. Peter played football for Works and was a member of their 1966 premiership side. He later figured prominently in Village life becoming a member of the Woomera Board.
• Rod Grierson, a bank clerk with the Commonwealth Bank, won the Association trophy for best individual score. Rod had played soccer as goalkeeper for the “Birkalla Rovers” in the SA State Soccer League and his agility and timing was always apparent. Rod also played football for Village and use to amaze spectators with his horizontal marking ability when he would fling himself left or right to take the impossible mark. You could see his goalkeeper talents coming to the fore. In 2022 at age seventy-eight he completed a 2,000-kilometre bike ride in Thailand. Still as fit as ever.

 

Trophy winners for 1965-66 were: batting average and aggregate, Alan “Henry” Higgins of J.S.C.;  bowling average and aggregate, Alan Grindley of Works; best fieldsman, Peter Box of Staff Mess; best individual score, Rod Grierson of Staff Mess; best individual bowling performance, J Lister of Staff Mess.

 

During the season the Newman Shield competition against W.R.E. Salisbury was revived with Woomera winning. This brought Woomera’s number of wins to 6 with Salisbury having won 4 times.

 

It also marked the end of an era with Ron “Nobby” Noblett (R.A.A.F.) leaving Woomera after 14 years. Nobby was the mainstay of the R.A.A.F. team when it won four pennants in the fifties.

 

 

1966-67

 

The 1966/67 season saw the withdrawal of R.A.A.F. from the competition. Since competitive cricket began in Woomera, R.A.A.F. had always been on the scene. At first, they were known as A.T.U.-R.A.A.F., but eventually just R.A.A.F.

 

Works won the pennant defeating Senior Mess outright by 9 wickets. During the match Senior Mess batsman Bebb moved down the pitch and was ‘Mankad-ed’ by Works bowler Ray Simpson. A highly unusual method of dismissal and always full of controversy.

 

During the years games were arranged against Port Augusta and Woodville District Cricket Club the A grade premiers in Adelaide.

 

Major awards for the season were: batting average, Alan Grindley – Works; batting aggregate, Roger Helier – Staff Mess; bowling aggregate, G Bebb – Senior Mess; bowling average, Peter Box – Staff Mess; highest score 131, G Fabretti – J.R.C.; best bowling figures 8/13, R Kubank – Village; fielding award, B Smith – Village and Gary Hele – A.S.C.O./Postal.

 

 

1967-68

 

In 1967-68 the undefeated Senior Mess finally won the pennant when they defeated Village in the grand final. Senior Mess captain Barnsley was prominent for his side and Schultz and Limb (6/35) for Village.

 

The Prospect Cricket Club the A grade premiers in Adelaide visit Woomera in April 1968.

 

Major awards for the season were: batting average and aggregate, K Monson – Senior Mess; bowling average and aggregate, David Cock – Works; highest individual score, Pat Kelly – Staff Mess; best allrounder, B Smith – Village; best bowling performance, Jim Koslowski – Village; best fieldsman, K Monson – Senior Mess.

 

 

1968-69

 

A brilliant bowling performance by David Cock (9 for 27) against Village paved the way for a win to Works and giving them the premiership pennant for the season. The other wicket in the Village innings was taken by Cock’s brother-in-law Robert “Butch” Leverington. He also top scored in the match.

 

David Cock was one of the best fast bowlers to play in Woomera. He had previously played A grade cricket for Glenelg in the S.A.C.A. premier competition. David was also a handy footballer and played in 2 premierships for Works in 1968 and 1974.

 

Butch Leverington grew up in Woomera and commenced playing cricket for Works at a young age of about 14. Eventually he played in 5 or 6 premierships for Works and then relocated to Adelaide where he played grade cricket for Salisbury in the S.A.C.A. He played in a number of premierships for Salisbury. On the football front he played in 2 Works premierships, won the 1970 Area and Mail medals for the best and fairest player in the League and was leading goalkicker in the League in 1973. He also played 5 reserve league games for West Torrens in the SANFL in 1972.

 

 

1969-70

 

In the 1969-70 season Village won their first premiership pennant defeating Works in the grand final. Village captain was Neil Schultz and he was ably supported by Jim Kozlowski, Barry Rumble, Graham Brennan, Gary Hele, Ivan Limb, Ashleigh Malone and Bob Clutterham to name a few. Village were undefeated for the year.

 

The Prospect Cricket Club from Adelaide visited in April 1970.

 

Association awards for the season were: batting average and aggregate, bowling average, Graham White – A.S.C.O.; bowling aggregate, Butch Leverington – Works; best bowling performance, Fitzgerald – Centrals; best batting performance 136, Neil Schulz – Village; best fielder, David Gee – A.S.C.O.

 

 Village Cricket Club – Undefeated Pennant Winners 1969-70

 

 

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

 

 

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