Administrator Series - Frank Cush CBE
St George Cricket Club | September 19, 2024
The most recognised name in cricket is that of Don Bradman. Those who know a bit of cricket folklore are aware that when he was deciding to come to Sydney to further his playing career, he chose St George, because the Club agreed to cover the cost of his weekly train fare from Bowral. Those with a little more knowledge would know that one of the key negotiators was the Club’s Secretary, Frank Cush, who also provided accommodation in his home for Bradman for five years. Norman Cush, Frank’s son, was asked to vacate his room for the country boy. They remained close for the remainder of their lives.
Frank Cush moved to the St George district in 1921, purchasing a home at 172 Frederick St, Rockdale. Having moved through the grades at the Glebe club, reaching 1st grade in 1919/20, he was now required, under the residential qualification rule to play for his local club, St George. He certainly threw himself into a commitment to the Club as he was elected Honorary Secretary and delegate to the NSW Cricket Association at the 1921 AGM.
Cush was an accountant in the family business, timber merchants at Rozelle and his business acumen proved to be of enormous benefit to the Club. The 1921/22 season was the Club’s first in 1st grade and while Cush was a member of that team and indeed continued playing for a number of seasons, across the grades, it was his off field administrative skills that were of greatest benefit to the Club.
Cush served the Club as Secretary for 25 seasons before taking the reins of President from his great friend and Club founder, A L Blackshaw. Not content with a record tenure as Secretary he then held the position of President for 22 seasons before moving to Patron, a role he held for 15 seasons.
Those with a maths bent have quickly calculated that Cush’s service to St George amounted to 62 seasons, not in positions of mere status, but rather undertaking hands on, roll your sleeves up, pitch in jobs, that involve year round commitment of many hours per week. Although Cush’s reputation was built on hard work he was also recognised as a forward thinker whose ideas were readily adopted at all levels of cricket.
This brings us back to his role as delegate to the NSW Cricket Association, a position he held for 44 seasons. From the 1927/28 season he served on the Executive Committee of the Association, in 1937 becoming the Association’s Honorary Treasurer until 1955 when he became Chairman. From 1930 he took on the role of Delegate to the Australian Cricket Board of Control, where he was also Treasurer from 1935 – 1946, serving as Chairman from 1955 – 1957 when ill health meant giving up the position. Having already obtained Life Membership of St George, Cush obtained that honour at NSW in 1943.
Sir Donald Bradman with St George DCC Legend Frank Cush who is also St George 1st Grade Player No.1
As well as the honours already recorded Cush was awarded an Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 1962, for services to cricket and to the St George Hospital where he was a member of the Board for 34 years. In the same year he was also honoured with Life Membership of the MCC, in recognition of his amazing service to Australian cricket.
It should be noted that Cush and Reg Herford from Western Suburbs donated a trophy for competition between players U/16 years of age. On the death of the NSW President, A W Green, in 1935, Cush and Herford asked that the trophy be renamed and that trophy is of course still awarded.
When Frank Cush died at the age of 92 in 1985 the St George DCC Annual Report recorded this very fitting and appropriate comment ‘ The Club pays tribute to Frank Cush in the certain knowledge that his name will always retain the honoured place in the history and tradition of the Club, and of cricket, reserved for the most dedicated and devoted servants.’
St George DCC has provided many outstanding players to NSW and Australian cricket. There’s no doubt that in Frank Cush the Club also provided one of the great administrators.
By Kevin Greene
