Origins
In 1799 four Missionaries took up 100 acre grants of land in the District of Dundas, as West Pennant Hills was then known. Samuel Marsden was a later land holder who owned land with a high point being Thompson’s Corner (then called Mt Wilberforce). The main roads in this area followed the tracks of bullock drays. In 1804 the largest land grant was given to Dr John Savage with his 290 acres covering much of West Pennant Hills. He ended up selling the land to work for the East India Company to avoid being on trial for not attending a woman in labour who later died. In 1845 a Wesleyan Chapel was built on land donated by John Pogson on New Line Road. The first school was opened in 1850.
Cherrybrook took its name from the 65-acre orchard of Joseph and Mary Ann Harrison. The land had been granted originally to Mary Russell during the 1820s. The South-Eastern corner of Cherrybrook lies within the orchard. In David Road, one of the areas original roads, Robert and Elizabeth Gallard established a small farm. The first sub-division happened in 1922 when land in Roberts’ Road was subdivided into 5 acre blocks for ‘Improved orchard and Farm areas’ – typically fruit trees (plums, nectarines, apples, Emperor Mandarins, oranges, persimmons, apricots and peaches being clearly marked on subdivision plans). In 1960, Sydney’s first display village, Cherrybrook Estate, was built in John Savage Crescent. Large scale land releases began in 1978.
Cricket has been played in this District as early as the 1850s – about 20 years after settlement. Cricketers’ of last century had many difficulties caused mainly by rough roads and grounds. In 1897 Kenthurst played at Rouse Hill and at the end of the game they found that the horses “had tired of waiting and made for home of their own account”. In 1895, in a match between Glenhaven and Glenorie at Glenorie Park, a fieldsman, James Stubbs, chased a ball into the outfield where he found a large black snake with a “spherical bulge half way along its length”. After calling ‘lost ball’ the batsman “smote the serpent on the head and the ball was recovered with a knife”. (Source: Alfred James: Golden Jubilee History 1976).
In the early days, family teams were common. The South Colah Cricket Club had 18 sons of Patrick and John Duffy of Thornleigh, Dural CC was sustained by the seven sons of Thomas Best, Pennant Hills CC by the 10 sons of Arthur Thompson and Castle Hill CC by the eleven sons of John James (source: Claire Schofield: The Shaping of Hornsby Shire 1988 p86).
The Fuggle family has a long and distinguished history in the local area. Along with the Hunt, Roughley, Best and Sippe families, the Fuggle family sustained the Dural Cricket Club throughout the 1890s. Dural Park (off Quarry Road) was the home ground of the Dural Club.
An extract from the ‘Cumberland Mercury’ records details of a game on Australia Day (then Anniversary Day) in 1878:
“On Anniversary Day, a cricket match was played between South Colah and Peat’s Ferry Clubs on Mr. Boulder’s ground at Peat’s Bight. The gentlemen of the former club laboured under some difficulty having ridden 20 miles the morning of the match. On their arrival at the Ferry they met with a hospitable welcome from Mr. Lloyd, one of their opponents.
When the game commenced, there must have over 200 onlookers present including a large number of the fair sex. The Peat’s Ferry gentlemen won the toss at once went to the wickets and were all put out for 82 runs.
After adjournment for luncheon, the South Colah players were put out for 59 runs after a long and tedious game and the Peat’s Ferry players in their second innings scored only 20 so that South Colah needed 44 to win
Amid tremendous excitement, they were put out for 43 and the match ended in a tie. As the game progressed, the wind became more boisterous so that it was impossible to pitch the ball with anything like precision and, owing to the rough crease and fast bowling, several of the players sustained injuries upon which the young lady visitors were most assiduous in their attention.
At the end of the match, the players adjourned to a large marquee where an excellent dinner was provided. After the dinner dancing was indulged in right good earnest till midnight and on breaking up preparatory to starting for home, Mr. Osborn, in a very neat speech, thanked the Peat’s Ferry gentlemen for the kind manner in which they had been treated.”
Source: Alf James, HKCA Jubilee History 1926/27 – 1975/76 page 1.
The Hornsby Ku-ring-gai Cricket Association (HKCA) was formed on 11 March 1926 after a meeting at the Hornsby Masonic Hall). This is now the site of the Meriton building (right next to Quaffer’s Liquor) The first clubs were; Hornsby United, Hornsby Railways, P A James Pty Ltd, St. Ives, Galston, North Hornsby, Pennant Hills, Normanhurst, IOOF, Cheltenham and Evening Continuation School. The first century was scored by John Copes of Cheltenham A (Source: Alfred James: Golden Jubilee History 1976 p 9). The HKCA was renamed The Hornsby Ku-ring-gai and Hills District Cricket Association in 1988/89.
