Memories of the 1950s

Neil Bonnell turned 90 in May 2025. He reflects on his years with SUCC.

As a now officially venerable ex-member of the Sydney University Cricket Club, I thought that it was time that I reflected on my experiences of the 1950s.

This was not a period of significant achievement for the Sydney University Cricket Club. There were occasional bright spots, but problems faced by the club included not being able to attract gifted players who were eligible to play for the club, but who chose district clubs instead.  Also, we were not able to keep the original teams together over the summer break.

I spent my time in the thirds, fourths and Poidevin-Gray sides. The 4ths suffered most as the College men tended to return to their country homes for the summer.  Vacancies in higher teams were filled from the 4ths and vacancies in the 4ths from wherever they could be found.  In the 1954-55 season 36 players represented the 4ths.  That season provided me with both my worst and best experiences as a batsman.  In late November or early December, I scored a golden duck in the first innings and what I believe is a diamond duck in the second.  In the first innings, I played forward to an outswinger, which I missed by a clear margin.  The bowler gave one of those strangled cries which expressed frustration at such a close shave.  To everyone’s surprise, the umpire (a Dutchman wearing sunglasses) raised his finger.  I hoped for better things in the second innings.  I walked out to the bowler’s end hopeful of better luck that time.  On the first ball, the striker called for a run, then changed his mind when I was halfway down the pitch. My score: run out 0.  Barely a month later, at North Sydney No 2. I scored something like 33 out of 88 and 51 out 155.  487 runs were scored on the day, but we lost outright.

I selected as a wicketkeeper who was expected to make a few runs from time to time.  One of my most valuable innings was the Poidevin-Gray match in which I kept my wicket intact long enough for Col Pearson to reach his century.   One of my most embarrassing moments came in a Poidevin-Gray match played against Marrickville on New Year’s Day.  Bowling first, Dave Walker struck the opening batman’s pads with his first four balls.  I appealed loudly and unsuccessfully for LBW each time. Even my teammates began to suggest that I keep quiet.  Fortunately, Dave changed his angle and achieved a snick, which I caught. 1 for 0 quickly became 5-24.  The tail-enders, having had more time to recover from their New Year’s Eve celebrations, put up more resistance, but with that start we won comfortably.

I began the 1955-56 season as Vice-captain of the Thirds, but half-way through the season, moved into the captaincy after Geoff Wilkin withdrew because of injury The most disappointing match on my watch was a one-day fixture played against Randwick at Kensington Oval, Sent in to bat on a damp wicket, we folded for 49.  I decided that only by attack could we hold Randwick to a reasonable score.  The field was set accordingly and I stood up to the stumps for all bowlers.  The fieldsmen did their job by holding all their catches. This enabled us to reduce our opposition to 9-40, but the score crept up to 9- 45. At that critical moment, I failed to take a ball which our medium pace bowler pushed outside the leg stump. Four byes levelled the scores, after which the last pair scraped together another ten runs.  Somehow, we managed to lose outright.

One of the tactics used by the Committee of the day to deal with the problem of the excessive turnover of players was the formation of the Fourteen Club.  All players who played all fourteen matches of the season would be admitted to this elite group. Without attractive rewards this scheme failed to have any impact.  In one season, for example, John Lamble and I were the only fourth graders to win admission to the 14 Club. 

As a result of pressure applied to the College men to play the whole season, they stacked an Annual General Meeting and managed to win most of the slots available.  It didn’t take for them to discover the amount of work required to run a grade cricket club and, one by one, they quietly resigned. 

Of the many interesting personalities in the club at this time, a few stand out.  Peter Hall, perhaps the most stylish batsman of this period, went on to supervise the completion of the Sydney Opera House.  Donald Scott-Orr must have been the longest-serving member of the club, due to his taking twelve years to complete his medical degree.  In his early student days he signed off a letter to Honi Soit as Medicine I, Cricket IV.  In his best season (1956-57), he scored 550 runs at 30.6 and took 41 wickets at 15.7. I mention Eric Stockdale only because he would sign up for any match on the club calendar.  He was surely the oldest player ever to feature in a Poidevin-Gray side.  It is probably just as well that we didn’t make the finals while he was a team member. He wore a cap only because his hair had started to thin out.

