Life Members

• HORACE BURCH
• ALAN BICKFORD
• FRED KNEE
• HERB READ
• ERNIE KEAR
• JOHN KNEE
• DAVID BURCH
• MICHAEL McMAHON
• ROGER SMITH
• BRUCE HARTLEY
• Mrs HILDA KNEE
• Mrs MARGRET KNEE
• LES KNEE
• NEIL McKENZIE
• ALAN HASSAN
• PETER BARLEY
• ALAN LAIRD
• WARREN KNEE
• MICHAEL MacLENNAN
• DONALD HASSAN
• Mrs WENDY McKENZIE
• Mrs JOAN SYNNOTT
• WAYNE HARTLEY
• Mrs LINDA CROWE
• JEFF MURPHY
• GARRY HARWOOD
• PAUL DOEVELAAR
• NEVILLE SYNNOTT
• ANDREW TONKIN
• DARREN WALTON
• SHAWN EVERITT
• DALE GOLDSMITH
• ANTHONY CROWE
• JOHN SCHLUETER

David Burch

Dave was a third generation Wonga player, his grandfather was a founding member of the Club. He began playing as a 15 year old in 1947. Dave was a member of the 1956/57 premiership team and won the First 11 bowling average in 1967/68. He then retired from playing in 1970.

Off the field Dave was a Committee Member for 20 years, and was Chairman of Selectors in 1979/80 and 1980/81. Due to his magnificent contribution to the Club Dave was awarded Life Membership in 1978. Since retiring Dave would always try to watch our games when he could, and attend Club functions.

Dave was a real character and in our centenary year he recalled a story: “Ernie (Kear) was captain when Skinny (Dave’s identical twin brother Keith) and I got 136 in a last wicket partnership to win against North Croydon. During our innings we overheard someone say that we only needed 6 runs to win, so we made another 60 just to make sure!”

Dave Burch, a great Wonga Park Cricket Club clubman and his contribution will always be remembered.

David passed away September 6th 2013

Our sincere sympathies to Dave’s wife Shirley, and sisters Marg Knee, and Thelma Leech.

Fred Knee

Fred Knee, a Life Member of the Wonga Park Cricket Club and an absolute legend of the Club, a better, more genuine bloke you will never meet. Fred was 90 when he passed away and has been suffering ill health for some years now. His eldest son Les (“Legend”) Knee (Life Member) very sadly passed away in 1999.

Freddie was a handy cricketer but his biggest contribution to the Club was his enormous contribution to the Club off the field for a long time. Fred started playing cricket when he was 14 when we had just two senior teams. The top ground was much smaller than it is now and as Fred described some years ago “it was pretty much gravel”. He only played for one year and was then in the navy for a few years. He started playing again when he was 21 and played his last game when he was 56 (in ~1982). Fred played in our 1950-51 premiership team. He married the wonderful Hilda (Life Member) in 1946. Fred was President of the Club for 16 years, beginning in 1964 and finishing in 1984 (Herb Read was President for a few years in between). In that time Freddie oversaw some key moments in our history including: the agreement with Lilydale Shire Council to construct a second ground at Wonga, now the main ground. Having an adjacent ground was critical to our development as a cricket club, and the club as we know it today In the 1950s the guys began to take beer to the cricket for after game celebrations for the first time but people then wanted a BBQ to go with it. So in about 1965 Fred and Hilda invited everyone back to their house in Dudley Road to have more formal social evening after cricket. And so our wonderful tradition began of Saturday nights ‘back at Wonga’. A beer barrel was ordered, Fred would fire up his BBQ and the days cricketing stories would begin. Fred and Hilda hosted Saturday nights for approximately 15 years – this is Wonga folk lore.

