Club’s groundswell of regard for ‘lifers’
THE Mudgeeraba Nerang and Districts Cricket Club will be naming their ovals after the first three life members of the club, Charlie Veivers, Arthur Auld and Russell Kurz.
Veivers was the club’s first life member, inducted in 1960 following 32 years as a player before turning to junior coaching.
The former fast bowler has had ground number one named after him and he said it was a proud moment.
“In my day we didn’t really have a committee. Each year
I’d call a meeting and about five would turn up. I’d keep the books and be the treasurer,” the 88-year-old said.
“It wasn’t a big job, but someone needed to do it to keep the club going.
“Cricket has changed a lot. The players used to do the scoring and the umpiring. We just enjoyed playing.”
Auld, who was the second person to become a life member at the club in 1977 has had the second ground named after him.
The 99-year-old, who turns 100 next September, was ahead of his time as a pace bowling all-rounder who
knew how to hit a boundary.
“My first century only took 34 minutes, I hit seven 6s and 11 4s,” he said.
“One season I was second in the batting for the association, the next I was the second for the bowling and the third season I was third in the batting and bowling.”
Kurz, who passed away in September, served as president of the club for 18 years, stretching from the 1970s to the 1990s.
He’s had the third ground named after him and his son Tim said it was a bittersweet moment for the family.
“It’s a bit of a sombre mo
ment for the family with dad not here to enjoy it, but he would be very proud and it’s a great privilege for him,” he said.
The club’s current president Matt Gill said when the club was left without a sponsor for the three grounds for the current season the board decided to honour those who have given so much to the club.
“It’s our club culture to respect those who are a big part of our history and provided so much time to the club,” he said.
Mudgeeraba Nerang and Districts won’t be on their
home turf for round eight with the ladder leaders taking on 10th-placed Broadbeach Robina away at Broadbeach.
In the round’s other games, Queens will look to continue Colts’ winless season when they host the bottom positioned team.
Palm Beach Currumbin will hope to continue its strong start to the season when it plays Coomera Hope Island at Palm Beach.
The rest of the round will see Burleigh face off against Surfers Paradise, Alberton Ormeau play Helensvale Pacific Pine and Southport Labrador take on Runaway Bay.