Backward Glance - Cricket season is on the way

The Sunshine Coast is looking forward to the Australian over 70s National Cricket Championships being held here from September 12 – 18.

The region has produced some great cricketers over the years, and their passion has even made them famous.

The Sunshine Coast also has some first class cricket grounds where both junior and senior teams play during the season.

Cricket historian Warwick Torrens began researching the history of Queensland cricket as a young man.

Born in Maleny in 1935, he was particularly interested in the statistical and historical side of cricket played in Australia, especially Queensland.

He loved the game and played for many of the North Coast teams including Maleny, Maroochy, Palmwoods and Brisbane, but sadly a shoulder injury meant he could no longer play.

Collecting and collating information, he wrote books on cricket and was a major contributor to the Oxford Companion to Australian cricket.

In 1974, Warrick Torrens became a member of the English-based Association of Cricket Statisticians and Historians.

He was the official scorer in many Brisbane matches and due to technological advances, he became the internet scorer for Cricinfo in first class matches in 1998.

Warwick Torrens’ cricket collection has been donated to the State Library of Queensland.

In earlier times, North Coast settlers worked hard and played sport when they could.

A young Witta boy, Otto Nothling, was outstanding in both sport and spirit.

As a young man, Otto was always busy but restless on the family dairy farm, and constantly practiced throwing rocks as far as he could.

Industrious in his studies, Otto obtained a scholarship studying in New South Wales, where he became a doctor in 1926.

Whilst studying, he played rugby for New South Wales from 1922 – 1925.

Otto Nothling has been voted one of the top 100 Wallabies of all time and is one of only two Australian rugby and cricket dual internationals.

Cricket was his love and it was here that his sporting greatness became apparent.

He represented Queensland from 1927 – 1929 in 12 Sheffield Shield matches and was captain of three.

In November 1928, he was chosen for both an Australian XI and a Queensland XI against Chapman's touring English Marylebone Cricket Club team.

Selected as opening batsman in the second test side, he took five wickets for 78 against English players who were some of the best.

Otto continued working at his medical practice in Maryborough as the grip of the Great Depression took hold.

After playing a few more games for Queensland he retired from first class cricket.

If people were unable to pay for medical treatment during the depression he kept treating them, accepting whatever a patient could give, even if it was only a handshake.

His generosity was outstanding, as was his sportsmanship.

As war loomed in the late 1930s, Dr Otto Nothling, aged 40, was rejected for military service but tried again a few months later and enlisted.

He believed doctors were needed and it was his duty.

As a Major in the Australian Army Medical Corps, he set sail for the Middle East in December 1940 as second-in-command of the 2nd/3rd Casualty Clearing Station.

He often worked 70 hour shifts of non-stop surgery in traumatic surroundings, alongside his Commander, and leading surgeon, Dr Belisario.

Returning to Australia with an injury which would not allow him to stand for long periods as a surgeon, Dr Nothling retrained as a skin specialist.

He established the dermatology clinic at the Royal Brisbane Hospital and set up as a specialist in Wickham Terrace, Brisbane.

He was the first skin specialist appointed to the Brisbane Children's Hospital.

His war related disability did not hinder his sporting interests and he went on to become president of Queensland Cricket and vice president of Queensland Rugby Union.

He was often seen at cricket grounds supporting players young and old.

Otto kept a farm at Cambroon and visited the region he loved on weekends.

He always stopped for a rum and milk and a yarn with his former school friends at the Maleny Hotel.

One of these stories recounts that after Otto had left the district, a new bowler in Maleny made his intentions known, he was “gunna teach the Nothling bloke a lesson.”

Word spread and everyone came to Witta Sports Ground to see that cricket match.

Otto’s first shot saw the ball end up close to Witta Cemetery, which is a mighty hit, and the second ball went even further.

Before the third delivery a loud call came out from the crowd, “Is the lesson over yet?”

In December 1981, Caloundra Cricket Club hosted a game between the touring West Indies and Queensland Country, thousands of spectators attended the game at Henzell Park.

Caloundra also hosted a great game on January 30, 1990, when Sri Lanka played Queensland Country at Henzell Park.

Sri Lankan international, Dammika Ranatunga came to play and coach Caloundra in 1991.

Dammika and his young family were welcomed with hospitality and friendship.

This was a major coup, and the club won the A Grade premiership in the 1991/92 season.

Nambour’s Ashley Noffke has been a great cricketer, making his first class debut at the Australian cricket academy in 1999.

Throughout his outstanding career he was rewarded with a place in the Australian squad.

An all-rounder, Ashley Noffke won the State Cricket Player of the Year award in 2008.

Women’s cricket in Australia began in 1934, it is a popular and growing sport.

In May 2017, the Australian women's national cricket team (the Southern Stars), prepared for their World Cup tour in England at the Elizabeth Daniels Sport complex here on the Sunshine Coast.

Professional surfer, Coolum’s Julian Wilson and his brothers played cricket on the Sunshine Coast from an early age.

Julian was fortunate to meet champion Australian cricketer Matthew Hayden, who became a friend of the family.

Hayden also loved to surf and took a keen interest in the Wilson brothers and their sporting attributes.

Hayden taught Julian, the youngest Wilson brother, that it took toughness and stoicism to become successful.

Currently Julian is one of the best surfers in the world and showed tremendous courage when he went to the aid of Australian Mick Fanning when a shark knocked Fanning from his board during the World Titles in South Africa.

Julian Wilson was awarded the Spirit of Sport for his brave actions. He is known to be fairly handy on a cricket pitch too.

Thanks to Sunshine Coast Council’s Heritage Library Officers for the words and Picture Sunshine Coast for the images.

Image details

Hero: A Grade match between Nambour Cricket Club and Southern District, Nambour, January 1973.

Image 1:Maroochy Cricket Association's presentation of trophies dance, Civic Hall, Nambour, April 1971. International cricketer Tom Graveney (centre) was guest of honour at the function.

Image 2: Junior cricket team at the Nambour Show grounds, November 1969.

Image 3: Nambour Police Youth Cricket Team, April 1980.

Image 4: Ray Lindwall, one of Australia’s greatest fast bowlers, coaching a group of Nambour High School cricketers, March 1965.

Image 5: Cricketers on the Montville Village Green, 1900.

Image 6: QCA Country Division Shield winners, 1968.

Image 7: Perren family Cricket team, Nambour, 1925. Back row, L to R: Tom, Dave, Wilfred, Dick, Fred Jnr, Fred Snr. Front row: Walter, Lal, Eli, Edgar, Arthur.

Image 8: Cricket match at Maleny, ca 1910.

Image 9: Men dressed in womens’ clothes at a picnic cricket match, Yandina, ca 1908. Standing, L to R: B. Nichols, Bill Brayden, Bob Ablin, Ewen Low, A.L. Best, Bill Cox, J. McNab. Seated: J. Corrigan, E. Nichols, Owen Cowley, H. Manthey.

Image 10:Otto Nothling's family homestead and vineyard, Teutoberg, Blackall Range, c 1899.Teutoberg was later re-named Witta.