Our long history of people getting together to socialize is absolutely the fabric of our great Club, and Fred and his wife Hilda played a huge part in this. We cannot thank them enough. Our 1st XI Bowling Award was named in Fred’s honour back in 1971/72. After Freddie stopped playing cricket, and moved away from his official duties he became involved in bowls, and of course threw himself into that. But while his health permitted he was never far from the cricket club, attending functions with Hilda when he could. For those of us who knew Fred we have many wonderful memories. For those that didn’t know Fred, take a moment to look around the Club and understand that Fred Knee had a massive part in what you see.

Garry Harwood

Garry, at the time of playing his 300th game (November 2013) had the achieved the following on the field along with notable contributions off the field including inducted as a life member of this great club:

• 300 Games
• First Game 1986/87
• Runs 3094
• Highest Score 94
• 50′s 8
• Ducks 25
• 381 wickets
• Best 7/21 versus Glen Park 1989
• Best match figutes 11/100 of 40 overs versus Warrandyte
• Has taken 5 wickets x 11 times
• Catches 93
• Premierships – 3
• Won Chandler 5 Association Bowling in 1992/1993 @11.1

Geoff Lisle

As a player Geoff has had a distinguished career. He was a first eleven member between 1981/82 and 1986/87. After a break from playing he returned in 1990/91 to be a member of the first eleven premiership team. Geoff has also been involved in veteran’s cricket. From 2005/06 – 2007/08 he was a member of the WPCC veteran’s team, winning flags in two of those three seasons. In 2009-10 Geoff captained a father/son team in the 7th eleven. This team finished runner-up, but more importantly it gave many junior cricketers a solid grounding in senior cricket and many fathers of these cricketers an introduction to the senior club.

Geoff has also been actively involved in coaching. In 2002/03 Geoff took over as Friday night non-competitive coach a position he held for 3 years. From there he took on the role of under 12/1 junior coach. After 2 seasons guiding the under 12s Geoff then coached the under 14/1 side in 2007/08 and our under 16/1 team in 2008/9.

Outside of playing and coaching Geoff has also contributed greatly to the development of our club both on and off field. As managing director of Kingfield Equipment, Geoff has provided the club with major sponsorship since 2002/03. On top of this sponsorship he has also made significant donations to the club such as providing tables, chairs and steel for building projects. He was heavily involved in the design and construction of our magnificent training facility and organised the re-sowing of the centre wicket area of the bottom oval. Geoff spent seven years as a committee member from 1983/84 and more recently was vice president 2010/11 -2013/14. He has also been involved on panels for the recruitment of players and appointment of coaches. During this time he worked actively with the council overseeing the recent major upgrade to our clubrooms. For the past three years Geoff has represented Wonga Park Cricket Club on the Wonga Park Sporting Club committee. He not only steers this committee but oversaw its formation. As leader of the sporting club Geoff again worked actively with the council in the provision of new drainage for the bottom oval.

Geoff Lisle a worthy and outstanding life member as demonstrated by his passion, love and loyalty to the Wonga Park Cricket Club.

John Knee

John arrived at Wonga Park in 1943 as a 13 year old boy and has rarely been away from the club since. John played in our premierships in 1950-51 and 1956-57, and went on to play in our first Chandler Shield premiership team in 1974-75. He continued to play until retiring in 1984. John was one of our greatest batsmen and a very good bowler. He played over 300 games for the Club and, with his son Jack, became the first two Wonga players to achieve this amazing milestone.

During his time John:

– score over 5,000 runs and won the batting average on six occasions – took over 300 wickets and won the bowling average on two occasions

In recognition of his contribution to cricket at Wonga, the “John Knee Club Champion Award” was established in 1970-71 which is now awarded to our best performed First 11 cricketer each year.

John’s exceptional on field efforts were matched by his massive contribution to the Club off field. Just one example is that he would often mow the ground during practice on Thursday evenings during the 60s.

John’s off field contribution was acknowledged in 1974 when he was awarded Life Membership of WPCC, our ultimate award.

Since retiring from the game John would be the dedicated dad watching Jack and Rod every Saturday, and even in the last couple of years with his health failing, John would still go and watch his boys playing on Goldy’s vets team.

