History of the Bendigo United Cricket Club
The Bendigo United Cricket Club is considered the second oldest cricket club in Victoria, after the Melbourne Cricket Club. Originating on the Gold Fields of Central Victoria in 1853 and initially known as the ‘District Club’, it was not until 1861 when the Club was in difficulties that a meeting was held at the Criterion Hotel, a chairman, Mr Pitman, elected, and a committee formed to collect subscriptions "in furtherance of the Bendigo United Cricket Club". An application to the government for a grant of 6 acres of land at ‘Back Creek’ was also made and subsequently granted. This reserve is still the home of Bendigo United, and is now known as ‘Harry Trott Oval’.
According to the minutes of the Club, in 1861 a two rail fence was erected around the ground, tree stumps extracted, the filling up of holes and a small watercourse, the leveling of the area and the sowing of grass seed and turfing of a thirty yard square in the centre of the ground were completed. In 1864 reference is made to "a very handsome pavilion" being erected at a cost of 142 pounds 9 shillings.
In 1861/62 a BUCC twenty-two played an English Eleven at ‘Back Creek’ (English eleven 246, BUCC twenty-two 81 and 102), and a BUCC eighteen played a Victorian eleven (Victorian eleven 88 and 73, BUCC eighteen 88 and 51). These were the first of many matches against English and Australian Elevens, Victorian and other State teams.
One of the founders of the Club was The Hon. Angus Mackay, one of Bendigo’s best known citizens, a distinguished Victorian statesman and proprietor of the Bendigo Advertiser.
His son George Mackay had a long and illustrious career with BUCC. He made a total of 13,216 runs, including 10 centuries and took 1,062 wickets, which included a career high score of 189 runs in the Clubs record 6/605 in 1892 against Harcourt at Back Creek. His brother Angus also made his mark on BUCC scoring 128 in the same match. George Mackay played 6 matches for Victoria as a batsman.
Along with George Mackay, Mr. G. Freeman was also a prolific run scorer for BUCC making 10,066 runs, which included 21 centuries.
Mr William Bruce gave exceptional and unequalled service to the Club. He is recorded as a player in 1861 representing the Club as a wicketkeeper/batsman against both the English Eleven and Victorian Eleven. His playing record continued until 1872 when he was elected President of the Club. He served at least 38 years as president (records between 1912 and late 1920’s were destroyed in a fire) and gave Bendigo United in excess of 50 years service. He died in Bendigo in 1916 aged 82 years.
BUCC Hall of Fame
Ken Smalley
Ken was a brilliant bowler come all rounder for BUCC 1st XI between 1955 and 1981.
To this day he is BUCC leading wicket taker with 447 at an incredible average of 14.30. Ken took 5 wickets in an innings 23 times, and twice took 10 wickets in a match. Ken also scored two 1st XI centuries.
His career at BUCC saw him capture eight Champion Player awards, nine bowling awards, and he was the BDCA Cricketer of the Year in 1973/74. He also captained the senior side for three seasons. In 2000, Ken was selected in the BUCC Team of the Century.
At League level, Ken won the BDCA bowling aggregate twice, along with 1975/76 bowling average award. Testament to his all-rounder abilities, Ken twice topped the BDCA batting averages.
Ken has been inducted into the BDCA Hall of Fame and was honoured as a BDCA Living Legend.
His career at BUCC saw him spend 9 years as Secretary, and he was inevitably bestowed with Life Membership. More recently, Ken has been recognised as a 50 year BUCC member having followed the club through his son Andrew and grandson Marcus since his retirement.
Neil Rasmussen
Neil was a highly successful right arm swing bowler who bowled for BUCC between 1962/63 to 1981/82. At the time of his induction his 181 game career saw him occupy fifth place on the BUCC 1st XI game record tally.
Neil took 354 1st XI wickets for the club, the fourth most in club history, at an average of 17.51. Sixteen times he took 5 wickets in an innings. His best figures were 7/8 which he took in the 1978/79 season.
A testament to his playing career and service to BUCC, Neil was bestowed with Life Membership. To this day he is still regarded as one of BUCC finest players.
Ron Hunt
Ron Hunt was a brilliant all-rounder for BUCC between 1928/29 to 1949/50 who played 158 1st XI games.
He took 369 wickets at an average of 14.23, and at the time of his induction his 1st XI wicket tally had him third on the all time BUCC wicket-taking list. His best figures were achieved in the 1941/42 season when he took 9/36. On fifteen occasions he took 5 wickets in an innings, and twice he took ten wickets in a match.
As a batsman he made 3,556 runs scoring 18 half centuries with a top score of 91.
In 2000 Ron took his place among the BUCC elite with selection in the club Team of the Century.
George Mackay
George Mackay made 13,216 runs which included 10 centuries, and took an incredible 1,062 wickets for BUCC in a long and illustrious career. His career high score was recorded as 189 in a club record 6/605 in 1882 against Harcourt at Back Creek.
George played six matches for Victoria as a batsman. To this day the BUCC 1st XI Club Champion Award is named in his honour.
The‘Australian Cricketers Annual’ – 1877-78 noted of George:
“G Mackay: a young player who came out last season, and promises to improve into a thoroughly good man; bats very freely; rather too fond of hitting; a good field, and one of the best bowlers in the club.”
According to the same record, it lists George as beginning with BUCC in the 1st XI in 1876-77, around the time he was 15-16 years of age.
William Bruce
Mr William Bruce gave exceptional and unequalled service to BUCC. He is recorded as a player in 1861 representing the Club as a wicketkeeper/batsman against both the English XI and Victorian XI. His playing record continued until 1872 when he was elected President of the Club. He served at least 38 years as president (records between 1912 and late 1920’s were destroyed in a fire) and gave BUCC in excess of 50 years service.
