More about the Players of Today
After managing just six senior appearances in his teenage years with a modest highest score of 19 to his credit it would have been fair to say the kid was just going to be another player.
After spending numerous seasons dominating the reserves as a batsmen/keeper who would be called upon for one or two games in the A Grade, what has transpired since has been testament to his desire and willingness to succeed.
After forcing himself regularly into the top side in the Season 1995/96 he has gone on to become one of the most feared top order batsmen in the competition with aggressive stroke play the feature of his game. Coupled with his trademark power the key ingredient he possesses is “ competitiveness ” these are the two components that make him the player he is. It is no secret that his passion for the game and his beloved club is undoubted and this can be validated by the fact he has continuously juggled his work rosters to be available week in week out.
The turning point of his career came in a match against Lake View in 1996 when he plundered the attack to score 160 not out and come within 7 runs of surpassing the club record held by Tony Patrizi. Then in 1999 he almost achieved the feat again against North Kalgoorlie scoring a punishing 165. His most recent century was scored in December 2002 against North Kalgoorlie when he amassed 137.
Such has been his dominance over the opposition it is no coincidence that during the mid to late 1990’s that if Todd fired the team fired and he if he failed with the willow the side struggled to assemble a competitive total. As well as his prowess with a bat in his hand is the fact he has also captured over 100 wickets bowling a mixture of leg spin and medium pace and he has forged a reputation for being the sides partnership breaker.
From his humble beginning as a senior cricketer Todd Altus or “Dougy” as he is affectionately known has gone onto Captain the A Grade side and has on numerous occasions played at representative level for the Eastern Goldfields along the way procuring numerous association awards and securing four A Grade Club Champion awards. The club could not have hoped to receive such an outstanding contribution from Todd “Dougy” Altus.
The arrival of Greg Bond to Kalgoorlie-Boulder at the end of Season 1983/84 signalled the beginning of an exciting partnership that spanned some 18 years.
After Captaining the State at National level as a junior and as a former 1st Grade WACA player for Midland Guildford, Bond arrived in town with a huge reputation. This pressure failed to bother Bond, with his trademark confidence he went about procuring a distinguished career with Great Boulder.
As was the case with many mining industry workers of the 1980’s it was not unusual for players being available to play for only half of the days play. This often lead to a scenario where Bond would take the field with limited time to build an innings and more often than not the opposition bowlers would be on the receiving end of a rampaging innings that would result in a lot more runs being scored than balls faced. It was not unfamiliar to see the ball set sail back over the bowlers head onto Bourke or Collins Street when he was on a roll at Wallace Park or indeed disappear over one of the Football Clubrooms at Sir Richard Moore.
Ironically some of his finest innings were produced at the Cruikshanks the same venue he steered home numerous winners as a Trainer/Reinsman at the local trots. Such is his love for the Gee Bees many of his pacers have been named with a distinct Great Boulder flavour.
During his career Bond was Captain Coach the club and was a premiership player on two occasions, he also represented the Eastern Goldfields at Country Week and was the recipient of the prestigious O’Shaughnessy Medal as the competitions leading player in 1995/96.
After his final season where he managed to score 511 runs it was evident that he was still more than capable of holding down a spot in the side. However it was inevitable with his two children approaching high school age it was his last season and a move back to Perth was imminent.
Such was his passion for the Gee Bees he returned from Perth on a regular basis to finish off the season and the curtain came down on his illustrious career when he strode to the crease at age 40 in the A Grade preliminary final in 2002. His career run aggregate stood at 5088 (average 27.9) which to date is second only to his close mate Brian Thomas as the clubs all time leading run scorer.
Not only did Bond serve his beloved Gee Bees with great distinction as a player and coach, his efforts were tireless in his role as a committeeman and his continuous support as a club sponsor is ever generous. His efforts over the years culminated at the end of season 2000/01 when he was rewarded with the ultimate club honour receiving a life membership.
After forging a reputable image as both a sportsmen and businessman few would argue that one of the clubs most respected and loyal servants is Greg Bond.
The premiership season of 2005-06 brought to an end the career of one the clubs most decorated players in Mel “Wingy” Gallagher. Upon arriving in the Goldfields with his family from Perth in the mid 1980’s he quickly established himself as a classy top order batsmen when he debuted for the club as a raw talented teenager. His 149 games produced 3759 runs at 28.7 and featured 4 A Grade centuries which is a club record he shares with Barry Pascoe and Brian Thomas. He was a member of three A Grade Premiership sides the most recent being the 05-06 side after which he emotionally announced his retirement. The former club Captain and Coach will long be remembered for his superb batting technique and uncanny ground fielding skills. Gallagher also holds the distinction of being the first ever WA Country Colts X1 player to record a century in the WACA colts competition.
Footnote: Mel is the son of Hugh one of the clubs most loyal servants who held long term positions with the club as both Secretary and President for over a decade.
