The Yarrawonga Mulwala Cricket Club inducted its very first Life Members to Gary Athanitis, Terry Brear, and Justin O’Brien recently.
While there are Life Members from the Yarrawonga & District Cricket Association and the Mulwala United Cricket Club, the honour has never been bestowed since the merger brought both cricketing bodies together in 2008 under the Lakers banner.
Under the club’s constitution, the committee recommended three nominees for Life Membership, and this was put to a vote at the 2021 AGM in July; the quorum of Members unanimously approved the three nominees.
The three club stalwarts are the mainstays of Victoria Park and all things cricket, with the prestigious honours being just reward for three lifetimes committed to cricket in the local area.
Former “A” Grade Premiership player, Daniel Athanitis, presented the YMCC Life Membership to his father, Gary, and spoke of the dedication, passion, and love of the game that his father possesses, and it was a significant influence on his own sporting career. Gary responded with extreme gratitude to his family and how they have supported him in his cricketing career.
Y&DCA Life Member, Robert Tait, reflected on the history of Victoria Park and how cricket played a leading hand in revitalising the disused racecourse into the town’s premier cricketing venue. It was with this spirit in mind that Tait presented deserving recipients, Terry Brear and Justin O’Brien with YMCC Life Memberships.
Brear spoke of the thrill of playing with the many local legends of the game, the friendships and the intense competitions that has made the game so popular and successful.
O’Brien was humbled to be included in the same company of the other Life Members and singled out special mention to his parents, wife and son for their support of his commitment to and love of cricket.
All three are selfless individuals who are truly deserving of the honour of Life Membership bestowed on them by a grateful club.
Gary Athanitis
Career
1983-1995 PLAYER - Y&DCA, Yarrawonga Footballers CC, Mulwala Footballers CC
1995-2007 PLAYER - Mulwala United Cricket Club
2008-2021 PLAYER - Yarrawonga Mulwala Cricket Club
Team Honours
3 Time Runner-Up Mulwala Footballers CC
Premierships Mulwala United CC, A Reserve & Mulwala United CC, B Grade
Individual Honours
3 x “A” Reserve Club Champion – MUCC, 5 x Aggregate runs scorer, - MUCC, 4 x Leading Averages, MUCC, Runner Up - MVCA Medal “A” Reserve, Club person of the Year MUCC,
Club person of the Year YMCC.
Office Bearer
5 years, Secretary – Mulwala Footballers CC. 5 years, Secretary – Mulwala United CC, 5 years, President – Mulwala United CC, 5 years, Board Member – Murray Valley CA, 3 years, President – Murray Valley CA, Vice President of the Northern Rivers Cricket Region, Vice President of Riverina Cricket Zone, 1-year VCCL Rules Committee, Inaugural Vice President – YMCC, 6 years, Board Member – YMCC
1995-2008 Heavily involved at the Mulwala Footballers Cricket Club joining Murray Valley Cricket Association, in this period saw great success with MUCC winning A & B grade premierships. Gary was President of Murray Valley Cricket Association from 1998 – 2002. He remained a committee man to the time of leaving the Association in 2008.
2002–2021 Again Gary being heavily involved with discussion of leaving Murray Valley, firstly with Yarrawonga Footballers Cricket Club and later with Yarrawonga & District Cricket Association Officials which happened in 2008. Gary has been a Board Member of the Yarrawonga Mulwala Cricket Club from day 1, keeping the Mulwala Football CC and Mulwala United CC contacts going. Always willing to participate as an active member, whether as a player or official. His contribution to the Club as an active Official, Player and Socialite over the journey of 38 years of local cricket in the community has been outstanding and thoroughly deserving of the title of LIFE MEMBER of the Yarrawonga Mulwala Cricket Club.
Terry Brear
Career
1985 Played all Junior cricket with the Yarrawonga & District Cricket Association, Winning Captain of Junior Benalla Country Week.
1987 Senior debut in the Y.D.C.A with Yarrawonga Footballers Cricket Club. Playing and Captaining Yarrawonga District Cricket Association at various sides in Representative cricket and Melbourne Country Week.
1991-2008 Played Men’s Country Week Cricket, winning two premierships (1995 & 1996) and Man of the Match in 1995.
1990-2008 Active as a Committee Member of Yarrawonga District Cricket Association, holding the position of Vice-President.
2008 Actively involved with Yarrawonga District Cricket Association and Mulwala United Cricket Club joining together to form Yarrawonga Mulwala Cricket Club in Winter of 2008. Was member of the initial Committee Member to which he remains to date.
