Ocean Grove Voice - Your Local Newspaper

MORE than 600 senior and junior players have pulled on the whites for Collendina Cricket Club in its first 20 years.
Stat’s man Des Every ensures every run, catch, wicket and wide is logged in for records sake.
Des and the club’s organisers have been pouring over the clubs achievements and characters as they prepare to celebrate their second decade with a reunion and family day later this month.
It’s fitting that the club celebrated its most successful last year, with the A grade making the grand finals, B and D making finals, under 15s were champions and the under 17s made finals.
A grade also currently top their ladder at the Christmas break.
A previous great year was 92-93 when C grade won a grand final and B made it that far.
Although they’re unlikely to get all 600 back for a catch up they’re hopeful they can muster a few old faces as they toast the growing success of ‘the other’ Ocean Grove cricket club.
“It was originally founded by footy umpires who want to get together for the off season,” explained Chris Pitfield, one of the few remaining players from the club’s first ever game.
That was a Bellarine B grade game against Newcomb. Unfortunately they lost that opening encounter but the club went on to win three of its first season games.
Also in that original side was past president and club stalwart Leigh Norquay and current surf lifesaving club president Peter Rankin.
Other names of the day were Michael Kotiw, Andrew Haines, Jamie Cook, Mark Nolan, Terry Carter, Brad Lake, George Everett, Brad Wirth and Sam Mirable.
It was Leigh Norquay and Michael Kotiw who are credited with founding the club and the clubrooms bear testimony to former’s tireless role.
The club took on the name Cobras, which could have been Cougars, later on, at the suggestion of John Roberts. Roberts was an avid Carlton supporter who played in the early years and was behind the push for the blue and white colours.
The key to the club’s success, all agreed, is the development of junior talent. By far the majority of it’s A graders have come through the junior ranks. Among them was Kade Norquay. Currently the A grade skipper, Kade played in the very first junior game, an under 12 fixture against neighbours Ocean Grove in 1991.
That side also included brothers Dave, James and Luke Farrell, Carly Norquay, Chaya Kotiw, Sam Malady, John Broderick, Todd Downey, Joel White, Adam Crabtree, Justin White and Ben Cashman.
Several players have also gone on to play for Geelong, including Michael Fabris, Luke Buckland, Kade Norquay and currently Corey Walter.
For the record the player with the highest total senior runs is current president Mark Ginn with 3,344, while Kade Norquay has amassed 3,733 with his junior career combined.
Daniel Worn has taken the most wickets, currently 252, and still playing.
The 20th anniversary celebrations will be held at the newly extended and renovated clubrooms in Minerva Close from 6pm on Saturday January 30. Finger food will be supplied with drinks at bar prices. During the day the club’s B grade side will be playing Angelsea so there’s a chance to catch up early on and cheer one of the current sides.
A family day will also be held on the following Sunday 31 from 10am. The club will be putting on a 20/20 match between current players during the day.
There will also be plenty of children’s activities including a jumping castle and Milo cricket. Lunch will include a spit roast, rsvp Mark Ginn at mark.ginn@hotmail.com for catering purposes.