There is no coincidence that Dave Sheehan has won the
A Grade Champion Player award on no less than eight occasions when you
consider the outstanding record of statistics the talented allrounder
assembled.
Sheehan was also another product of the Gee Bees junior system who went
on to play 169 A Grade games scoring 4486 runs at 28.2 he also captured
276 wickets at 15.6.
His list of credits included two Premierships, three
O’Shaughnessy Medals as the EGCA’s leading player, three A
Grade Centuries which included a highest score of 117 not out. Sheehan
was a highly regarded local sportsmen and his longevity and consistency
were the hallmark of his decorated career, the talented top order batsmen
and off spin bowler is also a valued Life Member and will certainly go
down in history as one of the all time greats.
Great Boulder can lay claim to producing some of the
best batsmen the EGCA has ever seen and one of the finest was Brian “Biffer”
Thomas. In a career that included 200 A Grade games the stylish top order
batsmen compiled a prolific 5259 runs at 30.1 which goes down in the club
history books as a record for the highest aggregate of runs scored. It
is widely accepted in local cricketing circles that Thomas was one man
opposition teams respected as a prize wicket and his elegance coupled
with determination was feared by all rivals.
Fittingly he was a product
of the clubs junior ranks that went on to procure four A Grade centuries
including a highest score of 135. The pinnacle for Thomas was Season 1991-92
when he was instrumental in the club securing a Premiership when playing
his 150th game in that winning Grand Final. The three time Premiership
player was rewarded for his long and dedicated service to the club the
same year when he received the clubs ultimate honour of Life Membership.
The Oxford dictionary describes a stalwart as someone
who is strong, courageous, resolute, uncompromising and partisan.
Gee Bees life member Calvin Wilson amply fits that description, having
displayed each of these qualities at various stages of his long cricket
career. In his younger days, Calvin was a powerful hitter of the ball.
His courage has never been questioned, having borne the brunt of many
a hostile bowling attack in his day, from fast bowlers such as Colin Trezona
(who always seemed to revel at the sight of Calvin’s blood), Neville
Youlden, Daryl Wilkinson and Brian Macgregor.
Calvin was definitely resolute, having top scored in three grand final
innings for the Gee Bees (51 in 1971-72), 53 in 1975-76 and 114 in 1981-82,
and equal top scored in a fourth grand final with 27 in1963-64).
On the question of being uncompromising and partisan, well, there are
few people in Goldfields cricket who would argue about that — even
his old adversary from Hannans, John “Jumbo” Lewis, who shared
the same birth date as Calvin.
Calvin’s greatest joy came from Gee Bee successes in A-Grade grand
finals. He was very much a part of that success story, accruing the perfect
record of ten premierships from ten grand final appearances along the
way.
His biggest personal triumph came in the twilight of his playing career
when he made a magnificent 114 in the 1981-82 grand final. It remains
to this day as the only century scored by a Gee Bee in an A- Grade grand
final, and one of only a few centuries ever scored in an EGGA grand final. However, it wasn’t Calvin’s only century in Goldfields cricket.
He has the distinction of scoring the only century made in a night cricket
match on the Goldfields. It happened during the 1981-82 season in a match
played under lights at the Kalgoorlie Oval.
For the record, Calvin played 199 games for the Gee Bees, batted 260 times,
made 4,098 runs at 17.3 and took 135 catches and six stumpings.
But, those figures only tell part of the story.
He has been a true dub stalwart through thick - and - thin, being a member
of the club’s very first premiership victory, and being one of the
greatest all-round contributors to the club, both on and off the field,
in its entire 40-year history.
They say that behind every good man, is a good woman. And, this is true
in the case of Pat Wilson who also qualifies as a Gee Bees stalwart. Her
contributions at social events, many of which took place at her own household
in White Street, South Kalgoorlie, have been enormous over the last 20
years or more — and greatly appreciated by literally hundreds of
Gee Bee supporters.
by John Terrell
Daniel Campo
Daniel “dog” campo was a gifted all-rounder the stylish right handed batsman and left arm medium pacer had a highest score of 119 and was recognised as one of the best fielders in the EGCA competition throughout his career he arrived at the club after playing first grade WACA cricket for Gosnells and during his time at great boulder had the distinction of being selected to play for the WA country x1 not only did campo serve the club with distinction on the field he was a terrific servant off field holding the position of treasurer for many years as well as his generous sponsorship support.
Andrew's current stats do not portray the full picture. In his first season with the club he took out the Jerrard Medal after some eye catching performances with the ball. The former First Class cricketer with Yorkshire and Derbyshire has a wealth of knowledge and experience he can take full advantage of as the A grade Captain in the 2015/16 season. His skill with bat and ball is undoubted and with the ability to turn the ball both ways he provides a massive test for even the best batsman in the Goldfields.