By Nick Creely
Since its humbling beginnings in 2003, the now renamed Veterans Cricket Victoria has grown substantially.
Founded by John Hammer, a cricket enthusiast who wanted to get cricketers over the age of 60 involved in keeping fit and playing sport, it has become a major success story.
On Monday (16 July) and Tuesday (17 July), a select group of Over 60s representatives met at a Veterans Cricket conference at Junction Oval’s new state of the art facilities, discussing how to continue to grow the game of cricket for Over 50s, 60s and 70s, with three new teams to enter next season, adding to the 22 already involved.
Local cricket identity Rob Wilson – a former mayor of the City of Casey – has been a major part in growing Veterans Cricket in the region, and has been heavily involved for the best part of a decade.
He said the opportunity to travel and play some competitive cricket was a big drawing point for him to become so heavily influential in its growth.
“I helped John Hammer (the founder of Over 60s cricket) call the meeting at the Hallam Pub, in which Col Jones, myself and John Moore met, and we helped get a team started at Narre North Cricket Club,” he said.
“I was still playing Masters at the time, and I got invited to play the last game of the first season, and they told me there’s an overseas cricket tour to England, so I wanted a piece of that, and before you knew it, John Hammer knocked on my door and after hearing I’d been mayor of the City of Casey, offered for me to be president.
“Over in England, we played the first official test match between England and Australia, we played at Sheffield against the Poms, and we were beaten comprehensively, I think I was second top score with 15 not out.
“But that started it off, and there’s been tours ever since – I’ve been heavily involved doing a few things, here and there.
“So after playing a game, I was president for six years, and now we’ve got Greg Johnson take over the last couple of years, but I still organise the Casey team.”
Rob runs a mid-week Over 60s cricket tournament at Lynbrook Oval, and loves the social aspect of Veterans Cricket.
“The camaraderie is one of the big things with Over 60s, you get to know your opponents, and you love playing competitively,” he said.
“We don’t play for points, so when we play against other states and against the Poms, it’s very competitive.”
For more information, or to get involved, head to www.victoriaover60.vic.cricket.com.au
