Brothers Cricket Club Mackay- the Beginnings

In 1976 Brother Laurie Mousley, a teacher at Christian Brothers College and a keen and accomplished cricketer, captain- coached a team of mostly year eleven students in the 1976/77 Mackay Cricket Association reserve grade competition. To almost everyone’s surprise, the team was runner-up to Wests in a tight grand final, due in no small part to some high quality fielding throughout the season. That success inspired a meeting between Brother Mousley, Aub Kruske, who was the captain of the Brothers Sunday morning team and other interested players.

The result was the formation of Brothers Cricket Club for the 1977/78 season. The foundation president was noted local historian and cricketer Terry Hayes, with Damien Dwyer the first secretary and Paul Bartolo the first treasurer. John Cairns was the first vice president and he went on to be a tower of strength for the club on and off the field. The Brothers Sunday morning team was the last side surviving from the Bucas Cricket Club which was formed in 1947 so the newly formed club had long standing links with the Mackay Cricket Association.

In 1977/78 Brothers fielded two very competitive  reserve grade teams with the number one side again losing the grand final, this time to Slade Point, the club which later became Norths.  Brother Mousley was encouraged further by the depth of ability in the two sides and negotiated the services of Ray Kohn, a North Queensland representative who captained-coached the first Brothers side in the expanded A-Grade competition in 1978/79.

 Many of the players of those early games are still supporting the club today with some still playing in the O40s competition. They included but were not restricted to: Rod Alexander, Adrian Pembroke, Mark Gibbs, David Fitzgerald, David (Barney) McGuire, Michael Coll, Peter Gibbs, Francis Vigilante, Ross Wardrop, , Andrew Gibbs, John Cox, Chris Shepherd,  Paul and Barry Campbell, John Huckett,  Denis Paidley, Tom Slater, Warren McMillan, John Coll, John, Jerome, Tony and Peter Pembroke, Jim and Dino Vardanega, Peter Casey, Paul Bartolo Tony and John Walter, Alan Allenby, Mark Robinson, Bob Gamble, Barry Steele, Dave Tindall Sean Dwyer, John Cairns (jnr) and Steve Waters.

Since those early days Brothers has consistently fielded teams in all grades and has developed a thriving junior club. Currently Brothers has 6 senior teams and 6 junior sides. Senior training is on Wednesdays at Harrup Park and new players are welcome.

Brothers Cricket Club Life Members

Brother Laurie Mousley (living in Perth)

Gary Guimelli

Rod Heggie (living in Brisbane)

Mark Gibbs

Ian Dunn

Tom Casey & Vickie Casey

Lee-Anne Dunn

 

Ryan Casey (President on M:0400 739 455)