Upper Ferntree Gully couple Kevin and Elaine Walsh honoured with seat plaque
A family in Melbourne’s outer east has been bowled over by a touching tribute from a cricket club to their beloved parents. Here’s what the club organised in memory of the cricket-loving couple.
Outer East
Don't miss out on the headlines from Outer East. Followed categories will be added to My News.
A Knox family has been bowled over by a touching tribute from a cricket club to their beloved parents.
Former Upper Ferntree Gully Cricket Club president and life member Tony Cross has arranged for a plaque to be placed on a bench at the second oval at Kings Park in honour of Kevin and Elaine Walsh.
The couple lived behind the oval, and for years Mr Walsh would walk through his back gate, sit on the bench and watch the thirds and fourths play cricket.
ARCHIE FLYNN CRACKS 100 RUNS FOR THE SEASON
CRICKETERS REFLECT ON PLAYING ON BLACK SATURDAY
His wife was never far behind him, bringing freshly baked biscuits and cakes to enjoy while they watched the game.
The couple, both in their 80s, died within weeks of each other last year, and Mr Cross, who had got to know them, wanted to establish a permanent tribute in the form of a plaque.
It reads: “In memory of Kevin and Elaine Walsh. Cricket lover and his loving wife. Please take a seat and enjoy the wonderful game of cricket just like Kevin and Elaine did. RIP.”
The couple’s daughter Phillipa Maloney-Walsh said she was incredibly touched by the gesture.
“I was absolutely thrilled, proud, shocked and grateful all at once,” Mrs Maloney-Walsh said.
“My dad used to watch me as a teenager play competition cricket, then he used to watch his grandson play.
“When he was unable to drive he said: ‘I’m going to watch Upper Ferntree Gully play’, which he did faithfully for a number of years.
“He got to know Tony and Tony would walk around and talk to him, and mum would come out with cup of tea, and freshly baked cakes — she baked every Saturday afternoon.”
Mr Cross also picked up the couple and took them to club presentation nights.
Mrs Maloney-Walsh said her parents would be “so chuffed” with the plaque.
“They would just be so proud,” she said.
“For them it was just what you did, you were part of the community and they were really community people.”
The couple lived in Upper Ferntree Gully for 51 years and were married for 65 years.
“They really adored each other,” Mrs Maloney-Walsh said.
“It was a beautiful love story from a time when people met and married and just stuck together through thick and thin.”
Mr Cross said the plaque was a fitting tribute to a great couple.
“As far as I’m concerned it was the least I could do,” he said.
FITTING TRIBUTE FOR CRICKET LOVERS
Tony Cross shares the story of his friendship with Kevin and Elaine Walsh.
I first met Kevin about 12 years ago as I was walking around the ground while playing on Kings Park.
Kevin was sitting down and watching the game from his chair that his wife Elaine had brought out for him to sit on and watch the game he loved.
Kevin was unable to travel anymore to watch his daughter and grandkids playing cricket due to his deteriorating health, so he did the next best thing, and came out the back to watch the games at his back fence.
I had a quick chat with him and said goodbye.
Next week there he was sitting in his chair and watching the game again. I stopped and had a chat with him and Elaine. I was amazed at Kevin’s knowledge of the game.
More often than not Elaine would go and get me a coffee or a cold drink along with a plate of freshly made biscuits.
A few years went past and I continued to pop over when I had the time and on one of these occasions I noticed Kevin sitting on a newly installed council bench seat.
Kevin thought that I had organised the council to install the seat.
I had to confess that I had nothing to do with the seat and that it must have been pure coincidence.
I thought it was meant to be and that it was placed there for a purpose.
Kevin was held in such high regard from within the club I had the great pleasure of presenting him with a club jacket and hat, which he wore on many occasions with great pride.
After the couple passed away, I spoke to the family and got their blessing to proceed with a fitting tribute to their parents at the place they called home for many years and loved.
I think the plaque will be a fitting memorial.
MORE NEWS
Search for missing Rowville man escalates
The search for a missing Rowville man has escalated, as police release CCTV footage of the last time the 69-year-old was seen in the southeastern suburb.
‘He just gets it done’: Dandenong’s glowing praise for young gun
Dandenong coach Tom Donnell has sung the praises of two star Panthers, including one he thinks could be making a historical start to his Premier Cricket career.