Island thrill for cricketers
FOR over a century, North Queensland has welcomed visits from renowned cricketers, usually backed by a team of well- known Australian players.
In 1906 Victor Trumper headed a team that played at Charters Towers, Ravenswood and Townsville. It was reported at the time that the Charters Towers team would field 15 players, and Ravenswood would field a team of 13. Even so, the visitors won.
Following Trumper’s lead, in the years between the world wars, the renowned Australian wicketkeeper Edgar (‘ Gar’) Waddy encouraged some of Australia’s famous cricketers to play in country areas, stimulating interest in the game, and inspiring talented young cricketers.
In 1931 Waddy’s team, which included renowned players like Alan Kippax, Don Bradman, Stan McCabe, Alan Fairfax, Bill Ives and Archie Jackson, played in centres and cities from Cairns to Brisbane, including Innisfail, Malanda, Ayr, Bowen, Charters Towers and Townsville.
At Townsville, over Easter 1931, two matches were played, one against a Townsville team, the other against a North Queensland rep- resentative team. Not unexpectedly, the visitors won both matches, though local batsman Lou Litster made a gallant stand.
Everywhere the visitors travelled they were welcomed enthusiastically. At Townsville the highlight of their tour was a visit to Palm Island where they were welcomed by members of the Island Band, with a rendition of Hail the Conquering Hero Comes. On a visit to the school, Gar Waddy decreed that the children could have a half- day holiday, which was received with applause.
In the afternoon, an accompanying reporter described the entertainment. “Towards the end of lunch the attention of the visitors was attracted by a peculiar noise coming through the bush. This proved to be the war chant of the natives as they emerged fully attired for a corroberee [ sic]. This was indeed a novelty to the company and was greatly enjoyed …. The next portion of the entertainment was an exhibition of boomerang and spear throwing, also a mimic tribal fight with native weapons which took place on the spacious football field.” The last display was of fire lighting with the use of two sticks rubbed together.
Then it was time for the visitors to depart for Townsville on the Hayles launch Malita.
“Every one of the visitors thoroughly enjoyed the novel outing, remarking that they would not have missed it for anything.”