VIPs and Guests arrived to a sun-bathed Stadium Room at Kooyong Lawn Tennis Club to a slideshow of MAACA players action shots and drinks on arrival.
Among the VIPs was Mr Harish Rao, who presides on the boards of; Cricket Victoria, the Australia India Institute, the Australia India Chamber of Commerce Ltd. and the charity Australian Friends of Asha.
MC, Ron Steiner opened proceedings, followed
by a rousing welcome speech from Chair Stuart Stockdale. The evening's Raffle and the Spring Membership Drive were key topics. Both offered a chance to win a double pass the the Taverners Victoria Boxing Day Breakfast and two tickets for Day One of the Aus v India 4th Test at the MCG.
Runner up raffle prizes were signed copies of Greg de Moore’s autobiography on Tom Wills, who was Australia’s first famous cricketer in the Colonies and our first Legend Inductee for the evening.
Among the VIPs was Mr Harish Rao, who presides on the boards of; Cricket Victoria, the Australia India Institute, the Australia India Chamber of Commerce Ltd. and the charity Australian Friends of Asha.
MC, Ron Steiner opened proceedings, followed
by a rousing welcome speech from Chair Stuart Stockdale. The evening's Raffle and the Spring Membership Drive were key topics. Both offered a chance to win a double pass the the Taverners Victoria Boxing Day Breakfast and two tickets for Day One of the Aus v India 4th Test at the MCG.
Runner up raffle prizes were signed copies of Greg de Moore’s autobiography on Tom Wills, who was Australia’s first famous cricketer in the Colonies and our first Legend Inductee for the evening.
Welcoming our New Members
Stuart called up and presented our new Taverners Victoria Members in attendance with their Taverners bat pins.
Stuart called up and presented our new Taverners Victoria Members in attendance with their Taverners bat pins.
The 2024 Taverners Victoria - Inclusive Cricket Awards
Two awards for All Abilities Cricket were presented by our Secretary Robyn Watson and Stuart Stockdale.
Two awards for All Abilities Cricket were presented by our Secretary Robyn Watson and Stuart Stockdale.
The Most Valuable Volunteer Award
Presented to Lorraine Woodman
Lorraine has made an outstanding contribution over 31 years, coordinating both indoor and outdoor All Abilities cricket programs since 1992.
She took over running the Footscray Indoor All Abilities weekly program with her husband Laurie, knowing nothing about the game but quickly saw how rewarding it was for the players.
With long term financial support from Taverners Victoria, the Footscray Indoor Group now has around 30 male and female players, 6 of whom were there from at the start in 1992.
Players gather from Bendigo, Ballarat, Geelong and Cranbourne for an end of year Grand Final, and an all important visit from Santa for the little ones. Lorraine also coordinates an annual competition at the Ballarat Indoor Centre for the Bendigo Bank Cup.
Between 2009 and 2013, Lorraine expanded her program to outdoor cricket, taking her players to Altona CC to play in the Barwon All Abilities League.
Two seasons later under Stephen Lefebvre, MAACA started up and Loraine’s players joined Yarraville CC, with a ready-made coach, in 2015. After many successful seasons, Lorraine’s team moved to Seddon CC in 2023, which now fields 3 teams in the MAACA.
Lorraine was inducted In 2018 into the Lifetime Achievement Honour Roll at the Victorian Disability Awards.
To Lorraine, the players, parents and carers have become family to her over her amazing 31 years in All Abilities cricket. She truly treasures every bit of her time she has had with these wonderful people.
The MAACA 2023/24 Player of the Year.
Awarded to Dylan Owen-Buoy from Brunswick CC.
Awarded to Dylan Owen-Buoy from Brunswick CC.
Dylan started playing cricket as a 10 year old 23 years ago for Glenroy Broadmeadows CC. He graduated to play in their All Abilities programme for a number of years. 2 years ago Dylan switched to Brunswick CC and has immensely enjoyed his time there. He is a highly valued member in the All-Abilities group, and the wider senior playing group.
He joins in on Thursday night training (though some say he’s in it for the chicken parmas afterwards!) A leg spin bowler “the spin-meister” and handy with the bat, Dylan always approaches his fielding with a spring in his step.
Dylan is well known at Brunswick and other clubs for his sausage rolls and his keen interest in poetry. He has published 2 books and was delighted to read at the Taverners Boxing Day Breakfast last year at the MCG in front of Merv Hughes and a large crowd.
Dylan was very proud and humbled by the award. He responded poetically to the audience…
“I never expected this to come before my eyes….
To accept this award for Cricketing Player of the Year is a brilliant surprise.
Thank you for bestowing me with this great honour.”
He joins in on Thursday night training (though some say he’s in it for the chicken parmas afterwards!) A leg spin bowler “the spin-meister” and handy with the bat, Dylan always approaches his fielding with a spring in his step.
Dylan is well known at Brunswick and other clubs for his sausage rolls and his keen interest in poetry. He has published 2 books and was delighted to read at the Taverners Boxing Day Breakfast last year at the MCG in front of Merv Hughes and a large crowd.
Dylan was very proud and humbled by the award. He responded poetically to the audience…
“I never expected this to come before my eyes….
To accept this award for Cricketing Player of the Year is a brilliant surprise.
Thank you for bestowing me with this great honour.”
Legend inductee - Tom Wills 1835-1880
Taverners Australia President Paul Sheahan took to the stage to present a tribute to Thomas Wentworth Wills, the first of three, Taverners Victoria Legend inductees in 2024.
Watch the Tom Wills Tribute video on YouTube - Here
Taverners Australia President Paul Sheahan took to the stage to present a tribute to Thomas Wentworth Wills, the first of three, Taverners Victoria Legend inductees in 2024.
