Stan Gilchrist - be in the moment
Country Cricket NSW | February 02, 2023
Stan Gilchrist has made a lifetime contribution to cricket especially across NSW and regional areas.
In 2015 Stan was awarded an OAM (Order of Australia Medal) and recognised by Country Cricket NSW with a Lifetime Coaching Award.
A leg spinner in his playing days Stan represented Northern NSW Emus before moving to Sydney and playing Grade cricket for Paddington, Randwick, Sutherland and University of New South Wales.
Stan played in Sutherland District Cricket Club inaugural first grade game on 25 September 1965 against St George. He is the proud owner of Sutherland DCC first grade player number 5.
A school teacher and Inspector of Schools in NSW Stan and his wife June and their 4 children moved around the state before settling in Goonellabah near Lismore in Northern NSW in 1984.
In 1990 Stan founded the Lord Taverners Northern NSW and he remains the Foundation Chair. Stan and June recently founded the Gilchrist Foundation.
Both The Lord Taverners and The Gilchrist Foundation are inspiring measures of Stan and June’s desire and willingness to help and support people especially the young.
Let’s find out more about Stan’s journey in the game
Stan Gilchrist - Northern NSW Emu's 1960
What year you were born?
By birth I’m a Queenslander because the hospital in Mungindi (NSW) was over the river into Queensland. I was born in 1941.
Can you remember your first game of cricket?
I vividly remember the first match I ever saw: Dad was very dark skinned. A rabbiter and kangaroo shooter by “trade”. Many people thought that he was aboriginal, but his dark skin was the result of many years working in the sun, dressed in khaki short sleeved shirts and work shorts. I can hardly remember dad wearing anything other than his khaki work clothes, so I was very surprised to one day see him emerge from our hut beside the bore drain dressed in a white shirt, white shorts, white socks, and these funny looking white boots (which I still have amongst my memorabilia). Mum had dressed Jack and me and we all hopped into the Ford truck and headed off to ….. where?
We drove for what seemed half a day (but what was probably only a half hour) until we came to this salt-pan flat where there was absolutely no grass. A small Ferguson tractor with a blade was levelling a strip in the centre, while about twenty men stood around and watched.
Then a small ute drove out, and the men tossed off a roll of green hessian (that’s what it looked like to my young eyes) onto the level strip and pegged it out like a kangaroo skin on the ground. Then they stuck three sticks into the ground at each end with two smaller sticks across the top.
The men all then retired to the trees, talked for a while, then half of them went back out onto the saltpan with a little red ball, and two of the others went out with bats. A game had started – my first ever game of cricket! I can distinctly remember what happed next! Dad was one of the men who went out onto the saltpan, and he ran up to one of the sets of sticks and “threw” the ball towards one of the men with a bat. The ball landed on the “carpet” and bounced up and hit the man on the nose! Blood went everywhere, especially all over his white shirt, and all the men gathered around him.
I can’t remember anything about the scores, or the result, or even what happened next. The game may have been abandoned for all I remember, but I’m sure that’s how I came to have cricket in my blood!
My own first game would have been for Bukkulla Public School (to where we moved when I was 10 years old – out of the tent!) against Pindaroi Public School, but I don’t remember the scores.
The Gilchrists - Adam, Jackie, Dean, Glenn, June, Stan
Tell us briefly about your cricketing journey?
Chronologically, I played for Bukkulla Public School, Inverell High School, Bukkulla Men’s XI, Commercials (in Inverell), The Emu Club (Northern NSW Colts on tours to Sydney, New Zealand and Malaysia), Paddington District Cricket Club, Randwick District Cricket Club, Sutherland District Cricket Club, University of New South Wales, Australian Universities (against touring South Africans in Toowoomba 1963), Dorrigo Cricket Club, Northern NSW XI (versus England at Newcastle 1971), Junee Cricket Club, Wagga Wagga Interdistrict Cricket XI, Western Districts Cricket Club (in Lismore), Lismore Interdistrict XI.
In which grade and at what age did you make your debut in senior cricket?
At 14 I played my first Men’s competition with Bukkulla CC. That was Inverell District Cricket Association B Grade.
Played my first A Grade game in the Inverell DCA competition for Commercials Cricket Club when I was 16.