West Pennant Hills Cherrybrook Cricket Club
Parramatta District Junior Cricket Association (PDJCA)
1930-31 – our first season as a Club (West Pennant Hills) when we played C Grade (26 teams in 3 Divisions) against Westmead. The game was most likely played at Parramatta Park. Our first Team was:
W Bowerman, F Shields, J Blissett, W Ross, G Blissett, L Blissett, William Allum, M Shields, Warwick Franks, G Booth, H Booth. Source: Cumberland Argus 6/10/1931.
1931-32 – played C Grade and shared North Rocks Park (cnr. North Rocks Road and Farnell Ave North Rocks) with Carlingford A Grade.
1932-33 – played C Grade with 29 teams in 4 Divisions
1933-34 – again played C Grade with 33 teams
1934-35 – C Grade, Division 1 containing 33 teams
1935-36 – no team was entered but there was a team called Carlingford Wanderers in B1. It is not known if this was an offshoot.
1936-37 – no team entered
1938-39 – we were back playing B1, Division 1 with 22 teams. Season info follows:
o Graded players were: V Clifton, E Collins, l Smith, F Bowerman
o E Collins – 8 innings, 296 runs @ 37 (high score 78).
1939-40 – played B1 Grade, Division 2 with 24 teams. Information from this season:
o Graded players: L Smith, L Pogson, S Franks, F Bowerman
o S Franks had the bowling figures with 38 wickets @ 14.9 (101 overs, 557 runs)
1940-41 – played B1 Division 1 with 18 teams. Information from this season:
o Graded players: S Franks, D Smith, L Smith, I Williams, William (Bill) Allum
o S Franks had the batting figures with 19 innings 519 runs @ 28.8 (high score 80)
The War years
Between 1942 to 1945, during WWII, there was no competition.
Hornsby Ku-Ring-gai Cricket Association (HKCA)
The Post-War Years
In1946-47 the WPHCC reformed but this time in the Hornsby Ku-ring-Gai Cricket Association (HKCA) later becoming the HK&HDCA. Joining us in entering the Competition were Mt Colah, RSL, Waitara Catholic, Thornleigh Waratahs and Northern Districts.
Notable events in the same year were:
Famous People
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History
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Sport
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We have been privileged to catch-up with Wally Childs (4th May 2008) and he confirmed the following information:
o The WPH Sports Club (formed in 1968/69) consisted of Cricket and Basketball (now called Netball). This was started by Wally who was recovering after breaking his shoulder fielding at Thornleigh Oval (A1 Grade) in the 1966/67 season. The decision to form the Sports Club was made at a meeting held at Koala Park. A number of players (including Wally Howard, Les Lee, Bill Allum and Wally Childs) letter box dropped the neighbourhood to get children and adults to play Cricket and Netball.
o Around this time the WPH Bowling Club approached the Cricket Club (Sports Club) to support them in gaining Council approval to build a Bowling Club. The land at that time was used for orchards and poultry farming.
oThe West Pennant Hills Sports Club evolved further in 1969. The Club was expanded to include, Little Athletics and Soccer. Total Club membership peaked at 720 in 1981. The Club eventually folded in 1991 with individual entities going their own way.
Our Founding fathers
Our founding fathers were Wally Childs, Wally Howard, Bob Bellamy, W Franks, William (Bill) Allum and George Smith.
They decided to join the HKCA as the teams were generally closer to where our players lived.
Club Colours – red, white and blue
Our colours were chosen at a meeting at Wally Childs place at 75 Annangrove Rd Annangrove in 1946. The HKCA gave us a combination of colours to choose from that had not been taken by other Clubs and the Red, White and Blue was started. As a result of this decision, all sporting Clubs in the area now use Red, White and Blue as their ‘strip’.
Grounds
The main grounds used at that time were Campbell Park, Thornleigh Oval, Normanhurst Oval, Oakleigh, Headen Park, Rofe Park, Bannockburn Oval, Galston Oval.
In the early days, transport was not always as easy as getting into a car and getting to the game. Wally recalled that they often walked to grounds with one player making the trek by foot to Mobbs Lane at Epping for a game.
In the early years, WPH and other Hills teams were considered far enough away to justify the Association running a bus to grounds – a practice that continued into the 1950s.
Campbell Park
Perhaps our ‘spirtual’ ground – it also has a fascinating history.
