Twenty - Weston Creek Cricket Club

Twenty Seasons OnClubs to enter teams in all four grades in 1979-80, granting themprovisional grade club status. Brian Kensey, an ACTrepresentative and former Sydney first grade player, wasappointed captain of the first grade team. A further acquisitionwas the former Bankstown first grade player, Greg Irvine, whocommenced his long and distinguished association with WestonCreek.At the same time as the Club was working hard to achieve itscricket goals, it was involved in another highly ambitious andtime-consuming pursuit. In association with Weston CreekAustralian Rules Football Club and the Weston Creek BowlingClub, the Cricket Club raised the finance for and established alicensed club adjacent to Stirling Oval. This project came tofruition when the Weston Creek Sports Club opened for businessin March 1981. The partnership with the other two clubs broughtother benefits as well. In particular a substantial three years jointsponsorship by PA Credit Union. This additional source of fundsgreatly assisted the Club at a time when more equipment had tobe purchased for the increased number of teams and practicefacilities required upgrading.Through this sponsorship arrangement,the Club had developed aclose relationship with PA Credit Union's general manager, GeoffSmith, who was a Weston Creek resident. Geoff was to play amajor role in the advancement of cricket both in Weston Creekand in Canberra. Towards the end of the 1981-82 season theClub Secretary, Percy Samara-Wickrama, made some tentativeinquiries about inviting an English professional cricketer to playand coach and to assist in the further development of young andpromising players. More in hope than anticipation, Geoff wasapproached for additional sponsorship to fund the proposal. Hisresponse was surprisingly positive. "Put in a proposal to theBoard and I will support it", he said. Geoffs support apparentlycarried the day and as a result, Glamorgan County Cricket Club11