Watch the Tom Wills Tribute video on YouTube - Here
Paul Sheahan in fine form, spoke eloquently with his own touch of dry wit, on the fascinating story of arguably, Australia’s first sporting super star Tom Wills. His story spans across the mid 1800’s, when the colonies of Victoria, NSW and Queensland began their fierce rivalry.
A tragic story of a heroic sportsman who was adored by the public for his cricketing feats and defiance of authority. Wills co-invented the game that became known as Australian Rules football with his cousin H.C.A. Harrison, captain coached the first ever cricket team of First Nations players who toured England in 1868 and twelve years later perished by his own hand at the age of 44.
A tragic story of a heroic sportsman who was adored by the public for his cricketing feats and defiance of authority. Wills co-invented the game that became known as Australian Rules football with his cousin H.C.A. Harrison, captain coached the first ever cricket team of First Nations players who toured England in 1868 and twelve years later perished by his own hand at the age of 44.
Legend inductee - Dr. Julie Savage
Taverners Life Member, Ian Crawford spoke on behalf of Julie Savage, who was a late apology due to family reasons. Generally a shy and modest person, Julie is a remarkably high achiever in many fields she turns to.
Her love of cricket prevailed beyond her 64 matches for Victoria as an allrounder, between 1990/91 to 1998/99, her final season as captain. She played 257 VWCA matches across five clubs and became a highly successful women's cricket administrator.
Julie, who now runs her own dentistry practice, served as both President and Vice President for the VWCA between 1997 and 2014 and served as Chair of the Australian Women’s National Selection Panel in the mid 2010s. She is a Life Member of both CV and VWCA and has a VMCU Un14s Representative Shield named after her.
Taverners Life Member, Ian Crawford spoke on behalf of Julie Savage, who was a late apology due to family reasons. Generally a shy and modest person, Julie is a remarkably high achiever in many fields she turns to.
Her love of cricket prevailed beyond her 64 matches for Victoria as an allrounder, between 1990/91 to 1998/99, her final season as captain. She played 257 VWCA matches across five clubs and became a highly successful women's cricket administrator.
Julie, who now runs her own dentistry practice, served as both President and Vice President for the VWCA between 1997 and 2014 and served as Chair of the Australian Women’s National Selection Panel in the mid 2010s. She is a Life Member of both CV and VWCA and has a VMCU Un14s Representative Shield named after her.
Special Guest Legend inductee -
Peter “Wheels” Bedford
Peter Bedford took to the stage with modesty and a touch of Port Melbourne cheekiness, to be interviewed by our maestro MC, Ron Steiner. Together they took the audience through a stellar sporting career that most could only dream of in the Football / Cricket professional world.
Peter’s first love was cricket and he was a very talented batsman and leg spinner for Victoria between 1967/68 and 1972/73. His footballing prowess at Port Melbourne was attracting attention from both South Melbourne and Port Adelaide at the end of 1967. Peter was also urged to come across to play cricket for SA by selector Don Bradman, who considered him a strong candidate for the Australian team.
Peter and his wife decided to take South Melbourne's offer as there was far better money on the table than being a Test cricketer on $7 a day in those times. The Swans offer enabled Peter to put a deposit down on a home in Garden City and the rest is history!
The pinnacle of Peter’s success came in 1969/70 where he claimed 5/40 in the 2nd innings of the Sheffield Shield Final against SA to help the Vics win the title. Earlier that season he had claimed the wickets of both Greg and Ian Chappell in the same 23 over spell at the MCG and scored his only FC century, 134 no against WA.
The following winter South Melbourne made their first finals series in 25 years and Peter won the 1970 Brownlow Medal!
Overall he won 5 Best & Fairests and 3 Leading Goal kicker Awards as a roving forward for the Swans, was inducted into their Team of the Century in 2003 and played 13 games for Victoria.
Taverners Australia Chair John Jeffreys closed the evening and thanked our special guest Peter Bedford, along with everyone for their generous support of Taverners, including those involved in running this fantastic event.
Peter “Wheels” Bedford
Peter Bedford took to the stage with modesty and a touch of Port Melbourne cheekiness, to be interviewed by our maestro MC, Ron Steiner. Together they took the audience through a stellar sporting career that most could only dream of in the Football / Cricket professional world.
Peter’s first love was cricket and he was a very talented batsman and leg spinner for Victoria between 1967/68 and 1972/73. His footballing prowess at Port Melbourne was attracting attention from both South Melbourne and Port Adelaide at the end of 1967. Peter was also urged to come across to play cricket for SA by selector Don Bradman, who considered him a strong candidate for the Australian team.
Peter and his wife decided to take South Melbourne's offer as there was far better money on the table than being a Test cricketer on $7 a day in those times. The Swans offer enabled Peter to put a deposit down on a home in Garden City and the rest is history!
The pinnacle of Peter’s success came in 1969/70 where he claimed 5/40 in the 2nd innings of the Sheffield Shield Final against SA to help the Vics win the title. Earlier that season he had claimed the wickets of both Greg and Ian Chappell in the same 23 over spell at the MCG and scored his only FC century, 134 no against WA.
The following winter South Melbourne made their first finals series in 25 years and Peter won the 1970 Brownlow Medal!
Overall he won 5 Best & Fairests and 3 Leading Goal kicker Awards as a roving forward for the Swans, was inducted into their Team of the Century in 2003 and played 13 games for Victoria.
Taverners Australia Chair John Jeffreys closed the evening and thanked our special guest Peter Bedford, along with everyone for their generous support of Taverners, including those involved in running this fantastic event.
Enjoy a further selection of photographs from the evening.
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