Kerry Emery and Dale Officer honoured with Sunshine Coast cricket life membership
From international stars to local legends, two Sunshine Coast cricket life members have revealed their best ever opposition players and reflected on their all time memories.
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Two of the Sunshine Coast’s most respected cricket officials have been honoured with life membership, rewarding their efforts for cricket on the Coast over the past decades.
Maroochydore’s Kerry Emery and Tewantin-Noosa diehard Dale Officer efforts over three to four decades have previously been recognised by their clubs in the naming of new ovals, plus club life status, and now the honours have extended to a higher level.
Emery was born and raised in Gympie before eventually relocating to the Sunshine Coast in 1988 when he transferred as the deputy principal of Kawana State High School.
The left-arm spinner boasted Queensland Country honours from Townsville and Cairns on his arrival and helped the Maroochydore Swans grasp their maiden Division One premierships in the 1988/89 season.
Emery played one more season for the Swans before transferring to Murgon, then returning as principal at Coolum SHS and finally Caloundra SHS.
The now 73-year-old moved up to the rank of president for Maroochydore CC and in 2008 he rose to president of SCCA, displaying his ability to engage at all levels and positions crucial to the success of a club.
He has served as an integral part of the ground staff, rolling, mowing, weeding and watering, uncovering of the wickets on match day and alongside his wife Helen has sold a number of salad rolls to under-10 and international cricketers.
Officer followed his family from Victoria in 1981 and quickly became cap number 32 for Tewantin-Noosa.
The dogged left-hand batsman then spent 30 years as a player, encompassing more than 350 matches across all grades.
The now 65-year-old recorded three first grade premierships plus three second grade premierships.
The Thunder committee became a part of life for the next 30 years, while Officer moved into the club executive and then the president’s chair for 12 seasons.
With the ultimate cricket mother Jan, whom he had married in 1982, Officer became part of the Tewantin cricket family that catered for the playing, social and development needs of the community.
The family concreting business gave way to Noosa Wholesalers, where a generation of newcomers found work as they arrived in the area, guaranteeing a constant stream of Thunder talent.
Officer spent more than 20 years as the curator of the grounds and helped the club launch a second turf wicket in 2014, the Dale Officer Oval.
He expanded his responsibilities with a place on the Sunshine Coast Management Committee as he filled the role of Association Vice-President for two of his five year tenure.
His judgement was recognised with a position on the SCCA Conducts Tribunal for over a decade, and his accumulated wisdom is consulted as a member of the SCCA Appeals Panel, a role he fills to this day.
We caught up with both men as they reflected on their involvement in cricket on the Sunshine Coast.
Playing days, standout teammates, opposition
EMERY: “My playing days were short on the Sunshine Coast but once I transferred I immediately joined Maroochydore and was lucky enough to play those two great seasons in their first grade side. I was still a relatively competitive player as at the time I was playing for Queensland Country. I had most recently played for Queensland Country against the 1986 touring England side. That included Mike Gatting, Ian Botham, David Gower, John Emburey and more so I was really lucky in that sense. From a local perspective I’m very pleased to hear about some of the success from lads that I’ve known through their early days and have progressed through the ranks. The ones that come to mind are James Bazley, Nick Selman and Alecz Day so it’s wonderful to see them achieve what they have.”
OFFICER: “I’ve been with Tewantin-Noosa for a long time and I can say I played against and with some really good cricketers in that time. There were some English imports that came over like Ian Austin and David Makinson who were two great cricketers that played for a long time plus Eddo Brandes who was a famous Zimbabwean cricketer. Some of the Australian guys like a young Ashley Noffke when he was playing for Caloundra, Troy Dixon and Jeff Thomas and probably one of the best players that I’ve ever played with and against was Mat Thornhill. He’s unfortunately not with us anymore but he was one of the best I’ve ever seen with the bat and ball.”
Favourite memories
EMERY: “I’ve lived on a story of dismissing David Gower who was stumped by Peter Drinnen and I ran into him a few years ago and we both recounted the great memory and how we’ve shared and lived on that wicket for a number of years. That was a standout memory but I also played against New Zealand and snagged a few wickets, one being Jeremy Coney and a few against that English side. I remember in another representative game I took a triple hat trick which was quite crazy and I wish I had it recorded somewhere.”
OFFICER: “The premierships were always fantastic and that’s what sticks out. The three at a-grade level were great and then the three at reserve grade level when I was getting a bit older were also quite special. I was never the best cricketer in the team, I was an honest sort of player that played in some good teams and hoped I could contribute something.”
Oval honour
EMERY: “The oval came about when I had given up playing and was just volunteering so while it was getting built the club, without my knowledge, proposed the name of the oval at a meeting and asked me if I would be okay with it all. I said surely there’s other people that are more deserving but they kept persisting and it was a real acknowledgment and I was and still am delighted. The other ovals such as John Blanck, Ron McMullin and Kev Hackney are for other important people that made outstanding contributions too so it’s quite special for myself to be alongside them.”
OFFICER: “I don’t actually know who or how the naming of the oval came about at the time. Obviously it was agreed upon by the committee and board at the time and it’s definitely a great honour. Quite often those things only happen to people that pass away so that’s a joke in cricket circles and with my mates that I probably should be dead since the oval is named after me.”
Reflecting on it all and life now
EMERY: “Cricket is that type of game where you meet people and make lasting friendships both on and off the field. I think it just comes back to passion and my passion has always been cricket. My son played for the Sunshine Coast which was great to see and I felt cricket had given me so many great memories that I should channel my energy to helping others and giving back to the game. I’m very grateful to receive a life membership as I thought I was finished when I retired from senior grade but I was on the board for so many years, I now play veterans cricket and have done things I never thought I would do. I’ve played for Queensland in the over 60s, was selected to captain the Australian over 70s side to go to England one year but that was cancelled due to Covid-19.”
OFFICER: “You wouldn’t be doing it if you didn’t love the game, it wasn’t as if I was forced to do any of that stuff. From preparing cricket pitches to serving behind the bar to junior coaching, I still always enjoyed it all. It’s one of those things you do because someone needs to do it, you’re not looking for accolades or anything like that but I do really appreciate the honour of receiving a life membership. I think cricket on the Sunshine Coast has definitely changed in the 40 odd years since I first started playing. The fields, the pitches, the facilities, everyone has a pretty good clubhouse and don’t get me wrong there were some great players and some great teams back then but I think there’s probably more depth across the board these days. I’m not as involved in cricket anymore as I’ve been on the committee at the Noosa Golf Club for eight or nine years and have been the president for the past 18 months which is my focus. I still get down and try to watch all of the A-grade home games and try to follow my son, Jarrod, wherever he goes. He’s a way better cricketer than I ever was and he’s got me in golf too which isn’t surprising.”
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