Vale Jack Trestrail

Armidale Waratahs (The Tahs) | February 05, 2024

Sadly, Jack Trestrail (#303) has passed away in Brisbane, gradually leaving us after being subdued by dementia for sometime.

Tressy was a fine cricketer, making a name for himself in the Ex Services sides of the second half of the 1960's. Just to get a game for that team was an achievement as they were among the strongest club teams Armidale has seen. Earlier, he had been in the Easts stable.

Jack played the first of his 10 seasons with Waratahs in 1975 and was a handy allrounder in A grade until he made the move to A-Res grade in 1980, as a cornerstone of the legendary Waratahs Vets for two seasons. Not to leave it at that, when the Vets concept ended, he took his place with distinction in 2nd grade, making nearly 1,400 runs at 41 with 4 hundreds over the next three seasons before retirement. In all, he made 2,459 runs@27, took 124 wickets@17 and held 44 catches.

Club members will remember him for different reasons. Andrew Davis remembers the part Jack played in his foremost personal highlight at Waratahs, a 2nd grade 5th wicket record partnership of 142 v TAS in November of 1983, when his batting partner made 111 of his 530 runs that season. His 3rd grade Vets team mates would remember Tressy and Brian Joice opening the bowling and both bowling unchanged through two innings of a semi final v Churches and not content with rolling them for 91 & 74 - his own contribution 6-48 & 3-29 of nearly 30 overs for the weekend), then guiding the side home with a steady 39 not out as Waratahs scored 9-97 and won by just the one wicket. His players will recall his captaincy in 2nds was all positivity and encouragement. Others remember his kindness away from the field, as a rare businessman in the financial sector with a heart.

He was a bloke who loved to compete and he could be fierce in a scrap, one that you'd rather have on your side but he also loved to play the game for the fun which came from playing with his mates ... and of course, stirring the opposition!

Its ironic, that while in the end he had trouble remembering, he's a Tah we won't ever forget.