During our Centenary Ball in February 2011, John was announced one of the 10 inaugural inductees into the “WPCC Hall of Fame” (awarded to our best performed First 11 cricketers).

John passed away peacefully Thursday morning 4th July 2013 after a battle with illness; he was 83 years old. Our sympathies and best wishes in these difficult times go to Marg and his sons Warren (Jack), Russ, Rod and of course the extended Knee family.

The Knees have made a massive contribution to our great club and John played a major part. John arrived at Wonga Park in 1943 as a 13 year old boy and has rarely been away from the club since. John played in our premierships in 1950-51 and 1956-57, and went on to play in our first Chandler Shield premiership team in 1974-75. He continued to play until retiring in 1984.

John was one of our greatest batsmen and a very good bowler. He played over 300 games for the Club and, with his son Jack, became the first two Wonga players to achieve this amazing milestone. During his time John: – score over 5,000 runs and won the batting average on six occasions – took over 300 wickets and won the bowling average on two occasions In recognition of his contribution to cricket at Wonga, the “John Knee Club Champion Award” was established in 1970-71 which is now awarded to our best performed First 11 cricketer each year.

John’s exceptional on field efforts were matched by his massive contribution to the Club off field. Just one example is that he would often mow the ground during practice on Thursday evenings during the 60s. John’s off field contribution was acknowledged in 1974 when he was awarded Life Membership of WPCC, our ultimate award. Since retiring from the game John would be the dedicated dad watching Jack and Rod every Saturday, and even in the last couple of years with his health failing, John would still go and watch his boys playing on Goldy’s vets team.

During our Centenary Ball in February 2011, John was announced one of the 10 inaugural inductees into the “WPCC Hall of Fame” (awarded to our best performed First 11 cricketers). Many of our current members (Seniors and Juniors) wn’t know John Knee but his dedication to family and Club is an inspiration to all of us at Wonga.

Paul Doevelaar

Paul, at the time of playing his 300th game had the following impressive statistics:

• 300 Games
• 625 wickets at @15.8
• Best 8/49 versus Vermont 1991
• Has taken 5 wickets x 29 times
• Has taken the most wickets in the 2nd XI (193)
• Has taken the most wickets in the 4th XI (272)
• Wickets taken 1st (73), 2nd (193), 3rd (47), 4th (272), 5th (1), 6th (-), 7th (38) & 8th (1) for a total of 625
• 2114 Runs
• Best 81
• Ducks 30
• 50’s x 6
• Catches 89
• Club Bowling Average 13 Times
• RDCA Bowling Award 5 Times
• Premierships – 5

Dale Goldsmith (Goldy)

Goldy came to Wonga Park Cricket Club in season 1990/91 as captain/coach of our club. In what was possible the best decision life member Alan Hassan ever made on behalf of the club he was appointed captain/coach and made a instant impact winning the 1990/91 Wilkins Flag and taking the Wonga Park Cricket Club back to Chandler Shield where the club has stayed ever since.

Goldy coached the club for 5 years from 1990-91 to 1994-95 laying the foundation for growth and improvement of our great club over the past 21 years. Goldy was a key driver in the club improving its professionalism on the ground over his 5 year reign as coach. Who can forget the big circle for the entire club at the end of training and 20 catches needing to be taken before training could end. Lights might have been a handy inclusion on the ground some Thursday nights but Goldy was unrelenting in improving the clubs fielding and the 20 catches had to be caught before training ended.

Off the field Goldy has been a constant source of striving to improve the club whether that be through his role of a committee person or Vice President in seasons 1999/00 & 2000/01. Goldy has been a constant sounding board for Supporters, Juniors, Players, Captains, Coaches, Committee members or President’s and his opinion is valued by all at the Wonga Park Cricket Club. Goldy was used as a sounding board/mentor during Geoff Chamberlain’s reign as Senior Coach between 2001 and 2004 and Shawn Everitt’s stint as President in 1999 to 2001. Goldy also spent some 10+ years collecting match balls for the club and ensuring they were there for the captains every Thursday night.

