Poddy’s XI will celebrate 20 years since first playing in Rockhampton Cricket’s Country Carnival
Poddy’s XI have been regulars at Rockhampton Cricket’s annual Country Carnival since 2005. Discover how the team was formed to pay homage to a beloved family member.
Sport
Don't miss out on the headlines from Sport. Followed categories will be added to My News.
It’s the memorial cricket team whose members celebrate their on-field bloopers as much as any batting or bowling brilliance.
This weekend marks 20 years since the Poddy’s XI first started playing in Rockhampton Cricket’s annual Country Carnival.
The McDonald clan is at the heart of the team, named in honour of their beloved family patriarch Poddy McDonald, an avid cricketer and long-term Gracemere resident who died in 2004, aged 95.
Poddy’s grandson Tony Newman is padding up again for the team, which includes family members, as well as some “ring-ins and hangers-on”.
“My grandfather died in 2004 and at his wake we all decided after a few drinks that it might be a good idea to remember him by playing cricket,” he said.
“Cricket was one of Poddy’s great loves so we formed a side and played our first carnival in 2005.”
The team has new uniforms this year, with the playing shirts featuring a portrait of Poddy, as well as a couple of jugs of frosty ale, something he also enjoyed.
While the team has had some success over the years, winning its share of titles, for the players and supporters it was all about getting together and having fun.
Tony said they all adhered to Poddy’s simple philosophy of “enjoy life and enjoy your mates”.
“We all know how to have a good time, that’s what family is all about and that’s what this carnival is all about for us,” he said.
“There’s more banter about the antics on the field than the actual victories and performances.
“We give each other curry about how hopeless we are in the field and who has the most dropped catches for the weekend.
“We don’t have a trophy for that or anything because we don’t want to formalise it. That way we can always bend the truth a bit more about just how many catches were dropped.”
The carnival has effectively morphed into a McDonald family reunion.
This year, 75 relatives are travelling from Mackay to Brisbane to be part of the 20-year celebrations, which include a dinner at the Gracemere Bowls Club on Saturday night.
Tony said there were sure to be some tall tales shared, as well as some fond memories of Poddy.
Poddy was a household name in Gracemere, where he lived his whole life.
The bridge there is named after him, something he considered one of the greatest honours of his life.
A butcher by trade, he also tried his hand as a bush jockey.
Passionate about cricket, he was a talented wicketkeeper who played with The Morning Bulletin team in the local competition back in the day.
Tony said his grandfather was a genuine, hard-working, loveable character.
“Poddy was an honest man, a bit of a battler who’d have a crack at anything,” he said.
“He lived for his family. He loved a yarn and sharing stories with his grandkids.
“He liked a bet on the races and would always bet 50 cents each way so he was always a winner.”
Tony said the carnival was great for country cricket but also provided the perfect platform for his family to keep Poddy’s memory alive.
The book of Eli: Evolution of a teenage footy sensation
His first team sport was ice hockey in Canada but now Central Queensland’s Eli McKay is making rugby league his own. Queensland Country honours, state schoolboys selection and an NRL contract are part of his resume - and he’s not yet 18.
NAMED: Capras U17, U19 squads for trial games in Gladstone
The Capras under-17 girls and under-17 and under-19 boys will have plenty to play for when they tackle the Wide Bay Bulls on Saturday. See who will be playing.