The pride of the Bulls

Dave Webster and Alan ''Lefty'' Wright presented Cardinia''s team of the 1970s. 190845 Pictures: RUSSELL BENNETT

By Russell Bennett and Nick Creely

The Cardinia Cricket Club celebrated its 50th year gala at Amberlee Receptions in Cranbourne recently, reflecting on the proud history of the club and some of its finest ever players.

And what a half-century it’s been for the Bulls, with plenty of premierships and champion cricketers coming out of the club.

In what was a special night for the Bulls, a selection committee made up of club legends Wayne Snooks, Trevor Hobson, Ian Campbell and Dave Webster chose the best of the decade teams from the 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, 2000s and 2010s in addition to a team of the first 50 years. Current club president Gary Glen also provided significant assistance.

Lis Webster and Janine Hobson – wives of Dave and Trevor – also contributed greatly to the event through their own tireless hours of research.

Dave Webster, a life member who has been a loyal Bull from the formation of the club back in 1969, said the gala was the culmination of more than eight months of tireless hard work from the likes of Hobson, Snooks, Campbell, and also master of ceremonies Matthew Argoon and Adam Hobson.

“We didn’t want to leave any stone unturned – we wanted to do it right,” he said.

In a club crammed with so much history in such a short period of time, Webster – who has had three stints as president, and also served as secretary and a committee member too – reflected on just what Cardinia means to him after being there from the start.

“I’ve been there right through the decades,” he said.

“I can remember when I was only 11 or 12 filling in for these abattoir workers in the seniors.

“It’s just the people and the people we seem to be able to attract to the club.

“You build up a lot of friendships over so many years.”

Webster said it was great to see current Kooweerup captain-coach Mark Cooper return to the Bulls for the event, lauding his performance over his time at the club.

“Every club needs a leader, and we were fortunate enough to have one of the best in ‘Coops’,” he said.

“We were just so fortunate to have a player of his stature come to our club and really bring it along. He did a fantastic job.

“He’s got to be the number one, as far as a leader and opening bat is concerned – in my opinion.”

Webster was also quick to heap praise on champion spinner Dwayne Doig, for his role in shaping the recent history of the club.

“You won’t see a better bowler (than Doig) – he’s just a champion and a champion bloke too,” he said.

“Coops and Doigy, along with Steve Paterson, took our club to the next level.

“That’s why the night went so long – there were a lot of players to get through, to acknowledge the impact they had on our club.”

Here are the respective team of the decades, announced on the night:

Team of the 1970s

Bill Blackwood

Len Webster

Harold Alexander

David Webster

Peter Webster

Ray Hobson

George Harvey

Charle Morley

Kevin Gray

Ian Murphy

Bill Toner

Alan Wright

Wayne Snooks

 

Team of the 1980s

Ian Campbell

Leigh Cookman

Gary Quinlan

Jeff Bailey

Peter Van Steensel

Ben Sargent

Chris Gunton

Trevor Jury

Keith Scharenguivel

Adam Ryan

Wayne Snooks

Andy O’Brien

Vin Feehan

 

Team of the 1990s

Michael Paulsen

Wayne Snooks

Ben Darose

Brian Van Den Berghe

Greg Gill

Mick Andrew

Dean Pipicelli

Andrew Wall

Chris Remy

Luke Rus

Keith Peut

Cameron Haynes

Rod Mills

 

Team of the 2000s

Mark Cooper

Steve Paterson

Troy Darose

Ben Darose

Dwayne Doig

Luke Turner

John Grogan

John Nooy

Chris Remy

Adam Hobson

Daniel Strahan

Jamie Glen

Justin Berry

 

Team of the 2010s

Ben Darose

Mark Cooper

Dwayne Doig

Luke Turner

Neil Barfuss

Troy Darose

Dean Henwood

Simon Parrott

Mark Andolfatto

John Nooy

Alex Nooy

Travis Wheller

Ricky Campbell

 

Team of the half-century

Mark Cooper

Mick Andrew

Michael Paulsen

Ben Darose

Steve Paterson

Dwayne Doig

Luke Turner

Wayne Snooks

Chris Remy

John Grogan

John Nooy

Neil Barfuss

Trevor Jury