In season 2004/05 Goldy took on the role as Veterans Captain for the Wonga Park Cricket Club and he has performed this role with his usual lofty standards. Under Goldy our Veterans 1st XI side has won 5 out of 6 Premierships and the Veterans have grown from one side in 2004/05 to four sides in 2010/11. Goldy has formed a strong relationship with RDCA Vet Executives including the late Ken Johnson and Vets RDCA President Daryl Stephens and has for many years Captained the RDCA Vets side in representative sides. With the passing of Ken Johnson, Goldy has stepped onto the RDCA Executive and been made Chairman of Selectors for the RDCA representative sides.

Goldy has also spent many hours summarising the 1990’s for our Centenary book published at our Centenary Ball as well as helping out in later years again on field when there was a last minute player shortage in our senior sides.

Some of Goldy’s achievements include

Off Field

• Committee Member
• Vice President 1999/00 & 2000/01
• Coach 1990/91-1994/95
• Collecting match day balls for 10+ years
• Contribution to Centenary Book – Summary of 1990’s
• Thursday night Card Legend

On Field

• Captain 1st XI 1990/91-1994/95
• 157 Senior Games
• Captain Veterans XI 2004/05 – 2011/12
• 50+ Veteran Games
• Les Knee Player of the Year 1998/99 & 2003/04
• 3 Senior Premierships
• 7 Veteran Premierships
• 8 Century’s
• 2 Club Record Partnerships

Dale Goldsmith has been an absolute sensation for the Wonga Park Cricket Club and it was a fitting reward for him to be awarded Life Membership of the Wonga Park Cricket Club in the Centenary Season of 2010/11 his 21st for the club.

Ernie Kear

Ernie’s contribution to the Club over a very long time was outstanding, both on and off the field. He was awarded Life Membership in recognition of this contribution in 1972, and as most of us will know, he mowed our grounds for years and only stopped a few years back when ill health finally caught up with him. He took great pride in making sure the grounds were looking great and ready to go for Saturday cricket.

The Kear’s moved to Wonga Park in the early 1930’ and as a 6 year old in 1934 Ernie would go along to the game each Saturday afternoon hoping that someone wouldn’t turn up so he could get to field, and on most occasions he would. Ernie probably started playing when he was 13.

As a cricketer Ernie would make “1 or a 100”. He liked to hit the balls up towards the Hall, once getting a century in about 30-40 balls. He captained the B Grade Premiership team in 1956/57 and in that season took 7/18, including a triple hatrick! Five wickets in five balls! So Ernie was a very accomplished cricketer, but of course he made a huge contribution off the field as well.

Ernie recalled a story in 2007 that in 1966 the Club decided to level the top ground so a whole bunch of blokes were there with shovels until Ernie rolled up in his bulldozer – much to everyone’s delight! Whether it be improving the grounds using a bulldozer, or a mower, Ernie loved the place. He will always be remembered.

Our history is built upon the huge contribution of families such as the Kear’s, Knee’s and Burch’s. Even if you didn’t know these gentlemen, you have to be inspired by their contribution. It’s up to all of us at the Club to ensure the tradition of selfless hard work continues.

John Schlueter

• John started with WPCC as a junior in 79/80
• Has been a player, official, coach, supporter for 24 seasons with a brief stint at Yarra Glen coaching
• 1st eleven batting award winner 89/90
• Has played in 10 premierships across juniors, seniors and vets
• Junior Cricket coach and unofficial mentor to a large number of juniors, in my opinion in the best 5 coaches/people I have come across in coaching and encouraging juniors in any sport for at least the last 5 seasons.
• Cricket operations manager 2010/2011 & 2011/2012& 2012/2013
• Selector 2011/2012
• Credit to himself, his family and WPCC how he contributes to the club and therefore the Wonga Park community and cricket in the RDCA.