At what age did you make your first grade debut in grade cricket and can you remember how you performed in debut?
My first grade debut in Sydney Grade Cricket was with Paddington CC against Gordon CC at Chatswood Oval when I was 18. It was the last game of the season, and after a solid season in Seconds I reckon the club took pity on me!
Our team included the following “good” players: Arthur Morris, Jeff Hallebone, Ron Archer, Jim O’Regan, Peter Harris, Ted Cotton. Gordon included Dick Guy, Neil Harvey, Sid Carroll and (I think) Brian Taber.
If my memory is right Sid Carroll carted us all over the field and scored 90+, Jim O’Regan took 8 or 9 wickets and I took one.
Stan Gilchrist First Grade Debut for Paddington - 25 March 1961
Stan Gilchrist first grade debut for Sutherland DCC - 25 September 1965
Day One
Day Two
If you can share with our audience, how would you describe yourself as a cricketer?
Batsman: quite ordinary country-style number 9.
Bowler: reasonable right-arm leggie.
Fielder: enthusiastic cover-point.
Keeper: nah! Ya gotta be nuts!
Coach: pretty experienced and honoured by NSWCA with a Lifetime Coaching Award.
What were your strengths as a player?
There were some that thought I bowled a reasonably good leg-break. My wrong ‘un turned a bit.
A was probably only a “reasonable” batsman – the only coaching I ever received was from the many cricket books which I purchased with savings from my weekend job mowing dad’s boss’s lawns. (I still own those beloved cricket books, especially Don’s: How to Play Cricket”, The Bible.
I did pride myself as a cover-point fielder. Thought I was pretty good until the day I fielded there against Neil Harvey! Ouch. Ouch. And they were the only couple I was able to reach!
What was your highest score in first grade cricket?
I scraped up 74 against Waverley at Rushcutters Bay playing for Paddington. Vic Jackson was a former state player, I believe, and he just couldn’t believe how my beautiful cover drives kept going to deep fine leg!
What were your best bowling figures in senior cricket?
I was fortunate enough to play for NSW Colts against Tasmania at SCG No2 and even more fortunate to taken 7-64. Terry Lee was skipper and I believe he took the other wickets.
But back to grass-roots, I had a day out for Bukkulla against Gum Flat in Inverell District Grade competition: 8-24 and 7-39.
But my dad upstaged me by taking all ten with his slow offies in a later game.
Can you share your most prized dismissal?
Playing for Australian Universities against Trevor Goddard’s touring South Africans at Toowoomba in 1963 I was honoured to dismiss both Colin Bland (better known for his fielding) and Graeme Pollock, both caught in the deep.
Bland hit his so high that it came down with icicles attached, and the deep mid-wicket fielder caught Pollock while the pull-shot was still going up!
Best dismissals in Sydney grade cricket were probably Terry Lee and Alan Davidson. Davo had twice gently SMASHED me onto the adjacent bowls club at Pratten Park, but third time unlucky!
Who were the best three fast bowlers you have played against?
Honoured to play against Alan Davidson, and to hear my stumps rattled by Wes Hall at Coogee Oval. Didn’t see it. What is there to say about these two brilliant players – and wonderful men.
But earlier, many tussles with Gordon Rorke (before he became so sick), the Rennebergs (before Dave went on to state honours), Frank Mission (one of the fittest men I have ever known) and the terrible terrorising twins Lennie (Pascoe) and Thommo! One of the best I played with was Merv Black (“Black Mervyn”). Merv never wavered away from “there”.
Alan Davidson
Who were the best three spinners you have played against?
Loved playing against Percy Phillpott, Dick Guy and John Gleeson (had toured New Zealand with “Gleeso” in 1959 when he was our reserve wicket-keeper and reserve opening batsman. We laughed when he bowled his mystery balls and they hit the sides of the nets. The rest is history!)
Peter Philpott
Who were the best 3 batters you’ve played against? And if you could add a few words as to why
Brian Booth – impenetrable defence and classical attack!
Norm O’Neill – the most perfect technique, especially off the back foot. (I later had the pleasure of playing under Norm at Sutherland).
Bob Simpson – the best opener going around at the time – focussed and relentless!
