Queensland cricket community mourns death of Bob Harding

The Queensland cricket community is in shock following the death of Bob Harding. A passionate and honest player and volunteer find out why he was so loved by family and friends here.

Bob Harding (left) and Doug Lush at a Toowoomba cricket presentation night. Picture: Nev Madsen

The cricket community is mourning the death of man whose passion for the game was almost unrivalled.

After a long battle with dementia Toowoomba and Darling Downs cricket icon Bob Harding died at the weekend.

“Naturally we didn’t want to lose dad we all loved him dearly, but given the way he was, his condition it was a bit of release for all of us and him,” Bob’s son Brendan said.

“We like to think he’s in a much better place now, he’d be bugging Don Bradman and every other cricketer he can find up there.

“I always remember him as an honest man.

“He always wanted to set a positive example for his family and the people around him to follow.

“He wasn’t always right on things, he was a human being not a robot, but his goal was always to leave a positive imprint something he could pass on to others.”

Family always came first for Bob but his love for cricket was a close second according to Brendan.

A Toowoomba Cricket and Railways Cricket Club life member Bob lived and breathed the game when he wasn’t with family.

Ivan Walls (front) and (back, from left) Dan McCabe, Jason McWilliam, Keith Murdoch, Greg Hilder, Gavin Williams, Bob Harding and John Littleproud plan the University Cricket Club's 40th anniversary celebrations. Picture: Kevin Farmer

“Cricket and sport in general were under their own umbrella and he absolutely lived for cricket,” Brendan said.

“I think that is why he did so well, he worked so hard at everything he did.”

First putting the pads on for Past Grammars reserve grade in the 1959-60 season, Bob made the move to his beloved Railways the following season.

He captained Railways for a number of seasons before moving to Mackay for a few years where he won an A-grade premiership.

Returning to the Garden City Bob became one of the founding members of Institute Cricket Club – now known as University.

As the club’s inaugural captain he added to his reputation as a hard-nosed cricketer with a real passion and good sportsmanship.

“I played against Bob a number of times,” Dan McCabe said.

“He always had a great passion for the game and I remember his great prowess as a player, captain and leader.”

The 1981 cricket team at the Billa Billa Sports Club. Back row: Allan Welsh, Ron Tardent, Major Bowman, Middle: Bob Ronnfeldt, Colin Fields, John Pfeiffer, Mick Kelloway. Front: Glen Bennet, Ron Jones, Harland Morris, Bob Harding

When Bob called stumps on his playing he immediately made the move into administration holding a number of different roles at both the club and Toowoomba competition level.

Ivan Walls worked closely with Bob on the TCI committee and remembers him as a passionate administrator and volunteer.

“He was a real cricket tragic and loved the game the game at every level,” Walls said.

“A great explain is the statistics he compiled by hand on Toowoomba cricket.

“He spent hours and hours going through historic copies of The Chronicle on microfiche finding every scoreboard and match report he could to put those statistics together and other noteworthy milestones.

“We wouldn’t have that information so readily available if not for Bob.

“He was an amazing person, very dependable and you could count on him to look at an issue or problem and make the best decision for the game as a whole.

“He will be sorely missed.”