The land was owned by a Mr Campbell whose land extended from New Farm Road to what is now Campbell Park. Mr Campbell was friends with Les Methven through the Mason Club. Mr Campbell gave what was a sloping parcel of land to the Cricket Club and our job was to make it an oval. We worked through the HKCA and Hornsby Council who provided a bulldozer(s) to level the land. The hill was gouged out and the rubble pushed to the low side to eventually level the ground. The cricketers were heavily involved in this work and also made the boundary fence.
So while we play on many different grounds now, Campbell Park will always be special and would not have happened had it not been for the Cricket Club and the Mason relationship between Les Methven and Mr Campbell.
Rivalry
Kenthurst were the main rivals in the early years. Our boys used to call them ‘orange chuckers’. We have no idea but what we were called but it was likely to have something to do with chooks and hopefully didn’t rhyme with chuckers.
Early meetings
Early meetings were held at the houses of our Executive. Don Donaldson was one of our Executive members and he used to entertain guests by playing the piano – he was a professional performer.
The HKCA reformed after the war and Mt Colah, RSL, Waitara Catholic, Thornleigh Waratahs and Northern Districts accompanied our entry. WPH finished 4th in each grade.
Tough beginnings
During the 1950’s the Association battled for numbers in junior cricket. Indeed the 1950/51 season was abandoned not through lack of interest but the absence of administrators. In 1952/53 an U16 competition was formed in D Grade that played on Saturday afternoon.
WPH fielded one junior team in 1947/48. However, we did not field another junior team until 1966/67. Seniors also experienced problems with numbers – being reduced to a one-team club in 1954/55.
Significant Dates
Some of the significant dates in our history are:
- Our first game as a club was in 1930/31 as part of the PDJCA
- We stopped playing in 1941 during the War along with all competition games
- In 1946/47 we re-formed as part of the HKCA.
- In 1968/69 the West Pennant Hills Sports Club was formed with the Cricket Club being formally disbanded in order to become the Cricket section of the newly Constituted WPH Sports Club. The Sports Club eventually folded in 1991 with individual entities going their own way.
- On Monday 5 July 1993 the Club’s name was changed from West Pennant Hills CC to West Pennant Hills Cherrybrook CC.
- In 1946/47 we re-formed as part of the HKCA.
- Incorporation was approved on Monday 22 November 1993. It was effective on 20/12/93.
- 1992/93 – Kanga Cricket was introduced with tremendous success
- 1995/96 saw the introduction of a separate Girl’s competition within the Association. WPHCCC provided 44 of the initial 75 Association registrations. Arthur Souter was a driving force behind the competition
- In November 1998, we launched our Club website which was developed by Mark Harrison, the son of Peter Harrison, a long-term West Penno player. Peter Lees then redeveloped the site to a new level over a number of years
- At the end of 2001-02 we started an annual acknowledgement of players with 10 years service through an engraved medallion.
Perpetual trophies – what is their history?
President’s Award (The Jim Fuggle Trophy)
David Steer (President 1983/85) started the President’s Award. The Award recognises significant contributions by people that are above and beyond the norm. It is not restricted to the Club Executive but to those that have an interest translated into action.
In 2002, the trophy was re-named the Jim Fuggle Trophy to commemorate the achievements of the finest administrator our Club and debatably Association has seen. Jim died in April 2002. Jim started playing for WPH in the 1960’s and had been tirelessly involved in the major administrative roles (in Club, Association and District levels) since that time. This contribution was acknowledged in 2001 when he won the inaugural Hornsby Shire Council Award for contribution to Sport in the Shire.
With the exception of Life Membership, this Award is the highest honour that can be bestowed each Year.
On the 22nd July 2008, the Association further acknowledged Jim’s contribution when they instituted the inaugural ‘Jim Fuggle Memorial Award’ which recognises significant contribution – awarded annually should there be deserving nominations. The inaugural recipients were David Lea, Bob Somerville and Geoff Findlay.
Club Player of the Year
The Award is for the best performed player playing Seniors for WPHCCC. It is a prestigious award that has been traditionally won by players who rate among the best in the Association. An important requirement is that the player also shows high standards of sportsmanship.
Outstanding Prospect – West Pennant Hills Bowling Club Award
Awarded to a player Under 21 years of age playing in the senior ranks and with the potential to play A1 Grade as a minimum and potentially, higher levels of cricket. The Award aims to acknowledge the emerging elite young player each season based on performance in Seniors cricket.
Junior Player of the Year – The John Coulthard Award
The John Coulthard Trophy acknowledges our elite Junior Cricketer who also represents our core Club values – respect for the opposition, umpires and selflessness. The selected player should have the potential to play and perform well in at least A1 standard and potentially 1st Grade or higher in time and represent the Club as a role model. Winners in previous years, with few exceptions, have all excelled in either A1 Grade as a minimum, played 1st Grade and with 2 players having played for NSW at Schoolboy level. All winners have been excellent ambassadors for the Club.
