Bob Thomas awarded Life Membership of Gordon District Cricket Club
Gordon District Cricket Club | May 10, 2024
Robert 'Bob' Thomas Life Member nomination by Jim Cattlin
Attended Orange High School and displayed his talent by being chosen in Combined HS cricket and rugby league teams. In playing at St Joseph’s college he was chosen for Schoolboys Team to tour West Indies in December 1969 where he scored 540 runs in 10 innings including 1 century and took 11 wickets.
Rumour is by wearing the black and gold colours of his school he was mistaken as a Sydney Grammar boy and so was chosen for the combined team.
After school he enrolled at Teacher’s College.
When he came to Sydney in 1969 he joined his mates playing for Sutherland CC and scored 604 runs over 2 seasons and took 24 wickets, including 5/41. His highest score was 77, which just happened to be against Gordon at Chatswood, when he took to Guy and Todd. He probably thought Gordon needed help and on such a small ground a switch the next season was a good move. He also played Rugby League for Cronulla as an amateur. Not only was he gifted in those sports but also squash and Rugby Union.
I think I first met Bob when I arrived at Chatswood Oval before a 1st Grade game. I liked to arrive early to get a feel for the conditions and inspect the pitch. To my surprise when I entered the change room Bob was already there slightly dishevelled with the shoulder length hair style which quickly earned him the nickname ‘Prince’, after the cartoon character Prince Valiant. It appears he had the same ideas as me but did one better by sleeping inside the change room the previous night.
Playing with Bob I was jealous of his ability as a batsman. He had all the shots, plenty of time to play them, they seemed effortless and he wasn’t afraid to play them. After softening up the bowling it was my pleasure to watch him on many occasions. He could take an attack apart with slashing cuts and drives. I recall a partnership observing him staring up the pitch with an air of disdain at the poor bowler, who had been dispatched to the boundary in no uncertain manner.
He was a more than handy medium pacer and, just to show how good an all-rounder he was, he took up the gloves in 74-75 season after Brian Taber was hit in the eye in the first match and missed the whole season. Bob broke the 1st Grade keeping record with 41 dismissals which stood until Iain Beverley capped it in 2008-09.
In all grades for Gordon he scored 2825 runs at 24.78 inc a top score of 134 and took 76 wickets at 24.05, inc 5 wkts 3 times. Added to that are 607 runs at 21.68 and 24 wickets at 20.96 for Sutherland. So in total over 3000 runs and 100 wickets, that’s a good career.
He obtained a teaching position at Knox College in 1972 and appointed Deputy Head of the Prep School 1988 then Headmaster in 1991, a position he held until 2009. This was probably his greatest achievement mentoring young men including coaching Hugh Jackman, Richard Stobo and Matt Nicholson. Somehow he managed to squeeze in playing in Barbados and a few seasons with Durham CCC with great success as well as for an Australian X1, on two occasions, in Holland in 1977, in a team quaintly called ‘The Elephants’.
He was instrumental in starting the Women’s Division of the Club back in the early 80’s, not, as you might think to increase the possibilities of off field socialising, but because his cousin’s club Pymble and Mirabooka were struggling for members. Bob suggested they talk to the Men’s club and Gordon became the first Grade club to have both a men’s and women’s division and a team was formed for 82/83 season. Formal approval from NSWCA came in 1984.
Lately he has done a sterling job of scouring the country for young promising players and arranging for them to play for Gordon. He has established a pathway for players into the Academy then Green Shield team and so continue on to play for the Club. This is a most valuable role and we all hope he continues. Robert has the ability to spot talent, something he has excelled in over the years with young and promising players being encouraged to join Gordon and mentoring them through the grades. Perhaps his new grandson will find his way into the Green Shield team in the future.
He likes to be in the background away from the limelight but it is time he stepped forward to receive Life Membership of Gordon DCC for his past contributions as a player, on the General Committee, a grade selector and recruiting and coaching under-age players in the Club. Men who may have been ‘out there’ in their early years grow up and quietly achieve and Robert has certainly done that not for himself but for cricket.
I strongly recommend his nomination and trust you will approve.
