The 73-year-old Life Member of Ringwood Cricket Club where she has been a scorer for 55 years owns, with her husband, a holiday house in Wilby.
“She spends quite a bit of time here with her husband Lindsay,” friend Helen White said.
“The house they have owned for over 30 years is the former Wilby School House. Both Jan and Lindsay attend and contribute to many community events here and have a strong interest in the history of the town.
“Jan, who was a teacher before she retired, also scores for some of the major matches at the MCG.”
Jan is a foundation member of the Victorian Umpires and Scores Association, has performed various administrative roles including that of secretary for the association and as a delegate to the Eastern Cricket Association involving Ringwood.
“I’m overwhelmed, very, very proud and very, very humbled when you know there are other people in this sport who have done so much and haven’t been recognised,” she said of being announced an OAM recipient.
Prior to covid, the Howards would make their way to Wilby once or twice a month. “We love Wilby and Yarrawonga,” Jan said. “It’s so different from Melbourne – the peace, serenity, lifestyle.
“The people are great. Helen is such an inspiration and a lovely person.”
Apart from a couple of early age games, Jan hasn’t played cricket but loves the administration side of the sport she considers undoubtedly the best sport in the work.
It’s the sport which has involved thousands and thousands of hours, all of a voluntary nature, which has ensured the smooth running of cricket, especially for Ringwood and which rightly led to a national award for Jan.
