Kerry Emery - play hard and play fair
Queensland Veterans Cricket | February 10, 2023
In 2016 Kerry Emery was honoured with Order of Australia Medal for service to cricket and to secondary education, it’s been quite a journey.
Let’s find out more about Kerry Emery.
What year you were born?
1950
Can you remember you first game of cricket?
I went to Amamoor State School (In the Mary Valley South West of Gympie). We played an Interschool match with neighbouring Dagun State School. I think I was in Grade 4. Not a memorable match ………soundly beaten.
Tell us briefly about your cricketing journey?
I first played cricket for Amamoor in the Mary Valley Men’s competition (early 60’s) aged 11 -14 before playing a couple of seasons for Valleys in the Gympie fixtures. Played cricket at CBC Gympie. Captained 1st X1 ….President of Queensland Veterans Rod Rice was a team member.
1968-69 - Sandgate/Redcliffe mainly 3rds. University and College work prevented further playing until my teaching career took me to Cairns.
1973-75 - Cairns where Ray Dixon another teacher and useful right hand bat introduced me to Rovers CC. Great competition and company
1976-84 - On promotion to Townsville where I met Eric Adams, a teacher, and later a Queensland Cricket employee, he introduced me to Wanderers Cricket Club. First match was in Reserve Grade but played A Grade thereafter. Sam Scuderi was a standout class player at Wanderers and a couple of years later Joe, his younger brother joined us. I recall Joe’s first A Grade match against University where he scored an impressive 30+ and took 3 for not too many….obviously as player of the future! They travelled down from Ingham to play on turf in Townsville each week, occasionally being held up on flooded roads. Also met up with John Buchanan who joined James Cook University Club after having played Shield Cricket but prior to his coaching career at Qld Cricket & Cricket Australia. From 82-84, I coached my son’s Under 10 team and we were joined by Andrew Symonds who travelled from Charters Towers each Saturday morning. Like Joe Scuderi, it was obvious that Andrew was a player of the future.
Sam Scuderi
I represented Townsville in Kern Cup and North Qld Championships. Played for North Qld v South Qld between 1980 and 1984- ineligible for a couple of years because of Queensland Cricket age restriction policy. 1981 played for Qld Country v NZ as left arm orthodox spinner against Geoff Howarth’s Touring Team in January 81 and took a couple of wickets including Jeremy Coney. I was chuffed to be named in the Townsville Team of the half century.
Team of the half century
1985-87. Promoted to Mareeba and back to playing A Grade with my former club, Rovers in Cairns. I was selected for Cairns and North Queensland and made it back playing for North Qld v Sth Qld. In 1987 I was selected for Qld Country to play against Mike Gatting’s MCC Touring Team in 1987. A highlight was my dismissal of David Gower stumped by Peter Drinnen, is now the head coach at Churchie. I awarded Player of the Year for Cairns and District in 1986/87 season.
1988 – 90. I joined Maroochydore CC after transferring from the North and was a member of the Club’s first ever Div 1 Premiership teams for 88-89 and 89-90. Played with and against many of the leading Sunshine Coast players at the time including Bruce Ibbotson, Dan Mullins, Matt Thornhill, Mike Blundell.
1991-93. Transferred to Murgon and played for the local team and South Burnett. Great cricket and very competitive, as well as a South Burnett Premiership and Player of the Year Award. It was during this posting that I met the Kratzmanns, Nev, Brian and Bob and their extended families, also Brian Walters. Brian, Nev and Brian Walters were inaugural members of Queensland Veterans Cricket teams from its commencement in 2009.
1993 -2009. I retired from Senior Cricket at the end of the 1993 season, however I joined the Antiquarians Over 40’s who were based on the Sunshine Coast and played with them, although somewhat spasmodically, through until 2008.
2009 onwards: In February of that year I received a phone call from Brian Walters inviting me to play in a Qld Country Over 60’s team against NSW Over 60’s at Tenterfield. Our past patron, the unforgettable Lew Cooper, was the organiser of the event and he was looking after the Qld City team. Despite the fact that I was not yet 60, Brian was adamant that I should play. A great win for Qld in the 2nd year of the Cooper Finlay Cup followed on from an easy win in the first year when just 1 team from each State participated. The2009 event led to the first ever Queensland Veterans Cricket (QVC) team being arranged (note no selectors then) to participate in its first National Over 60’s Championship held in Launceston that year. From that time QVC has grown to be a strong competitive force in Veterans Cricket Australia. I have played in every Championship since 2009, having had the good fortune to play in some winning teams. Selected in the Australian Over 60’s team to South Africa in 2014 and the Australian Over 70’s team to NZ in Feb 2020. I was selected as Captain of the Australian 70’s team to tour UK mid 2020 but unfortunately Covid intervened.