John Morris, Captain retired, Indian Army, was something of an oddity – but no one was a more ardent supporter of the club than he. When I joined SUCC, “Skip” as he was known was a benefactor as well as the scorer for the Firsts.  He then succeeded Ossie Stenmark as President of the club.  A somewhat conservative figure, Skip did not understand undergraduate humour. Prior to one committee meeting the members arranged for a motion allowing the admission of female players to inter-faculty games.  The discussion became quite vigorous, but even when it became obvious that the discussion was aimed at humour rather than substance, Skip took the whole farrago seriously and with the weight of responsibility on his shoulders, used his casting vote to deny the motion. As the committee members came to realise that they had not been fair to Skip, nothing similar was ever attempted.

My cricketing adventures after graduation took me to a cow pasture at Nana Glen (with the obvious hazards for fieldsmen), to the NSW Teachers Cricket Club in Sydney, minor League cricket in Lancashire, village cricket in Great Brickhill, several seasons with the Kampala Wanderers in Uganda (interrupted briefly by each of two coups), one astonishing match for Cricket Club of India at Brabourne Stadium during a war between India and Pakistan, social cricket with a Trinity Grammar (NSW) staff team and finally with I Zingari in Warwick, Qld.  It all ended at the age of 62, when I could no longer keep wickets effectively and had sunk to number ten in the batting order.

Victoria Mail - RIP

It is with great sadness that the Sydney University Cricket Club has received the news of Victoria Mail's passing on the 8th December.

Victoria, was a loving mother to Greg and Kylie, partner to Geoff, a mother-in-law to Mel and Maurie and also a proud grandmother to Henry, Jonathon and Victoria. She was a dedicated and loyal supporter of the Club at matches and events during Greg’s 1st Grade career from 2004 to 2017.

The Club extends its sincere sympathies to Greg and the entire family during this difficult time.

Ian Fisher - RIP

IAN ELLIS FISHER

5th May, 1939-25th August 2025

As an engineering graduate in 1957, Ian Fisher attended Sydney University’s pre season cricket training. Ian had an imposing record in junior cricket in Grafton and abundant natural athletic ability. However the university selectors failed to recognise the potential and he was not graded.

And so, for over a decade Ian’s cricket career blossomed elsewhere, largely at the Glebe and Sydney Clubs where he captained first grade for three seasons. He became highly respected in the Grade competition as an aggressive left hand batsman.

For the 1969-70 season, Sydney University Cricket Club was searching for a first grade captain and Ian accepted the invitation to become first grade captain, giving him the most influential on-field position in the Club. He immediately brought a renewed sense of purpose and direction to Sydney University cricket.

In addition to leading first grade, he took a keen interest in other grades with support to all lower grade captains.

In successive seasons on uncovered pitches Fish hit 851, 713, 537 and 539 runs. He became (for a time) the Club’s greatest run scorer in first grade and in Sydney Grade Cricket he scored 6,731 runs at an average of 31.6 with 13 centuries. His centuries for Sydney University often came when most needed. Against Randwick in 1973 his 119 not out included 97 in even time after lunch and his 100 not out in 1974 was against a Northern District attack that included 3 State players and was made in even time. His second 50 required only 17 balls.

Despite his First Grade success, the NSW selectors never called upon him, a mystifying denial of his ability and potential. It is ironic that he later served as a NSW selector for 5 years after his retirement from playing, contributing to the strength of the State side.

The umpires seemed to regard his talents more highly as in 1970-71, he was runner up in the Sydney Morning Herald player of the year, voted by umpires and in the next season, he finished third.

Whether as captain or administrator, Ian Fisher was often opinionated but always worth listening to.

It would have been fitting if he had led University’s First Grade into semi-finals. Twice he came close, claiming 5th place.

When the Club was threatened with demotion from the Sydney Grade Competition in 1997, Ian Fisher was at his uncompromising best, When the Club most needed him, he returned to play a dominant part in its retention and in the resurgence of playing success. He continued uncompromising committee support and as Chairman of Selectors and coaching the Club’s first Green Shield side.

Ian Fisher is undoubtedly one of the most outstanding cricketers to have played for Sydney University Cricket Club.

