Premier Cricket: Prahran great David Jukes dies at age 80

Prahran Cricket Club is mourning the death of legendary administrator David Jukes, who served on the committee for 50 years.

David Jukes where he was so often, at Prahran Cricket Club.

He arrived mid-afternoon, and when he did it was like royalty had visited the Junction Oval.

David Jukes sat in a wheelchair in front of the pavilion, where a steady line of past and present Prahran officials, players and supporters came to greet to him.

This was in early April, at the Victorian Premier Cricket grand final between Prahran and Dandenong.

Legendary True Blues administrator Jukes had been in care for some time, but his great friend of many years and fellow club great Ian Crawford and John Zarb had arranged to get him to the ground for a few hours.

When Jukes saw Prahran coach Julien Wiener, he motioned him over with a shaky finger, the grin on his face as wide as the wicket.

Wiener quickly walked over, knowing he had been summoned by Prahran royalty.

The True Blues had not won a premiership for almost 40 years. But by the time David Jukes left the ground, they had one hand on the cup and the other edging towards it.

Zarb thought he’d been a lucky charm, noting five Dandenong wickets had fallen as Jukes watched.

David Jukes and Ian Crawford take a stroll around Toorak Park.

A few weeks later Prahran officials dropped in on him at his care facility in Windsor, placing the premiership cup on his lap.

Victorian cricket’s rich cricket heritage is poorer after the death of David Jukes on Saturday night at the age of 80.

He gave mighty service to his club and to cricket, acting as Prahran’s secretary for 34 consecutive seasons.

He was a life member, a hall-of-famer, patron and a legend.

The club also names its award for all-grades men’s champion the DWN Jukes Medal.

As player Nick Morrey put in, “there is no more important person in our club’s history and he never played a game’’.

Jukes saw his first match at Toorak Park in 1952, when Prahran played Fitzroy.

Cricket took a hold on him when his father took him to the Test matches in the previous two years. He liked the look of Neil Harvey, a Fitzroy player.

Catching a tram and bus, the Glen Iris schoolboy became a regular to the Prahran ground, taking in the deeds of Sam Loxton’s 1954-55 premiership team.

He began scoring for the First XI in 1958-59 and kept the book until 1970, when he became honorary secretary.

He joined the committee in 1966, staying on it until 2016, a half-century of service.

As secretary he served through Crawford’s 28-year run as president.

David Jukes was a True Blue from top to toe. Pic: Nigel Hutton, Prahran CC.

They were tight. Jukes was godfather to Crawford’s eldest daughter and the Crawfords considered him part of the family.

When Jukes celebrated his 80th birthday a few weeks ago, Crawford was unable to see him because of Covid. But he quietly arranged a gift.

Victorian cricket has seen few more enduring partnerships than the Crawford-Jukes combination. For them it was Prahran Cricket Club in the summer and Fitzroy Football Club in the winter.

This morning an emotional Crawford highlighted his friend’s “attention to detail, discipline and diligence’’.

“He always wanted to make sure that everything was OK on and off the field,’’ he said.

“The time he gave freely for decades may one day be equalled. But it will never be passed.

“David Jukes was a remarkable man, loved by all players and officials and their families, and all visiting clubs held him in the highest esteem.’’

David Jukes at last season’s grand final.

Jukes spent his working life in finance, mostly for shipping companies, and never married.

Cricket was his great love, and when he wasn’t watching it he was reading about it; he collected a full set of the Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack.

A few years ago a reporter spent a few hours with him at Toorak Park.

Bush cricketers had converged on Melbourne for the annual Country Week carnival and the True Blues were hosting matches. As ground manager, Jukes was at Toorak Park early and was the last to leave, as he invariably was when Prahran was playing.

He opened the pavilion and changerooms, showed the country teams and umpires around, and organised drinks and lunch, involving a trip to Glen Iris to pick up the sandwiches. After stumps he cleaned and locked up.

In between his chores he ran a seasoned eye over the game. ``Shouldn’t miss those,’’ he said as the cover fieldsman dived over the ball and gifted the batsman a four. ``Hit that well,’’ he said as a ball scorched past mid-off and to the boundary.

He spoke quietly, and didn’t use 15 words when five would make his point.

David Jukes (right) with Invincible Sam Loxton and Ian Crawford.

Former Prahran captain and Test player Bryce McGain said today Jukes was a Prahran “icon’’ and had made an enormous contribution to Prahran.

“He was the first person you saw when you walked into the place for every training session and every game, and he was always the last one to say goodbye, making sure everything was safe and secure at Toorak Park,’’ he said.

“He did an amazing job as secretary, certainly through some challenging times. When the club was getting squeezed at times with ground rentals, he didn’t hesitate to back the club with his own finances.

“It’s a very sad time. But it’s also a chance to reflect on what a wonderful man he was and how much he gave to Prahran.’’

McGain said Jukes was chuffed with the premiership victory and the way the club was operating.

Crawford said he took comfort from the fact that his great friend had seen some of the grand final and held the cup.

Funeral arrangements are being made.