THE Lakers Cricket Club players won’t be able to blame their practice facilities for not putting runs on the board this season, after the club recently unveiled their new brand new training nets.
With the Lakers fielding teams in both the Under 11s and Under 13s in 2021-22, as well their senior team moving from up C Grade to B Grade, their future is looking bright.
But while the club is moving forward in leaps and bounds with their new practice wickets, they have also taken the time to look back at the history of their club, and the role one man in particular has played in it.
That man is Graeme Scoberg, who for over 35 years has dedicated a large part of his life to serving the Mystic Park Cricket Club, then the Lakers Cricket Club, following their 2010 merger with Lake Boga.
With Scoberg set to return to Melbourne in the coming months, after first arriving at Mystic Park in 1984, the club thought it only fitting to honor Scoberg’s commitment to the club by naming their new training nets after the man who put so much work into getting them erected.
Lakers president Luke Dear told The Guardian at the opening of the nets that there was no more fitting person throughout his club’s history that deserved the honour.
“He means everything to this place, he’s been an integral part of the club for a long time, and has held just about every role imaginable between both his time with the Lakers and at Mystic Park,” Dear said.
“He’s been involved behind the scenes with getting grants and raising money for us to be able to complete projects like the nets, which was a massive achievement in itself really.
“And it’s certainly one of the reasons why we wanted to dedicate this facility in his name.
“Graeme’s kids have long since grown up and left home and now they have kids of their own and he’s still a part of the club – he’s still here every weekend and every training night, men like him are few and far between and we just wish him all the best.”
The new training wickets weren’t without their challenges, with the project first getting under way roughly eight years ago thanks to a $10,000 grant from Cricket Victoria, which enabled the club to build the first of three practice wickets.
Over the following years, with thanks to the work of countless volunteers and fundraising, as well as an additional $15,000 from Cricket Victoria and the Swan Hill Rural City Council, the club was eventually able to see the original plan come to fruition.
The unveiling was undoubtedly a proud moment for Scoberg, with the former school teacher and principal extremely appreciative of the honor bestowed upon him.
“I’m over the moon – I had a bit of a tear in my eye and to be honest I’m lost for words, even now I’m still feeling a bit overwhelmed,” Scoberg said.
After moving to the region in 1984 to begin his teaching career, Scoberg had an immediate impact, playing in Mystic Park’s 1984-85 A Grade Premiership in his very first season.
His teaching career then took him further north to Piangil, where he then spent two seasons with Nyah District, playing in the Demons very first A Grade flag in 1987-88, before returning to Mystic Park – where he has stayed ever since.
“Looking back now, the fondest memories are certainly the premierships,” Scoberg said.
“The first one with Mystic and then the second one with Nyah, they were fantastic and I’ve got great memories of people from those days – and they become lifelong friends, I mean I only spent two years at Nyah District, but I still call people like the Boulton’s and Shadbolt’s and Fleming’s lifelong friends, cricket as a sport is just amazing in that regard.
“My heart will always be here, even if I’m not – a large chunk of my life has been with Mystic and the Lakers and with cricket in this area in general, I’ve certainly got very fond memories and will miss everyone dearly.”
With the number of juniors seen running around the Lake Boga Recreation Reserve with a bat in their hand, the club is certainly on the right path, according to Scoberg.
“I just love seeing all the young kids coming through and then following their progress,” Scoberg said.
“I spent a lot of time in the Kerang competition, where a lot of people I’d coached years ago, now their kids are playing and they’re taking on those leadership roles and are starting to push cricket forward in the area – we’re always going to battle against footy, but if we can get as many kids playing the game then hopefully that will auger well for the sports future.”