 Ian Fisher’s other sporting love was tennis which he played throughout his life.

Ian Foulsham

Bert Alderson RIP

The Club is saddened to hear of the death of former 1st Grade captain, Bert Alderson who died on 30 November, aged 100. 

Mr Alderson scored over 10 000 runs in 1st Grade for his two clubs, Sydney University and Cumberland (Parramatta). 

At the time of his death, he was the oldest former Sydney University Cricket Club player. 

James Rodgers

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A tribute from Mike Pawley OAM, former NSW, Manly and Sydney University player:

“Bert was of a different generation to today’s grade cricketers.   I am sure all of you will agree, he had a very significant influence on all of our lives.

A gentleman cricketer. Terrific fielder. Inspiring mentor. Terrific batsman square of the wicket.  Outlived many if not all of his contemporaries. Averaged 100 in one grade season. Never judged any of our insane intervarsity behaviour.     

A very kind hearted GENTLEMAN.”       

Albert Henry Alderson (1924-2025)

Bert Alderson, who died at Lismore Base Hospital on 30 November 2025, two weeks short of his 101st birthday, was one of the most relentlessly prolific batsmen in the history of the Sydney grade competition.  Between 1939 and 1974, he scored over 14,000 runs in all grades, with 10,731 (at an average of 31.10) in First Grade.  Only 19 batsmen have scored more First Grade runs. 

Alderson was studying at Parramatta High School when he was selected in AW Green Shield by Central Cumberland (as the Parramatta club was then known) in 1939-40.  He made an immediate impression, scoring 29, 20, 12 and 87 not out in his four innings.  He was not quite 17 when, at the end of October 1941, he was promoted to First Grade to play against Balmain at Parramatta Oval.  He scored only 5 in his first innings, but in his next match, against Glebe, although he made no more than 22, the Daily Mirror thought that he “showed more initiative than any other Cumberland bat” and “repeatedly drove and cut with delightful freedom”.  In January 1942, he hit his first half-century, 69 in 50 minutes against Manly.  Soon he was firmly established in the First Grade side.

A well-organised left hander with a wide range of strokes, Alderson is often named as one of the best Sydney batsmen never to play for New South Wales.  But he did play for New South Wales twice, alongside Sid Barnes and Bill O’Reilly, opening the batting in a pair of two-day wartime matches against Australian Services.  In the first, he was dismissed by Ray Lindwall and Colin McCool for 0 and 11 and in the second he fell to McCool again, for 16.  At the age of twenty, he could reasonably have expected to play more representative cricket, but at that stage of his career he was an opener, and after the war his path was blocked by Sid Barnes and Arthur Morris.

Five times between 1942-43 and 1949-50, Alderson passed 500 runs in a season, when that was by no means a common feat.  He was also a lively fieldsman, who often kept wicket early in his career.  He was consistently successful for Cumberland, but not invariably: in March 1947, he was (together with Lou and Richie Benaud) in the First Grade side that was dismissed for 42 and 31 by Manly’s left-armer Alan Walker, who took 7-8 and 7-6.  Richie Benaud later recalled that, at his family home at Northmead, Bert had a concrete pitch covered with matting, where Alderson and Benaud often practised. 

By reason of his studies (a diploma in Town Planning), Bert was qualified to play for Sydney University, and he joined the club for the 1951-52 season (alongside his brother Ken, who enrolled in the same course).  Chasing 243 for victory at Waitara Oval, Alderson shared an opening stand of 158 in 103 minutes with Phil Greville, on his way to 139 (in 193 minutes, with 20 fours).  He also made a “brilliant, chanceless” 100 against North Sydney and against Glebe his 114 occupied only 132 minutes.  He finished the season with 631 runs at 45, and he followed with 625 runs the next season.  His studies complete, he returned to Cumberland, where he captained the First Grade side in 1956-57 and 1957-58. 

