GRANT Myers’ cricket career started when the Associates Cricket Club came looking for his brother to fill in for a Bacchus Marsh Cricket Association match in 1966.
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Myers, who was 15 at the time, volunteered his services in lieu of his brother, who’d moved interstate for study.
The move launched a playing career that would span four clubs, eight premierships and nearly forty years.
Myers played with in the association for about six summers until it folded, prompting his move into the Bacchus Marsh team in the Gisborne competition.
He would win three of his flags for his second club, before retiring in 1989 when he moved to Glenfyne, south of Cobden.
“When I got down here, being a dairy farmer, I needed an excuse to get off the farm so I started (playing) again,” Myers said.
“(My wife) Judy always jokes that I was retired in 1989 but I haven’t (been) since.”
Myers was pointed in the direction of Ecklin in the old Hopkins-Nullaware association. His new club soon became part of the Mount Emu Creek Association and later South West Cricket as the cricketing landscape continued to change.
After winning two premierships with the Frogs, Myers moved into Cobden in 1999 and joined the club there, winning a further two premierships.
He stayed at his final club for five years, before retiring from playing a second time, transitioning into umpiring and the secretarial role in SWC.
Myers, who was this month recognised with a Cricket Victoria 50 Years’ Service Award, said he spent “probably 75 per cent” of his playing career as a captain.
“I was quite proud of (that) in a little bit of a way,” he said.
“But I’m not a great one for personal achievements – team things are great.
“I think you enjoy the victories and that’s sort of the icing on the cake of the rest of your cricket.”
Long-serving south-west cricket contributors Charlie Rivett (WDCA), Kelvin White, Graeme Fischer and John Royal (all SWC) were also among those recognised at a Cricket Victoria luncheon this month and presented 50 Years’ Service awards.
“I just like the companionship you get with cricket,” Myers said. “On the day we got that award, I looked up at one stage and … there was a block I’d played Bendigo Country Week cricket with from Gisborne receiving his award.”
Royal started his career at Glenormiston as a 13-year-old in the 1963-64 season, playing in the B grade premiership.
He was a foundation member at Boorcan when it reformed in 1971 and played in six premierships at the club, eventually retiring in 2000.
Royal’s high score of 148 came in the Boorcan premiership-winning B grade grand final of 1975-76.
He is a life member of the club, and played in two Melbourne country weeks, two Ballarat country weeks and 10 Bendigo country weeks.
Royal has been an umpire for the past 16 seasons and has been president of the South West Cricket Umpires Association.
He has managed two Melbourne country week campaigns and was vice-president of SWC for nearly a decade.
White first stepped out as a cricketer at the age of 11, playing for Birregurra. He later played for Camperdown Ex-Students and Warrion, before joining Cobden in 1977.
He captained sides at Birregurra, Camperdown Ex-Students and Cobden.
Off-filed, he began work as an administrator at Cobden, where he served as delegate, secretary/treasurer and underage coach.
White is a life member of Cobden, South West Cricket and the Corangamite zone.
He has also worked as a secretary/treasurer and delegate at association level and at regional level has been a has been an under 16 team manager, president, vice-president, secretary/reasurer and zone representative to the Victorian Country Cricket League.
He has been a VCCL selector since 2006 and has also taken on the roles of chairman of selectors and vice-president.
Fischer followed in the footsteps of his grandfather, father, and four uncles launching his cricket playing career in the South Suburban Churchs Cricket Association.
He first played for Prahran PAFS before joining the Punt Road Methodists/
When the latter folded in 1981, he joined St James Glen Iris, where he won a premiership.
He was foundation president at Prahran City, where he played until its merger with Toorak in 2001.
Fischer has server in a variety of positions at association level, including registration secretary, grade secretary, cricket union delegate and part of the by-laws committee, among others.
He has also author of the SWC History Book, SSCDCA Centenary Book, ODCA History Book and SSCDCL Heath and Safety booklet.
He won four premierships over his career.