How Melbourne cricket prizes got their names
Cricket finals kick off across Melbourne this weekend and there’s plenty of silverware to be claimed. The Dunstan, Macgibbon, Longmuir, Trollope, Reeves, Quick and Barclay are up for grabs — but who are the people behind the awards?
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This weekend, the cricket season starts getting pretty serious. It's finals time.
The silverware is on the line and Melbourne’s suburban cricketers will be playing for the Dunstan, the Longmuir, the Reeves, the Strachan, the Barclay and Money, Trollope and Wilkins.
But who are they?
Who’s been immortalised on the silverware your First XI will look to raise so proudly?
EASTERN CRICKET ASSOCIATION
Dunstan Shield
Alfred Thomas Dunstan commenced his involvement with the Eastern Suburbs Cricket Association as a foundation member of the Myrtle Park (later North Balwyn) Cricket Club in 1927.
He became an ESCA office-bearer in 1933 and was awarded life membership in 1945 in recognition of his service in a number of executive positions.
Dunstan was elected president in 1952, holding that position until his death in 1972 — an unprecedented record of service of 40 years as an office-bearer.
The Dunstan Shield is awarded to the premiers in the ECA’s top turf grade.
Macgibbon Shield
Jim Macgibbon was founder of the Sunday Schools competition in 1918 and was made a life member of the ESCCA in 1936.
He served in various positions for 58 years and became patron of the association in 1977 after 22 years as association president.
He served as CUOV delegate for 34 years and was made a life member of that body in 1955, serving as executive chairman and vice president for 20 years.
The Macgibbon Shield is awarded to the premiers in the ECA’s top synthetic grade.
RINGWOOD AND DISTRICT CRICKET ASSOCIATION
Trollope Shield
Lindsay Trollope volunteered his expertise to the RDCA executive over a many years, including 17 years as the association secretary, two as vice-president and two as manager of the association’s indoor cricket centre.
For a time he was also the association’s member protection officer and was made a life member of the association in 1989/90.
During his years of service, Trollope always impressed as being a practical and approachable administrator.
Most recently he was honoured with the Australian Sports Medal in 2000.
From the summer of 2010/2011, the Trollope Shield has been awarded to the premiers in the RDCA’s top grade.
Wilkins Cup
Bill Wilkins’ service to the RDCA includes 11 years as association president, 13 years as a vice-president and 12 years as the inaugural president of the junior competition.
He was made a life member of the association in 1978/79. Bill’s uncle, R.G. (Reg) Wilkins, is also a life member of the association (1927/28) and served as a councillor for the (then) Shire of Ringwood.
The Wilkins Cup goes to the premiers of the RDCA’s second grade.
SOUTH-EASTERN CRICKET ASSOCIATION
Longmuir Shield
There is no more recognisable name in the SECA competition than Ray Longmuir.
His contribution, both in playing and administrative roles with both his club and the association, had him elevated straight to the status of a SECA Hall of Fame Legend.
His involvement with his club Bentleigh Uniting stretched from 1939-1985 and he played 397 games, made 5422 runs, took 1027 wickets and was a member of 10 premiership teams. Longmuir was club president from 1957-1985 and secretary from 1948-1956.
At association level, Longmuir served on the SECA executive for 28 years (1956-1984) including roles as president (1968-1984) and secretary (1956-1964) and he was awarded life membership in 1962.
Woolnough Shield
Geoff Woolnough started his cricket career in 1962 playing more than 200 games with Ormond Church of Christ, including roles as club captain and coach.
At association level, Woolnough served on the SECA executive for 19 years (1973-1992) including roles as vice-president and secretary (1980-1992).
He was also a member of many other SECA executive subcommittees and was awarded life membership in 1984.
YARRA VALLEY CRICKET ASSOCIATION
DJ Strachan Shield
Don Strachan attended his first AGM in 1948 and since then was vice-president for 12 years, secretary for 13 years, a selector for five years and a delegate to the Victorian Country Cricket League zone for 12 years.
He was the association’s auditor for 12 years, a tribunal member since 1988 and was awarded life membership in 1964.
The association’s A Grade premiers are awarded the DJ Strachan Shield.
RA Finger Trophy
Bob Finger was association president for 13 years (1968-81), vice-president for two years, and a selector for 13 years.
He was a zone delegate to the VCCL for 11 years later serving as zone secretary and a member of the VCCL executive for five years.
