Respect our volunteers

Executive resignation prompts warning to GCA clubs

GEELONG Cricket Association president Barry McFarlane has issued a stern warning to clubs to end personal attacks on volunteers after revaluations a senior executive member quit on the back of repeated abuse.

McFarlane took the extraordinary step of issuing an email to clubs to cut out vile abuse or face severe penalties in the wake of Peter Cramp’s sudden resignation during the recent finals series.

McFarlane said personal matters also influenced Cramp’s decision to quit as grounds committee chairman on the eve of the grand final.

It was untimely, given the controversy surrounding the pitch fiasco at Stinton Park, where day one of play was abandoned when Newtown & Chilwell failed to place large covers on the wicket table despite steady overnight rain.

Acting president Colin Dempsey declined to comment on Cramp’s resignation amid the wicket issues at Queens Park, but McFarlane sought a meeting with Cramp when he returned from a holiday in South Africa.

“I had discussions with Peter two weeks ago, and the abusive emails were part of it (his resignation) but there were also personal reasons as well that were not to do with cricket,” McFarlane said.

“But those particular incidents where he got bad feedback from clubs didn’t help either, I tell you that right now.

“They (clubs) were pointing the finger, calling him dumb and an idiot — all those types of things — and it’s just not on. People aren’t here to get abused by clubs. They are volun- tary, they are doing their job and I expect clubs to respect that.

“You just don’t make those type of comments. You can be disappointed with decisions that are made, that’s fine, but you don’t go out and deliver a personal attack on an individual. That’s just not good enough as far as I’m concerned.

“That was something that I pointed out to the clubs that we as an association will have to address in the future because they are part of decisions that are made by a committee or a management group.”

Asked if the GCA had come down hard on clubs who targeted Cramp, McFarlane said the clubs had been warned it “won’t be tolerated in the future”.

“We had a person resign from the management committee and it had a lot to do with the responses he was receiving in relation to the decisions his committee made and I just think it’s not good enough,” McFarlane said.

“Personal abuse or comments on his ability to make decisions is just not on.”

McFarlane said much of the criticism had stemmed from clubs in the controversial hard- wicket competition, which was thrown into disarray when the GCA incorrectly pitted sides against inferior opposition.

But he would not be drawn on which clubs were abusive.

“There were other incidents throughout the year where he copped a barrage and all it’s done is forced a volunteer away from the game,” McFarlane said.

“It was mostly on Facebook and I hate that sort of stuff.

“In the end, Peter asked himself ‘Do I really want to do this?’ and he couldn’t convince himself that he wanted to continue. That was basically it.”