Background
The Award is named after John Coulthard who coached junior teams throughout the 1980s. John’s commitment was matched only by the determination to make sure that his players had a clear understanding of their responsibility to the team and the game. John was a very good cricketer playing B Grade with distinction well into his 50s for our Club. Prior to that, he played 26 years of A1 Grade in the Churches Competition and was a NSW Churches State selector for many years. John later made a ‘comeback’ to the Club after his retirement and in 2002 ran the Kanga section with distinction until 2011. John is a Life Member of both the NSW Churches and WPHCCC (awarded in 2003).
Selection criteria
To win this prestigious Trophy, the player must play the season for WPHC Juniors in the HK&HDCA Junior Competition. Performances will rank this player as the best performed player for year. Demonstrated high standards of citizenship and sportsmanship are also a pre-requisite. If, after this filter, more than one player remains in contention then performances for Representative Teams (DCA and Green Shield) is taken into account. The final filter to apply, if players cannot be separated, is performances for WPHC Seniors.
Other considerations
- Nominations are typically sought only from the U15 and U16 age groups, given the more generous bowling and batting restrictions. However, players from all Ages are considered where performances are exceptional and not achieved at the expense of others getting an equal opportunity
- A player may only win this trophy once. For example a player playing-up to U16s who wins it and then plays U16s for a second season is not eligible
- Only one nomination per team should be submitted. If a team has more than one candidate for the Trophy they should prioritise a single nominee based on the criteria stated here.
Charles Booth Memorial Award
Our longest standing award. It is named after Charles Booth who spent considerable time with junior development in the early years of the Club. Charles was a foundation member, playing between 1946/47 to 1952/53. Charles died in 1968 when he was managing the U13 WPH side. The Award is given to an U13 player competing in the U13 competition. It is awarded on the criteria always emphasised by Charles. The player must show the highest standards of sportsmanship, fair play and commitment to the team. The player does not have to be the best player but this not a condition. Indeed, many of the winners are among our most outstanding junior and later senior players.
In 2013, the eligibility criteria was changed. Previously, the Award was only available to a player playing in the U13s. To more accurately reflect our larger Club those U13 players playing in older age divisions and also our Girls, the Award now covers all U13 players irrespective of the Age Division they are playing in.
Arthur Souter Shield
The inaugural Arthur Souter Shield was presented at the conclusion of the 2003/04 season. It was named after our Life Member Arthur Souter who established the Club’s Kanga program1992/93. Arthur also set up the Girls competition in 1996/97. His involvement in both sections was so significant that he was also the key person to setup these competitions throughout the Association.
What makes this more significant was that his children had grown up and he did it for love of the game as his sole motivation. Initially the Award was made to player who has played right through from Kanga to U16’s. To be eligible the player:
- must be a team player and a good citizen of the Club with a real commitment to the team
- must also display the highest standards of sportsmanship and demonstrate a sense of fair play in accordance with the Club’s Code of Conduct
- does not have to be the best player.
In 2005 the Award was changed. it is now a Medallion that is presented to every player who has graduated from Kanga. In the case of exceptional players, a separate Award is still possible.
West Pennant Hills Sports Club
Our association with the Bowling (now Sports) Club goes to its establishment in 1968. In this year, the Bowling Club purchased 5 acres of land at the current site for $39,000. Colonel Hall whose house was located owned the land where the No 2 tennis court is located today.
The Future
WPHCCC has a rich history and this paper gives an insight into just some of the talented cricketers, characters and amusing incidents. The future is even more exciting. We are a rapidly growing Club that provides tremendous opportunity for players of all abilities.
Historically, it is reality that in all sports (cricket in this Club has been no exception until recently) that the large number of children who start playing in Kanga and graduate to juniors drop off rapidly after U13s. However, since 1996/97 we have seen a reversal of this trend with increasingly large numbers of children coming through from Kanga’s, and moving through to U16’s and then Seniors. The reasons for this are many but include, excellent Leadership from out Junior and Girls Committees, a Club Executive that is highly efficient and the introduction of a ‘Participation over Results’ policy that gives every child a go. The trends are now good.
The next challenge is to maintain the growth of the Club. The West Pennant Hills Cherrybrook area has seen rapid population growth since the early 1980’s. Now that development has eased and house prices are very high the area will become increasingly more difficult for young people to become established, causing an aging of the population and the obvious flow on effect to Junior numbers. We now have an excellent Kanga programme under John Coulthard but the challenge is real.
The history is a living document. If you think of anything that is worthy of inclusion, let Ross Anderson know and it will be added.
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