By Liam Grima, ACS Journalism Scholar (mentored by The Footy Almanac‘s John Harms).
After my parents, Adrian and Leanne Grima, got married and set up residence in Wheelers Hill, it was just a simple drive down Garnett Road, looking for a new local club where Dad could play closer to home. Indeed, that quiet car ride led them to the Mulgrave Cricket Club, and changed the course of our family’s life. It’s still incredible to think that one decision would become the foundation of decades of memories, friendships, and a legacy that now feels inseparable from who we are. For some people, cricket is their summer. For my family, cricket is our life, and the Mulgrave Cricket Club is where that life has taken shape.
The Mulgrave Cricket Club was formed back in 1905, competing against other clubs across the outer eastern suburbs in the early years of its formation, playing some of their matches on a ground that would later become known as the VFL’s Waverley Park, or VFL Park. The grandstand of that former stadium still overlooks Mulgrave’s current ground, Mulgrave Reserve, located on Garnett Road in Wheelers Hill.
Mulgrave Cricket Club participated in various local cricket associations, and, in 1974, the Club joined the Eastern Suburbs Cricket Association promptly winning premierships in their first two seasons. Nearly a century after their formation, Mulgrave’s 1st XI won five consecutive Dunstan Shield premierships in the ECA in the early 2000s. This was a remarkable achievement that remains so today. Many of those players came through the ranks of the club, beginning as juniors, showing the club’s strong commitment to nurturing talent and fostering strong team spirit. Today, Mulgrave still competes in the ECA and offers opportunities to play on both turf and synthetic wickets across numerous competitions. The club continues its commitment to local cricket in a fun, safe and family-oriented environment.
Throughout that rich history, with countless chapters written and many stories finished, is the story of my family’s involvement, which continues to this day.
My Mum grew up in a family that lived and breathed sport. With a Dad and two older brothers who were diehard Carlton fans and cricket tragics, weekends were often spent attending the football with her Mum watching Collingwood at the MCG or, hearing about her brothers’ sporting performances from the day or listening to her Dad’s stories of his playing days as a boy.
In his younger years, my Grandfather, Patrick Flynn, was a member of the West Brunswick Cricket Club where he played at sub-district level, starting in the thirds until eventually opening the batting in the seconds. He had a love for the game like no other, teaching his sons the basics of cricket, bowling in the nets until it was dark, and attending Test matches and Sheffield Shield games. Unfortunately, he passed away in 2015 when I was nine, but I can still hear his voice after all those years telling me that “bat and body are one”, a phrase that continues to be repeated in our household from time to time. My Grandfather was even lucky enough to run into the late Sir Donald Bradman on a cricket trip in Adelaide with his playing mates in his early 20s and asked for a photo, which our family still has and holds very close to us.
My Dad’s cricketing journey and pathway to the Mulgrave Cricket Club have been ones of determination, toughness and reliability. In his junior years, he followed his siblings to the Sunshine Cricket Club and eventually transitioned into the senior program in the subdistrict competition. In addition to his years playing at Sunshine, Dad showcased his skills and ability in the prestigious Dowling Shield for North Melbourne/Geelong in the Under 16s. At the age of 18, he went on to play District Cricket at North Melbourne for the next three to four years, playing in the thirds as a genuine all-rounder and holding his own. After his tenure with North Melbourne, Dad spent the next decade at Yarraville Club Cricket Club where he was part of back-to-back 1st XI premierships in the club’s 1996/97 and 1997/98 seasons. My Dad, who was a very impressive and gifted fielder wherever he went, even earned himself the nickname ‘Jonty’ after former South African Cricketer, Jonty Rhodes, regarded as one of the greatest fielders to grace the game.
Dad began playing at Mulgrave in the 2006/07 season, eventually taking out the bowling average in the 2007/08 season for the 1st XI and captaining the 2nd XI in the years that followed. During his time as skipper of the seconds, it wasn’t just his knowledge, experience and skill that was a shining light, but his ability to be a guiding presence on the field and in the change rooms, bringing the best out of the club’s younger players while injecting as much energy and encouragement into the group as he possibly could, something which continues to this day.
Unfortunately, an ankle injury in 2013 brought Dad’s playing career to an end. However, his contribution to making Mulgrave an inclusive and welcoming environment never wavered. He played a pivotal role in being involved in the club’s senior committee for over ten years as well as voluntarily serving as the club’s senior coach for consecutive seasons. Moreover, while my Dad’s influence in the senior club was one that was valued and created positive change, the most important aspect of my family’s involvement with the Mulgrave Cricket Club was their service in the junior program. My parents were instrumental during this time for the Cricket Club. It saw my Dad take on the responsibility of junior president with my Mum by his side organising apparel, trophies, social events and secretarial duties, building a foundation that ensured the club was successful on field, and reinforcing its sense of community off it.
I feel extremely fortunate to have had parents who not only supported me throughout these years from a performance standpoint, but ensured that every child who came through the ranks could get the best opportunity possible to develop their cricket and create friendships week in, week out. As the chapter of my junior cricket career closed and a new one opened when I officially entered the senior program in the 2023/24 season, the most rewarding milestone came not with the bat or ball, but by my Mum and Dad being granted life membership at the Mulgrave Cricket Club, which has given me and my family so much in return.
My family is by no means single-handedly the reason for where the club is today, but they are without a doubt the epitome of community, selflessness, leadership, and above all, dedication. My family’s story is clear proof that community sporting clubs like Mulgrave aren’t measured in premierships, statistics or individual success, but by the people who choose to sacrifice and give their time and effort to it, season after season, year after year. Cricket is our life, and Mulgrave is like our second home.
Australian Cricket Society’s literary scholar Liam Grima is mentored by writer John Harms. His pieces are also published at www.footyalmanac.com.au .