Bronko Djura
Randwick Petersham Cricket Club | April 17, 2024
Bronko Djura was one of the best all-round sportsmen to play cricket for Petersham-Marrickville. He was an outstanding junior player in both cricket and rugby league. In 1980 he played under 16s cricket for NSW and made the Australian under 16s team. He later played under 19s cricket for NSW and Australia touring England in 1983. He played in all three Youth Tests completing 31 dismissals including 10 catches in one match. He was selected on the tour as the preferred ‘keeper ahead of Queensland’s Ian Healy who later became one of the great Australian wicket-keepers.
In 1982 Bronko played Australian Schoolboys rugby league touring New Zealand with the likes of Paul Langmack and Andrew Ettingshausen. A Newtown Jets rugby league junior, he went on to be graded with South Sydney at age 19 when the Jets were eliminated from the competition at the end of 1983.
The second of three children born to Croatian parents on 10 October 1964 at Darlinghurst, Bronko Djura was completed his education at Bankstown’s Benilde High School. While he had been playing football since the under 5s, he didn’t start junior cricket until he was 13. His natural talent however, immediately showed through and while only 14 he was selected in Petersham- Marrickville’s A W Green Shield 1978-79 team as wicket-keeper. He went on to keep wickets in that competition for three years showing some form with the bat in 1980-81 with a score of 78.
That same season, after recording 24 dismissals in 2nd Grade and another two in 4s where he started the season, the 16 year old made his 1st Grade debut in the second last round of the season, catching Greg Bush and Peter Toohey off Geoff Wright against Mosman at Petersham Oval. Retained for the final match against North Sydney at North Sydney Oval, Djura impressed keen judges by dismissing five of the first seven bats—four caught and one stumped off left-arm spinner Stewie Gardner. That was the beginning of a brilliant albeit short 1st Grade Cricket career in which he came close to gaining first-class honours.
Over the following three seasons, young Bronko confirmed his potential with some outstanding exhibitions behind the stumps while improving his standing as a batsman. In 1982-83 he made three half-centuries with a top score of 86 to win the batting average with 307 runs at 61.40. He batted only nine times with four of those innings undefeated.
It was two years later in 1984-85 when he was 20 that his ability as a top-class batsman as well as a ‘keeper was finally tapped. Elevated to open the innings he scored a couple of 30s in the first six games. But the following four matches were nothing short of brilliant. In round 7 he scored 108* against Sydney University at Petersham batting throughout the innings of 322 minutes. He hit 14 fours and figured in an undefeated 202 runs partnership with Graeme Hughes for the fourth wicket.
On the same ground next match he rattled up 103 playing Parramatta with 13 fours. A 77 at Caringbah Oval against Sutherland followed but back at Petersham for the clash with Northern District, he led the charge in chasing down 5-369 declared batting for 225 minutes at the top of the order to score 121. In four successive trips to the crease between 8 December and 12 January 1985, he scored 409 runs at an average of 136.33. He finished the season with a career-best 575 runs at 63.89 and was awarded the club’s Martin Bedkober Memorial Trophy. It was a fitting award as Bedkober, like Djura, was an outstanding ‘keeper/batsman.
Over the following five seasons, Bronko’s rugby league career was booming and his availability for cricket was reduced. In that period all he could fit in was 26 matches. He played eight in 1986-87 but scored 383 runs with a massive 155 against Sutherland including 22 boundaries at his favourite venue, Petersham Oval. He also hit 68 against St George and 51 playing Bankstown. Because of his unavailability he gave away wicket-keeping.
In 1987-88 he played eight matches for 258 runs with a 50 in round 2 against Hawkesbury at Petersham. That was his last half- century for the club as he had little opportunity over the following three season due to his football commitments. In 1991-92 he played just five games for 83 runs. And at just 27 years of age, that was his last season with Petersham-Marrickville.
In 99 Grade matches spread over 13 seasons, Bronko Djura scored 2,539 runs with four centuries for the club. His top score was 155. With the addition of the age competitions, PGs and AWG, his figures total 122 matches for 2,896 runs. Behind the stumps he caught 100 and stumped 13 for a tally of 113 Grade wickets. With the age competitions his figures extend to 122 caught and 15 stumped for a final total of 137.
In rugby league Bronko made his 1st Grade debut for South Sydney against Manly in 1984. He went on to play 96 games as fullback for South Sydney (79), St George (16) and Western Suburbs (1) between 1984 and 1991. He scored 15 tries and kicked 84 goals.
These days he lives in the Blue Mountains where he is the Manager of the Wentworth Falls Bowling club. He also is an outstanding golfer winning the Leura Open in 2018.
