FOUR new life members have been inducted at Murrabit Cricket Club, as the club ended its first season in the Swan Hill District Cricket Association with a blast from the past.
In early March, the club held a reunion of its premiership-winning teams, the 1963/64 A Grade Premiership, 1983-84 B Grade Premiership, 1993-94 U16s Premiership, 2003-04 A Grade Premiership and the Brendan Hope One Day Shield.
The Murrabit Recreation Reserve was packed full of past players, family members and supporters, who were treated to the announcement of the return of life memberships at Murrabit.
A late great of the Blue’s 20th century sides, Gary McKnight, was recognised posthumously for his countless years of service at the club, while Gary’s wife Lyn McKnight was also bestowed the honour.
Club secretary Tim Millard said the club had weathered some tough years, but he was pleased to see the return of the much-deserved recognition.
“It was a really good day to be a part of,” he said.
“We had a lot of past players come back to the club to come along and celebrate and the life memberships were a little bit of a surprise to everyone.
“Gary and Lyn were probably from that earlier period of the club, Gary played for Murrabit throughout the 1960s and Lyn was just always a constant around the club.
“Even at the reunion, when there was a match of cricket on, she was still in the canteen making sure everyone was served their food. She has done so much to help out for so many years.”
Two more life members, Hugh Webb and Bruce Davies were also named, both for their achievements on the field and the sidelines, including coaching Murrabit to an under-16 three-peat in the 1990s.
Millard said that the pair were renowned for their coaching ability around the club.
“We had a pretty successful period under Hugh and Bruce in the mid ’90s,” he said.
“Then in the 2000s most of that same group of junior players moved into the A-grade team, and we actually won the 2003/04 premiership.
“It was just a special thing to get success while being coached by them in juniors, and then in the A-grade as well.
“Some of those guys are still playing at the club currently.”
