John McMahon Grandstand – Oakes Oval Lismore

The Lismore community gathered to celebrate the legacy of John McMahon, unveiling a grandstand in his honor at the newly refurbished Oakes Oval. A true icon of NSW country cricket, John passed away on 22 January 2024 and the age of 91 and dedicated nearly seven decades to the sport as a player, coach, and administrator. His contributions were recognized with a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in 2008, cementing his status as a legend of the game.

Born in Sydney in 1932, John’s cricketing journey began at the age of nine. A left-arm wrist spinner, he excelled in club cricket for Balmain, took 120 wickets in Poidevin-Gray Shield, and later represented Queensland in Sheffield Shield cricket. After moving to Lismore in the 1950s, John became a cornerstone of Far North Coast cricket, earning life membership in multiple cricketing organizations and captaining representative teams against touring international sides like South Africa and England.

John’s passion also extended to his family, with his sons excelling in first-grade cricket and his daughters representing Queensland in indoor cricket. Through the grandstand named in his honour, his remarkable contributions to cricket and his community will be remembered for generations. John McMahon’s life truly exemplifies a legacy worth celebrating.