Brian Booth
Who played the best innings you’ve seen firsthand playing with or against?
Bob Simpson 158 not out at Pratten Park was impressive!
And an innings by Tim Grosser at Caringbah one day was savage – lefties should be banned!
Was there any batter/bowler in particular who for whatever reason always seemed you to cause you a few problems?
Most batsmen caused me problems, much to their delight. And every bowler caused me problems too, much to their even greater delight!
Can you recall a time when you thought, wow, this is a step or two up from what you were used to?
Having just played in the Inverell Men’s competition and being involved in my first “International” – Emu Club against Canterbury Colts in Tamworth, 1959 – I had never seen a bat as straight and as wide as that of Brian “Bags” Murray! That was the first time. Many others after that!
Who was the best wicket keeper you’ve seen firsthand playing with or against?
I was fortunate enough to play against the former NSW keeper, Doug Ford, but our first Sutherland grade club keeper, Bobby Bain, was up there with the best.
Who are the two players you admired most in terms of skills and competitive spirit in the competitions you played?
Ted Cotton was a hero of mine. Whilst possibly not being the most outstanding player, Ted was up there in most departments. His batting, his bowling (Brian Booth once described Ted to me as “the best net bowler in Australia”, paying tribute to Ted’s accuracy and subtle changes) and his fielding were as good as most. A great influence in my life, on and off the field.
And Brian Booth’s whole life gave me a model for what I wanted to be!
Ted Cotton
Who was the best captain you had the good fortune to play with?
John Hayward was captain of an Emu Club touring team in Malaysia in 1959. His captaincy was brilliant. I played some grade cricket in Sydney with John later but he wasn’t captain but an influential leader in the Randwick team.
Who has been your funniest team mate?
Easy answer: Kerry O’Keeffe
Although Billy Watson and Warren Saunders could do an interesting duo when talking about the great Rugby league player, Daly Messenger! And Peter Phillpott was good on Lord Nelson impersonations!
Can you recall some banter or an exchange on the cricket field that still makes you laugh today?
The Aitken brothers relentless, high-pitched appeals prompted one of our players to call out if they would like him to go and get a guitar! You had to be there!
Who was your childhood hero?
After my dad (my hero my dad), there was a fellow called John Henderson playing in Inverell cricket – dad’s team-mate. A beautiful batsman and a lovely man.
Who are the three sports people in the world you’d most like to meet?
Ash Barty, Rodger Federer and Cathy Freeman.
Ash Barty
Who’s your favourite cricket commentator?
Harsha Bogle, especially when he’s on with Skull. But then there’s this guy called Adam Something.
What was your favourite ground to play at?
Rushcutters Bay, especially when the tide was in. That’s when Ted Cotton was at his best.
What’s been your most memorable moment in cricket?
Watching Adam’s quick Ashes hundred in Perth.
What’s the best win you’ve been involved with?
Inverell High School win over Armidale High School in 1958. Emu Club win over New Zealand Colts XI in Wellington in 1958. NSW Colt win over Tasmanian Colts 1963.
Who are the three players from your playing days at the top of the list for a Saturday afternoon barbeque?
Brian Booth, Kerry O’Keeffe and David De Carvalho.
What’s the best advice you’ve received?
Wherever you are, be there.
Stan Gilchrist receiving the Country Cricket NSW Lifetime Coaching Award in 2015
Are you still involved in cricket and if so, in what capacity?
Until recently, sending young country players to the UK for a season through the Adam Gilchrist Cricket scholarships.
Now I am only occasionally invited to do some coaching, but administration no longer!
You’ve made an incredible and lifetime contribution to cricket in NSW, especially in regional NSW. What are you most proud of?
1. The effectiveness of the residential coaching clinics we ran at Woodlawn College, The Armidale School and Dorrigo High School.
2. The special privilege of coaching players like Sammy-Jo Johnson, Georgia Redmayne, Kim Fazackerley, Tom Cooper, Matty Phelps and Simon Milenko – and a boy called Adam.
If you were running a state cricket association what would your 2 priorities to ensure cricket in the state remained strong and successful on and off the field?
1.Strong emphasis on grassroots cricket, especially in country regions.
2. Much more emphasis on quality coaching in remote and country areas – from where so many great players have come.
