Lismore cricketing royalty John McMahon OAM dies aged 91
The Northern NSW cricket community has come out in droves to farewell one of its beloved sons, remembered as a humble man of the “highest integrity”. Read their heartfelt tribute.
Hyperlocal
Don't miss out on the headlines from Hyperlocal. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Cricketers across the country are in mourning following the death of cricketing cornerstone John McMahon OAM.
McMahon, from Lismore, is being remembered as a humble man of the “highest integrity”.
John and his wife Joan moved to Brisbane after losing their Lismore home in the 2022 floods.
“They came to live with me and my partner Sid, in Rochedale South, Brisbane,” daughter Patricia Golledge said.
“I think mum was absolutely, wholly supportive throughout his cricket career.
“She never once complained if dad had another cricket match to go to and even bringing up children dad was sometimes on the cricket field while mum was giving birth.”
“He was a family man, a wonderful father. Eight children, he worked very hard. And so did mum, they would have been married for 66 years this year.
“Dad was mum’s carer up until the 2022 floods – he was dedicated to his wife, family always came first.”
Ms Golledge and brothers Terry and Paul all said their father was a very humble man.
“When dad lost his father at 17 it was 1947,” Ms Golledge said.
“It wasn’t long after the war and his family were extremely poor.
“He said if it wasn’t for the Balmain cricketing community who dad was playing for, they wouldn’t have had food on the table sometimes.
“That’s why dad wanted to give back to cricket … what it had done for his family during those tough times.”
The family struggled with McMahon’s mum a widow with three young children.
“He was a child of the depression, born in 1932 so dad wanted to give back to the cricket community his whole life,” Ms Golledge said.
He did this by playing his best, coaching, volunteering and working administration.
“He wanted to do a lot for women’s cricket as well, he coached Lyn Larsen who was recently inducted into the Australian Women’s Cricket Hall of Fame,” Ms Golledge said.
Known as a man who always “kept his composure” and “never panicked”, McMahon was a comfort to his family and those going through tough times saying “everything’s always going to be okay”.
“He helped us with our homework, he was always there for us, and everybody, even though he was a very private man, and very unassuming,” his daughter recalls.
Son Terry McMahon said three of the siblings played first grade cricket in Sydney; Brian, Michael and himself.
Grandson Sam McMahon is the current first grade wicket keeper at Western Suburbs in Sydney.
Sisters Patricia and Kathryn played indoor cricket for Queensland, with Kathryn captaining the QLD side.
“His on-field performances were magnificent but probably more so his off-field contribution to the game being coaching, and administration for 70 years,” Terry McMahon said.
Mr McMahon said growing up in Lismore the siblings were “ignored”.
“He’d never come and watch us play, he wouldn’t do any of that,” he said.
“He just let us be, he didn’t want to be the father there on the sidelines. He’d seen enough screaming parents on sidelines (laughs).
“He gave us all the space in the world but certainly would take us down to the nets when we asked him to and he’d coach us in the nets.
“He was a wonderful coach, and a wonderful people person.”
Mr McMahon said his siblings loved the game and his dad never pushed them into cricket.
“Dad was happy with that and he fed us cricket as we wanted it,” he said.
“While cricket was his passion, his real passion was his wife and his eight children.”
He said this was his dad’s main priority in life and cricket took a back seat despite people thinking he was “Mr Cricket”.
“He was “Mr Cricket” but his family came first no question,” he said.
Former sports reporter for the Northern Star, Paul Attewell, said John was a “fantastic colleague” and a great “cricket lover”.
“John’s many accolades show he worked very hard for the game,” Mr Attewell said.
“John wrote a column for the Northern Star for probably 10 years.
“He was on staff for about 12 years from about 1987 to 1999 when he retired.
“John was working as the sales manager at radio 2LM and it was during this time he wrote the column for the paper.
“We were good friends and colleagues for all that period and were cricket teammates for a short period when he played in the same team as me.
“He was just a good man, decent. It’s hard to find anyone who had a cross word about him.”
Bill O’Sullivan – Life Member, Far North Coast Baseball Association, member of Qld Baseball Hall of Fame and Australian Sports Medal winner 2000 – said McMahon was a “cricket legend”.
“Here’s a guy whose given 70 years of service to the community,” Mr O’Sullivan said.
“He was right up to his neck involved in promoting games in Lismore, bringing Sheffield Shield games to Lismore; coaching, administering.
“He was just an amazing servant to the community. When John finished playing first grade cricket at the age of 58 if you don’t mind, he got involved in other areas.”
McMahon also played indoor cricket and was heavily involved in arranging Twilight cricket, and continued to play in veterans’ cricket in over 65 and 70yrs divisions.
“He was still playing well into his 70s,” Mr O’Sullivan said.
“He was a cricket legend.
“John played first grade for Balmain in Sydney when he was only 17 and that was unheard of. He was a terrific bowler, but a better man.”
Family friend and respected editor Nick Blackburn said John’s achievements belie the humble nature of a spinning maestro whose love for cricket was only surpassed by his love for his wife and family.
More Coverage
Originally published as Lismore cricketing royalty John McMahon OAM dies aged 91
‘Very ugly’: Mayor breaks silence in ongoing CEO termination saga
The mayor of a regional Queensland council has spoken out after the sensational termination of their chief executive over a live streamed meeting earlier this year. Here’s what she said.
‘So unfair’: Burger bar owner’s devastation after business torched
A West End burger shop owner fears he might lose everything, after a neighbouring shop was ramraided and set on fire last week, after opening just two months ago.