In 1961-62, Alderson returned to the Sydney University club, under a dispensation that allowed the club to field a graduate as captain.  He began the season in extraordinary form, hitting 281 runs before he was dismissed – 104 not out against Northern District, 69 not out against Gordon, 67 not out against North Sydney and 41 against Paddington.  He was dismissed only five times all season, finishing with 514 runs at 102.80.  For five seasons, he provided his teams of undergraduates with thoughtful, encouraging leadership, helping in the development of young players like Mike Pawley.  Altogether for Sydney University he scored 2991 runs at an average of 43.98 – which was, by the low-scoring standards of the days of uncovered pitches, exceptional.

Alderson then played out his career with Central Cumberland, for whom he finished with 11,016 runs at 31.21 (7740 at 28.04 in First Grade).  He was club President in 1969-70, when Central Cumberland won its first club championship.  His sons Doug and Greg both reached First Grade at Central Cumberland, and the grandstand at Merrylands Oval was named the Bert Alderson Stand.

“Bert’s cricket career was extraordinary”, Mike Pawley has said.  “Things other than cricket must have clouded the State selectors’ judgment.  Who knows why?  But I think Bert Alderson, the person, was even more impressive than Bert Alderson the cricketer.  Did he ever make an enemy on the cricket field?  I am certain not.  Did he ever sledge?  Of course not.  Bert had a significant influence on the life of every sports person he had contact with.”

In the winter, he was an excellent baseballer, appearing for NSW Schoolboys in 1939 and 1940, before representing New South Wales against Victoria in Claxton Shield trials in 1947, 1948, and 1949.  Eventually, he was chosen for New South Wales in the Claxton Shield tournaments in Adelaide in 1961, and Perth in 1962.  He played club baseball for Waverley, Western Suburbs, and Sydney University, and was named in University’s “Team of the Century.”

Professionally, Bert worked as Municipal Engineer and Chief Town Planner of Holroyd Council for 37 years.

The club salutes a remarkable life and extends its sympathies to the Alderson family.

Graham Reed OAM - RIP

Graham Reed OAM died this week aged 91. 

SUCC 1st Grade cap no402. Blue 1954

Vice President since 1986

1st Grade 1954-57

Batting: 36-5-104-588-19.0

Sheffield Shield umpire. 

A more comprehensive obituary will be published shortly. 

JFR

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Graham Edward Reed OAM

Graham Reed, who died on 5 November 2025, aged 90, gave remarkable service to the game of cricket in New South Wales over several decades.

Graham was educated at Trinity Grammar School, Summer Hill, where his talent as a cricketer was quickly recognised.  He spent four years in the school’s 1st XI, mostly as a batsman, although he kept wicket at times, and occasionally bowled.  He was also a centre in the 1st XV, a prominent sprinter, and, in 1951, captain of the school.  After he enrolled to study Pharmacy he began to play cricket for Sydney University in 1954-55, making an immediate impression in Second Grade with an innings of 86 against Mosman in Second Grade, followed by two top-scoring efforts of 36 and 50 in team totals of 77 and 103 against Gordon.  In his first match in First Grade, he contributed 28 and 13 not out to University’s win over Waverley.

He was a regular member of the side in 1955-56, when he won a Blue.  Against Balmain in November 1955, University lost its first three wickets for only 22 runs against State opening bowler Arthur Fagan, and then struggled against NSW leg-spinner Reg Pearce, but Graham stood firm, hitting his only First Grade century – 104 in a total of 203.  It was Reed’s only century for the club.  He also picked up his only First Grade wicket when he had Petersham’s future Test all-rounder, Johnny Martin, caught by Jim Mackie.  He was a forthright, attacking batsman, especially powerful through the on side.

1956-57 was a less memorable season: although University reached the semi-final, Graham lost his place in the team after a mid-season trip to the Olympic Games in Melbourne.  His attitude towards cricket that season, he later admitted, was not good; but he never regretted the trip to Melbourne, because he later married his companion on it, Jo, a union that endured until his death.

After graduation, Graham embarked on a lengthy career as a pharmacist, and he played some more Grade cricket with Mosman.  When his Grade career was over, he remained active as a club cricketer, especially for I Zingari Australia.  He is the second-highest run-scorer in I Zingari history, racking up 12,675 runs at an average of 30.11, with nine centuries.  He toured New Zealand with I Zingari (playing innings of 85 and 88) and also joined the Australian Old Collegians on their 1972 world tour. 

