the history of western suburbs district cricket club 1921-2002

-30-Roger J Hartigan was an executive of a leading Queensland pastoral company. Roger was presidentfrom 1926 to 1958. This quiet unassuming man had achieved many things in his life. He was a lifemember of Queensland Cricket and Western Suburbs. He was the first Queenslander to play in a Testthmatch. Scoring 116 in his first Test and with Clem Hill had a record 8 wicket partnership of 243. As arepresentative on the Australian Cricket Board of Control together with Mr Jack Hutcheon the efforts ofthis pair were responsible for the entry of Queensland into the Sheffield Shield competition in 1926-7.George Stafford took over the presidency for one year on the death of Roger Hartigan. George hadextensive experience in the administration of cricket particularly in the country area. Roger and Georgewere responsible for the organisation of many tours to country centres for Wests players. UnfortunatelyGeorge passed away wile chairing the club’s Nineteenth Annual Meeting. His son Bob and son-in-lawGarth Spring were club stalwarts.Dr Stan McDonnell practised mainly in South West Queensland before coming to Brisbane and renewedhis interest in cricket through Wests. Apart from his medical skills, the Doc, as he was fondly called, wasan able administrator. The club is indebted to the Doc because it was through his invitation that one ofthe club’s most admired officials, Mr Bob Spence, became an integral and hard working member.Glen Cameron was an executive with a major transport company. He played for the club scoring 1485runs including one century and was president from 1966 to 1980. Not that his predecessors were clubenthusiasts but Glen had the ability to engender his enthusiasm to players at all levels. Glen was bestman at Bill Brown’s wedding and one of his close confidants. Glen’s presence is still felt in the clubthrough his son in law Marcus Titley, grandson Chris and granddaughter Alison.SECRETARIESTed Williams served the club from 1928-1946. Apart from his role as an administrator with the BrisbaneCity Council, he was a passionate Wests supporter. He was known for his avid love of cigars anddetermination that the ethics and etiquette of the game were always maintained. Such was the esteemin which he was held by Queensland Cricket officials that he was appointed the first full time secretaryof the association.Bert Shaw was a school teacher at Ascot State School and the club could not have obtained the servicesof a better man to carry on the tradition. In his quiet unassuming way Bert established many innovationsin the club. His first task was to compile the history of the club in its first twenty-five years (1921-46).He introduced the Ladies Group who prepared afternoon tea for the players. His home was used for cardand tennis parties for social and fund raising activities. Sadly Bert passed away with cancer in 1955 afternine years of loyal service. Three sons, Robin, Ken (both now deceased) and Hugh all played for theclub.Vic Henley was an executive with the Queensland Tourist Bureau who stepped into the breach on BertShaw’s passing and for two years (1955-7) assured that the equilibrium of the club was maintained.Bill Nowlan initially came to Wests from Ipswich when Alan Young, a State player, joined the club. Bill’slove for the game was clearly demonstrated when he would bowl his leg spinners to new players despitesuffering a crippling disability which required the use of crutches. Bill was a programme manager forRadio 4BC. He was very articulate particularly in matters of the constitution and laws of the game at alllevels. The club was indebted to his service for eight years - 1957-1965.Bob Spence contracted polio as a youngster and despite this handicap, I had the pleasure of playingagainst him in a social match at Corinda. He was a dour left handed batsman. As a CharteredAccountant running his own business, one would wonder what time he would have to devote to his greatlove - cricket and Western Suburbs. He was secretary from 1965-88, Treasurer from 1972-88, A Gradescorer, Club Statistician, and Practice Captain - all tasks which he carried out with meticulous detail.Bob was also treasurer of Queensland Cricket, Official QCA Scorer for all first class matches, Statisticianfor Queensland Cricket and noted worldwide by commentators for his reliability and accuracy. A humbleman, Bob Spence’s contribution to Wests and Queensland Cricket was inestimable. When we say it wasa privilege to be associated with Wests, I think it would be more appropriate to say Wests were privilegedto be associated with Bob Spence. On visiting Bob when he was hospitalised in the latter years of hislife, his greatest pleasure was to recall the many memories of his association with Wests Cricket Club.PROFILESCricket is a game of breaks and there were many Western Suburbs players whose performances bothoff and on the field are worthy of recognition. All these players had a passionate love for the club.George Draney played in the lower grades before this era, but in his quiet efficient manner served theClub as Assistant Secretary for the past 25 years.Neville Donaldson scored 2920 runs in a career interrupted by the war. Neville was noted for two things- his brilliant outfielding and his forceful batting and big hitting. In an innings against Colts he scored acentury in 70 minutes and finished with 172 runs in the innings made in 94 minutes. In one of the 8 ballovers he hit 5 sixes. He scored another century in 34 minutes. On retirement Neville devoted manyyears in coaching the club’s junior players with outstanding success.Ric Mahoney came from Ipswich and spent only five years with the club. It was after he left that hecontributed greatly to the games through his coaching skills particularly in the schoolboy area. Amongsome of the notables he coached were Greg Ritchie and Craig McDermott later Australian TestRepresentatives, Alan Langer, the Walters brothers and Paul McLean all well known footballers. Hisservices were recognised when he became the only non teacher to be appointed a Life Member of theQueensland Schoolboys Cricket Association.Herb Zischke who was also known as “The Bradman of the Lockyer” played only one season with Wests- 1948-9. Being a farmer at Hattonvale, cricket played a secondary role in his life otherwise he wouldmost definitely played Shield cricket. He scored a century in his first innings with the club and his fivecompleted innings netted him 388 runs at an average of 77.6. His aggressive batting resulted in twocenturies 126NO and 106NO.