2012-2016 Vice President of Yarrawonga Mulwala Cricket Club
2016-2020 President of Yarrawonga Mulwala Cricket Club.Terry played in Yarrawonga Mulwala Cricket Club’s first senior “A” Grade Premiership and numerous other premierships in the B Grade/A Reserve Grade. Terry was very active in the formation of the Club with initial discussions and detailed decisions to make it work. With his record of input and love of the game, Terry has made a significant contribution at all levels of the Yarrawonga Mulwala Cricket Club. Playing and administrating cricket for 37 years in our local community.
Individual Honours
YFCC PREMIERSHIPS: (4) 1987-1988, 1993-1994, 2000-2001 & 2001-2002.
Y&DCA COUNTRY WEEK PREMIERSHIPS: 1995 & 1996 (1995 Final – Man OF The Match).
Y&DCA U16s B&DCA PREMIERSHIP: 2000, Coach.
YMCC PREMIERSHIPS: A Grade 2011-2012, B Grade 2016-2017 (Captain), A Reserve Grade, 2017-2018 (Captain), A Reserve Grade 2018-2019,
YMCC Hat Trick
Terry Brear 2016-2017 Semi Final “B” Grade, YMCC Rams vs City Colts CC: 3.5--2--5—5
YMCC Century No38
Terry Brear – 2014-2015, Rd3, “B” Grade, YMCC vs Gretta CC: 112 runs
Significant Cricket Achievements, Honours, Moments, Events & People
Playing for the Yarrawonga Football Cricket Club and playing with all the YFCC Fraternity;
Gary Essex, Neil Davis, Paul Walker, Ivan Ferguson, Graeme McMillan, Ross McDonald, Alan Randall, Dwain Duxson, Gerad Flanagan, Ben Dixon, Mick Cooke, Mick Lawless, Robert Hall, Tim Dykes, Sean Robinson, Tim Hargreaves, Noel Dillon, Christian Phillips, Ted Graham, Shane McDonald, Dave Woodburn, Chris Kennedy Peter Brear & Glenn Brear.
Playing with in Rep Teams and against in Y&DCA: Ray Irvine, John Irvine, Marcus Hargreaves, Mark Irvine, Steve Irvine, John McNamara, Chris McNamara, Bert Tait, Gavin Nagle, Trevor Donovan, Ryan Donovan, Rustin Donovan, Phillip Beams, Robert Muir, Bob O’Donnell, Martin Casey, Brenden Clarke, John Clarke, Jamie Kelb, Gus Browning, Terry Poidevin, Mick Poidevin, Winston Rhodes, Bill Willett, Sean McLarty, Gerard Martin, fellow incumbents Gary Athanitis and Justin O’Brien.
Outstanding Servants to Local Cricket: Dean Carroll, Chris McNamara, Jason Bassett, Alester Mitchell, Lee Fraser and Matt Knight, for the way they developed the current group over the last 10 years has certainly been a highlight.
Justin O’Brien
Career
1997 Joined Wilby Cricket Club
2000-2008 Wilby CC - Secretary
2000-2008 Yarrawonga & District Cricket Association – Committee Member
2007-2008 Yarrawonga & District Cricket Association – President
2008-2021 Yarrawonga Mulwala Cricket Club – Board Member
2008 -2021 YMCC – Assistant Secretary/MyCricket Coordinator
2013-2021 YMCC – Lonsdale Reserve Oval, Curator
Justin has been involved firstly with Wilby Cricket Club as a player and an official. Actively involved with Yarrawonga District Cricket Association from 2000 to the very end of the Association in 2008. He was very willing to participate and offer any information needed to make the unification of clubs successful, always thorough and always professional. Justin has been very active on the Board from day one as a Director taking on the role of maintaining the entire wicket at Mulwala which is now a beautiful wicket to play on both with bat and ball. He has also found time to act as B Grade Captain for seven seasons, as well as still being an Office Bearer for the club, his contribution as a player and Official over the past 25 years is an outstanding example of the ultimate club person.
Individual Honours
WCC PREMIERSHIPS: (4) 1998-1999, 1999-2000, 2002-2003 & 2007-2008.
WCC: Captain
Y&DCA PRESIDENT: 2007-2008
YMCC: B Grade Captain
YMCC: Club Person 2019-2020
YMCC PREMIERSHIPS: B Grade 2015-2016 & 2020-2021, A Reserve Grade, ONE DAY Premiers 2008-2009
2016-2017 W&DCA - “B” Grade - Golden Gloves Award
Justin O’BRIEN - Yarrawonga-Mulwala CC: Catches 10-Stumpings 4: DISMISSALS 14
Significant Cricket Achievements, Honours, Moments, Events & People
Both YMCC B Grade Teams playing off in the W&DCA Grand Final at Stan Hargreaves Oval in March 2016.