Eventually, in 1964, Graham moved into umpiring.  He stood in 161 Grade matches, 80 of them in First Grade and he was promoted to umpire in the Sheffield Shield in 1987-88.  In Sydney, he was known as a fair and accurate umpire, who established a good rapport with the players.  It needs to be said that this view was not universally shared, because his fifth Shield match, against Queensland in Newcastle, became memorably controversial.  It was an extraordinary match: the New South Wales team was so badly affected by a virus that at one point four substitutes were on the field.  Umpire Ian Thomas also fell victim to the virus, and was compelled to leave the field.  A local Newcastle umpire, Cec Somerville, took Thomas’ place, but only at square leg, while Graham umpired at the bowler’s end throughout the final day.  The match referee then forced Somerville from the field because he was incorrectly dressed, and another local umpire took his place.  New South Wales won a tight game by 32 runs, but the Queenslanders were angry about decisions made against Greg Ritchie (caught behind from Mark Waugh’s bowling) and Allan Border (lbw to Geoff Lawson).  Ritchie, the Queensland captain, delivered an angry outburst to the match referee but the New South Wales captain, Lawson, declared himself perfectly satisfied with the umpiring.  Reed’s own response was that “if the pitch is good, the umpiring is good.  And the pitch was good.”

Altogether, Graham stood in 13 first-class matches and four List A matches between 1987-88 and 1991-92.  He also umpired in two Women’s Tests and five Women’s One Day Internationals.  But his service to the game did not end when he retired from umpiring.  For 33 consecutive seasons, he acted as an umpire observer and mentor, attending Grade games to provide assistance and feedback to new generations of umpires.  As recently as last season, after recovering from a very serious illness a few years ago, Graham could be seen at Grade grounds, where he usually positioned himself somewhere near the sightscreen and quietly observed the umpires at work.

His work was recognised when he won the George Borwick Memorial Award in 1984-85, and when he was awarded Life membership of the NSWCUSA in 2000.  He was inducted into the NSWCUSA Hall of Fame in 2016.  In 2023, he received Life Membership of the SCA in 2023 and was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia for service to cricket.  Announcing his death, the NSWCUSA observed that

Above and beyond the raw statistics and his considerable achievements, Graham Reed was the most exemplary person and such a highly respected man and umpire. He was appreciated for the quality of his decision making under pressure, his exemplary people and communication skills, his ability to positively and proactively manage cricket players and matches, his remarkable volunteer service to the umpiring community, his always positive attitude, his willingness to share experience to benefit others, his resilience, and his integrity. Graham Reed was a selfless and humble person and leader, one of the most genuine people you could hope to meet.

The club extends its sympathies to Graham’s family, especially his wife Joanne, his daughter Christine and his son Stuart

Max Bonnell

Mark Paul Cepak RIP

Mark Paul Cepak died in October aged 66. 

Mark played for the club 1977-81, scoring 790 runs and taking 98 wickets. 

The Club’s sincere sympathies are extended to his wife, Jenni, sons, Andrew and Chris, and daughter Eliza and his two grandchildren. 

A more comprehensive obituary will soon appear on the website and in the 2025-26 Annual Report. 

JFR

Emeritus Professor Saxon White RIP

Emeritus Professor Saxon White

9th March, 1934-  7th October, 2025

The distinguished former SUCC all rounder Saxon William White died on 7th October, aged ninety-one.

Sax came to University from Homebush High where the Headmaster had been A.D.Watson, and the Kings School.  He resided at St Andrews College whilst at the University..

He played Cricket for the Club, and the College, gaining his Cricket Blue. At Football (Rugby Union), he played for the University, was also awarded a Football Blue. Sax went on to play for Australia in seven Internationals, and 22 other fixtures in the Australian colours.

Fergus Munro, who played for the Club, batted with him in Inter-College Cricket and made the following remarks “Sax was a hero to us as a Wallaby and a Doctor. We opened the batting together in the College X!. He was always great fun and a great leader in both rugby and cricket. He was a fine man.”

Sax White taught at the University of Newcastle and became Dean of the Faculty of Medicine.

He is survived by his wife Julie, his son Matthew, who also played with the Club, and his daughters Lisa and Jessica. The Club expresses its great sympathy to his family on their loss.