the history of western suburbs district cricket club 1921-2002

-32-similar to the great Ray Lindwall. Another product of the club’s schoolboy development scheme, Barryproved the investment worthwhile. For the club he scored 2839 runs at 29.88 and took 301 wickets at12.51. He scored 103 for Queensland in amassing 1295 runs at 21.95 and took 16 wickets at 31.62.Barry was selected to tour New Zealand with an Australian team at the conclusion of the tour theAustralian team to tour England was to be chosen. Unfortunately, Barry was the only player to miss out.Colin Westaway was the baby of the Westaway family whose backyard pitch produced him rewards asonce ore a youngster made his way through the grades. Col was an excellent slip fieldsman but it washis right arm leg spinners that took him to the top. In 19 matches for Queensland he took 52 wickets at32.75 with one haul of 6 for 88. For Wests his 414 wickets averaged 19.56. Col, a No.11 batsman,found the fence and over it an irresistible target as he scored 2643 club runs.Gerry Warr was a diminutive leg spinner who gained State honours and took 143 wickets for Wests at19.56.John Loxton was a right hand opening batsman who scored a century against West Australia on debut.For Queensland he made 1081 run at 25.14 including two centuries while his eleven seasons with Westsproduced 2813 runs at 30.91.John Freeman was one of the many successful leg spin bowlers who was another schoolboy investment.thApart from his bowling skills, John was a very handy batsman. He still holds the record 10 wicketpartnership against NSW of 105 with Wal Walmsley set in 1957-8. A deep analyst of his craft, Johnsecured 51 wickets for Queensland at 42.82 and scored 375 runs. His 164 wickets for Wests averaged19.49.Des Hughson was a left hand middle order batsman and a very capable slip fieldsman. He scored 3600runs for his club at 31.58 while his efforts for the State resulted in 426 runs at 19.36.Ray Reynolds was a Bundaberg farm boy who styled his wicket keeping on the great Don Tallon butwhen he joined Wests A Grade straight from Churchie all those skills were put aside as he set aboutbecoming one of Queensland’s best opening batsmen of his era. Small in stature Ray had plenty ofcourage as he received his barrage of unlimited bouncers. He and Sam Trimble still hold the record ofstnd256 for the 1 wicket partnership against South Australia set in 1963-4 and two 2 wicket partnershipswith Jack McLaughlin 243 against South Australia in 1957-8 and 224 against Western Australia in 1959-60. In his eight seasons with Wests Ray made 1625 runs at 34.57 while for Queensland he scored 3626runs at 46.49 including twelve centuries with the highest score of 203 NO. Ray played LancashireLeague cricket for a short time and was most unfortunate in not making the Australian team because apair of ducks against NSW on selection eve. Ray retired early to return to a cane farm in Bundaberg.Later on his return to Brisbane he became involved in coaching which resulted in him being given controlof the Queensland team. He now lives in retirement on the Gold Coast.Sam Trimble came to Wests from Lismore after playing for NSW Colts and the NSW Second XI in 1956-7. He represented Queensland from 1959-60 to 1975-6. In 1965 he toured the West Indies with theAustralian team but did not play in a Test despite scoring 625 runs at 89.29 runs per innings. Samcaptained Wests to the A Grade Premiership in 1966-7. In an outstanding career in which he captainedQueensland Sam scored 9465 runs with a highest score of 252 NO at an average of 40.40 which included24 centuries and 44 half centuries. Add to this his record at Wests where he scored 6699 runs average50.37. Sam must be acclaimed as one of the great opening batsmen to play for Queensland. For hisefforts on the cricket field Sam was installed as a Member of the British Empire. On retirement Samdevoted his time to coaching and was a member of the State Selection Committee.Ern Toovey was taken as a Prisoner of War by the Japanese after HMAS Perth was sunk. He claimshis survival can be attributed to the fact that he wanted to return to play for Queensland. Such was hisdetermination that he achieved both aims. He joined Wests for a short period before moving to Northswhere he played until retirement. A left arm spinner early in his career when he came from Cement Mills,Ern made the State side as a left hand middle order batsman scoring 1346 runs averaging 24.04. Ernhas contributed greatly to the game being president of Norths and Chairman of the State SelectionCommittee for 25 years. His main interest in his later years is as a member of the Queensland CricketMemorabilia group. Ern also represented Queensland and Australia in baseball.Jack McLaughlin. Except for one year spent playing Warehouse A Grade as a 15 year old Jack hasalways been a Wests man like his brothers Patrick and Michael. He was selected in Interstate Coltsteams in 1948-9 and 1949-50 and played his first Shield match on the MCG against Jack Iverson. Duringa Shield career which spanned from 1949-1962 Jack scored 2931 runs at an average of 33.69. Becauseof a suspect action his bowling efforts were limited particularly after being called for “chucking” againstNSW. For Wests Jack scored 4780 runs at 38.24. He was regarded as one of the best cover fieldsmenof his time. Jack played in five A Grade Premiership teams in his career, three with Wests one of whichhe was captain in 1960-1 and two with Colts in 1949-50 and then in 1965-6 when he was Captain-Coach.Upon retirement from first class cricket Jack was appointed a State Selector for 12 years. As well he wasan ABC Cricket Commentator for twenty years and wrote for the Sunday Mail. He also representedQueensland at baseball. In 1994 Jack was awarded the Order of Australia Medal for his contribution tosport and the community.