It was a cricketing weekend that was a long time in the making.
Eighty years of history of the Deniliquin District Cricket Association was celebrated across last weekend.
The weekend began with an informal reunion event on Friday evening, at the new shared Memorial Park clubrooms, before Saturday’s Deni Rhinos A-grade season opener.
The reunion activities were capped off with a Sportsman’s Night on Saturday, headlined by a host of celebrated guest speakers.
Former Australian cricket captain Aaron Finch, current Australian Men’s cricket coach Andrew McDonald and state cricketer Tim Ludeman were a hit with the crowd that gathered in the Deniliquin RSL Club’s Mountbatten Room.
The room was filled with the noise of memories relived, with past players, partners and supporters gathering to reunite over shared cricketing experiences.
Deni Rhinos Cricket Club president Tim Hillier opened the evening, acknowledging DDCA life members, guests, those who came together to organise the DDCA reunion events as well as some of the context, history and memories from the DDCA cricket past to present day.
DDCA life member Wayne Bradley also played an important role remembering DDCA players and members who have passed away, as well as keeping the night running smoothly.
As the main meal was being served, ‘Roaming Brian’ took place, after which the guest speakers Finch, McDonald and Ludeman took their place up on stage.
Ludeman asked the former Victorian teammates about their cricketing background, other notable moments in their cricketing journeys and current topical questions before doing a ‘Roaming Richie’ going around the room, giving those in attendance free rein over any questions they’d like to ask.
Finch, McDonald and Ludeman were incredibly insightful and open with their answers which they gave in good faith, topping off a great night for those in attendance.
Attendees were able to catch up again at the end of proceedings to celebrate a historic night.
More from the reunion weekend will be included in this Friday’s Pastoral Times.