Kerry Emery with his wife Helen - Australia Over 70s team blazer
What other sports do you play?
Play golf regularly twice a week at Maroochy River Golf Club, Surf and often cycle and walk with my wife, Helen, around Mooloolaba
Who is your favourite sports movie or documentary?
Not a big movie buff, but I do enjoy informative sporting documentaries and books. I have read many Cricket Books by former Australian captains, players and commentators. A couple of favourites were ‘Miller’s Luck’ and the inimitable life and times of the great Keith Miller by Roland Perry and a couple on views of the game from that great cricket commentator Alan McGilvray ‘The Game is not the Same’ and The Game Goes On which were told to author Norman Tasker.
What’s your highest score in senior cricket?
Not many…..too few to remember!
For which club and where has been your best bowling figures in senior cricket?
Playing for Townsville v Burdekin at Ayr around the late 70’s in the Kern Cup, I finished with figures of 6 for 1 off 2.5 overs, taking the last 5 wickets in 5 balls. Grant Law, father of Stuart, was our captain on that day and Keith Christiansen was playing in a match on the next field.
Can you tell us which players in Queensland Veterans Cricket we should be looking out for to do well?
There are so many players coming into Veterans now from the over 50’s that it is difficult to catch up to see them play. I know that new Sunny Coast recruit Harold Veivers will be an asset. I have heard good reports about Bruce Worthington from Wide Bay and I expect Andrew Walsh Lockyer/Ipswich with his new hip and Joe Flynn from Gold Coast will catch the eye of State Selectors
Kerry Emery awarded Life Membership of Queensland Veterans Cricket
Who have been the best three bowlers you have played against so far?
I managed one bat last season and Graham Bichel dismissed me so he would have to be a starter. Pete McWhinney, Ken McGrogran and Mike Frame are always on the money.
Who has been the best 2 batsman you’ve played against?
Played against MCC’s David Gower and Allan Lamb for Qld Country in ’87. In Vets, Joe Flynn and Andrew Walsh are up there with the best.
David Gower
Who played the best innings you’ve seen firsthand playing with or against?
Playing with Mark Brady is always fun. His timing and shot selection is the best in Veterans Cricket.
Who has been the best wicket keeper you’ve seen firsthand playing with or against?
I have been very lucky to play bowl with Peter Timms behind the stumps. He is very tidy and gives a bowler confidence.
Who has been your funniest team mate?
I have played with many who made me laugh, generally as a result of the on field commentary, antics and stupidity.
Who was your childhood hero?
Richie Benaud and Alan Davidson were hard to beat. Benaud because of his captaincy and Davo because he was a great left handed bowler. I remember listening to them on radio…..no TV around those days, at least not in our house.
Who are the three sports people in the world you’d most like to meet?
Roger Federer, Elise Perry, Tim Paine.
Tim Paine
Who’s your favourite cricket commentator?
I am impressed with Ricky Ponting. I think his commentary is very insightful.
Who are the two players you admired most in terms of skills and competitive spirit in the competitions you played?
Sam Scuderi and Fred Edwards were both from Townsville. Sam, an elegant right hand batsman who made run scoring look easy. Fred was the best leg spinner I played against, the Shane Warne of North Qld.
What do you enjoy most about playing cricket?
Undoubtedly the beer at day’s end.
What has been your most memorable moment in cricket?
Playing against New Zealand (‘81) and MCC (‘87) Touring teams is hard to beat.
What’s the best win you’ve been involved with?
Playing for Maroochydore CC in its first ever Div 1 premiership. Adrian Knell was also in the team.
What’s the best advice you’ve received?
My father told me to ‘play hard and play fair’. I have always tried to do this
What are your cricketing ambitions?
Continue playing for as long as I am able……………..there is an old saying that ‘you are retired a long time’. My view of the world – ‘you don’t get old you just become a classic.’ Author unknown