He died in Bendigo in 1916 aged 82 years.
The ‘Australian Cricketers Annual’ – 1877-78 noted William Bruce as President of BUCC, and referred to him as “W. Bruce Esq”. He was also considered to be a “veteran player”
“W. Bruce: a veteran player, now getting a trifle stiff, but still bats in good form; president of the club for many seasons past, and the best supporter of it, and of cricket generally in the district.”
Leon Grose
Leon Grose played 144 games for BUCC between 1969 and 1983, making 4909 runs at 36.3 and taking 316 wickets at 13.34. At the time of his induction Leon had the fourth highest batting aggregate for BUCCs, and had taken the fifth most wickets.
An elegant left handed batsmen and right arm leg spin bowler, Leon is regarded as one of the great all rounders in BUCCs history, featuring in the Club‟s Team of the Century selected in 1999 / 2000, winning the George Mackay Trophy as Club Champion five times and securing numerous club bowling and batting awards.
Off the field, Leon served as Club President and was a winner of the Norm Jackson Trophy for Best Clubman in 1979/80.
At a league level, Leon is an inductee of the BDCA Hall of Fame, and a BDCA Life Member. Such was Leon‟s contribution to cricket in Bendigo that the BDCA now awards its first XI champion player with the "Leon Grose Trophy".
Leon is a Life Member for his service to the Club and now takes his rightful place alongside team mates Ken Smalley and Neil Rasmussen in the BUCCs Hall of Fame.
Ross Freeman
Ross Freeman played 184 1st XI games for BUCCs between 1914 and 1940. At the time of his induction he was one of only nine BUCCs players to have played greater than 150 1st XI games for the Club.
Ross scored 5130 1st XI runs, with four centuries and 25 half centuries. His highest score of 192 is considered the fourth highest for BUCCs behind Heath Behrens‟ three double centuries. Ross is also a BUCCs 1st XI premiership player.
A more than useful bowler, Ross took 5 wickets in an innings for BUCCs on four occasions, with best figures of 7/36. Testament to his skill, Ross is also credited with over 100 catches and 5 stumpings.
Ross is a member of the BUCCs Team of the Century from 1999 / 2000, and in 2012 Ross was inducted into the BDCA Hall of Fame. Along with team mate Ron Hunt, Ross is now a member of the BUCCs Hall of Fame.
Len Batchelder
Len Batchelder was a brilliant leg spin bowler with Bendigo United Cricket Club (BUCC) between 1922/23 and 1946/57 who played 136 1st XI games.
He took 430 wickets at the incredible average of 11.35 and his 1st XI wicket tally ranked him second on the all-time BUCC list at the time of his induction. His 1st XI wicket tally would stand as a Club record for more than 30 years after his retirement.
His best figures were achieved in the 1939/40 season when he took 8/18. On thirty three occasions he took 5 wickets in an innings which to this day remains a BUCC record, and on four occasions he took ten wickets in a match – also a Club record. He won the club bowling average nine times, including seven in a row between the 1933/34 and 1939/40 seasons.
In 1937/38 Len was a member of the BUCC 1st XI premiership side that defeated Harcourt.
He was twice 1st XI captain (1935/36, 36/37) and a permanent fixture on the Club’s committee for over twenty years between the 1932/33 and 1953/54 seasons.
Batchelder’s overall association with BUCC spanned more than 30 years and in 1950, his service was recognised with life membership.
In 2000 Len took his place among the BUCC elite with selection in the Club Team of the Century.
(Credit: Darren Rodda)
Leo Shanahan
Leo Shanahan joined Bendigo United Cricket Club (BUCC) at the commencement of the 1962/63 season. Eventually Leo joined the BUCC Committee, and played in the 1st and 2nd XI’s. He went on to assume the role of 2nd XI captain, holding the position until his retirement from cricket at the end of the 1968/69 season. A career highlight was the century he scored for BUCC in the 2nd XI in 1968 against Kangaroo Flat.
It was off the ground where Leo made his greatest mark with BUCC. After stints as Vice President, Leo assumed the role of Club President in 1983/84, and again from 1986/87 through to 1987/88. He served on the BUCC Committee for over 20 years, and was also the curator for 5 seasons.
In addition, Leo was instrumental in forming the BUCC juniors in 1974/75 and was involved with the junior teams up until 1985/1986. Leo was responsible for the coaching and organisation of over 50 BUCC junior teams throughout his time, and it is of note that BUCC was the first Bendigo District Cricket Association Club to join the old Bendigo Junior Cricket Association (BJCA). Leo was also the Treasurer for the BJCA, and is regarded as a driving force in commencing the old Primary cricket competition. He was also awarded a Life Membership of the BJCA.
After retiring from the BUCC Committee at the end of the 1985/86 season, Leo undertook the role of Authorised Bingo Officer. Each Monday night Leo ran Bingo at the Community Bingo Centre, with the revenue raised going towards the construction of new nets at the Neale Street end of Harry Trott Oval, and other facilities at the ground.
Will Turner
Will Turner played 136 1st XI games for Bendigo United Cricket Club (BUCC) between 1961/62 and 1975/76. He was one of the leading wicket keepers of his time in Bendigo cricket, particularly up to the stumps to the leg spin of Leon Grose. He snared 198 dismissals with 123 catches and 75 stumpings, the fourth most stumpings in Bendigo District Cricket Association history by a wicketkeeper. As a batsman, Will scored 2065 1st XI runs with a highest score of 86. Will was also the 1st XI captain for two seasons between 1967/68 and 68/69.
Off the field Will served on the BUCC Committee for over ten years, and served two seasons as President between 1981/82 and 1982/83.
(Credit: Darren Rodda)