He was honoured with life membership in 1978 and the B Grade premiers are awarded the Finger Trophy.
NORTH METRO CRICKET ASSOCIATION
Jika Shield
The Jika Shield name is derived from the previous name of the competition.
In 2007/08 the association changed from the Jika Cricket Association to the North Metro Cricket Association.
Prior to this change, the highest grade was known as the Bill Burland Shield. With the change of association name, the individual best and fairest award also changed names.
It was then named after a legend of the association, Bill McFarlane.
Jack Quick Shield
The NMCA’s second shield division is named the Jack Quick Shield in honour of a long-serving Reservoir Cricket Club player.
Jack Quick also spent a very long time as a board member and, at one stage, was association president from 1969 to 1980.
FERNTREE GULLY AND DISTRICT CRICKET ASSOCIATION
Reeves Shield
Norm Reeves’ involvement in local cricket commenced in 1952 as a junior at Upper Ferntree Gully, following in the footsteps of his grandfather, William Swindon, who was the foundation captain of the Kings back in 1926.
Reeves also played with Ferntree Gully Footballers and Upwey, collecting five premierships and a Country Week premiership along the way.
In 1977 he served as FTGDCA vice-president before commencing as president in 1987 and holding the chair for a record 26 consecutive seasons.
He is a life member at Upper Ferntree Gully and Upwey as well as the FTGDCA and received the Australian Sports Medal in 2000.
DeCoite Shield
Robert (Bob) DeCoite was present at the Ferntree Gully Shire Hall on August 25, 1947 when the FTGDCA was created.
He was a loyal clubman and player at Ferntree Gully Cricket Club, logging 399 games between 1935 and 1991.
Along the way he amassed more than 8000 runs (10 centuries), claimed more than 200 wickets and took more than 100 catches.
DeCoite took on the club presidency between 1963 and 1973 and served as the association vice-president between 1966 and 1979.
In 1996 he was appointed patron of the FTGDCA, a position he held until his passing in 2008.
BOX HILL REPORTER AND DISTRICT CRICKET ASSOCIATION
Ray McIntosh Shield
While Ray McIntosh is remembered for being Box Hill Reporter association secretary from the summer of 1953-54 to 1959-60 and then 1961-62 to 1976-77, his on-field exploits for no less than seven clubs in the association is an effort difficult to match.
Records show that McIntosh played more than 300 games in the BHRDCA, throw in his games with the Churches and West Gippsland competitions and he played around 450 matches in all.
McIntosh made 3700 runs with 11 fifties (a highest score of 76 in 1954-55) while, with ball in hand, he snared 799 wickets, taking five wickets in an innings on no fewer than 45 occasions and 10 wickets in a match 10 times.
With matches in other competitions, his final tally probably goes beyond 1400 wickets in all. The McIntosh Shield, named in his honour, is contested by teams in the highest grade of the association.
Howard Wilson Shield
Howard Wilson played 531 games with East Box Hill Cricket Club, winning seven premierships and making in excess of 10,000 runs (highest score 122).
He was made a life member in 1974.
Wilson dedicated much of his life to the development of community cricket and served both East Box Hill and the Box Hill & Reporter District Cricket Association for many years.
He was East Box Hill secretary from 1966-67 to 1985-86 and, after joining the BHRDCA committee in the mid-1970s, he was an executive member for more than 30 years, serving as treasurer from 1975 until 1986, secretary from 1986 until 2000.
He was the association’s public officer from 1995-2006 and, from 2000-2006, he was Box Hill Reporter president. Wilson was also the BHRDCA delegate for the Victorian Metropolitan Cricket Union for 23 years, joining the VMCU executive in 1990.
He was chairman of that committee from 1991 until 1999.
DIAMOND VALLEY CRICKET ASSOCIATION
Barclay Shield
Bryan Barclay played with the Eltham Cricket Club, where he was made a life member.
He later became secretary of the Eltham District Cricket Association in 1968.
That association became the Diamond Valley Cricket Association in 1974 and he remained secretary until 1992.
In 1980, Barclay was made a life member of the DVCA and has a pavilion named in his honour at Eltham Central Park.
A Grade was renamed Barclay Shield in 1992/93.
Money Shield
Ray Money joined the Riverside Cricket Club in the early 1950s and was president of the club from the late 50s through to the early 60s.
Money gave 40 years of service as a player and administrator and was president of the DVCA from 1993 until 1997.
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