David epitomizes what it means to be a dedicated and devoted follower of the game of cricket. He was one of the Australian Cricket Society Foundation Members, being among the very first who attended its very first meeting in the bowels of the MCG on a wintery evening in 1967.
David served on the Committee, initially under Radcliffe Grace (President) and Andrew Joseph (Secretary), and took on the roles as Membership Secretary and Assistant Treasurer – roles he fulfilled for many years. David was also instrumental in securing the Charles Lux Pavilion at the Prahran Cricket Ground as the Society’s meeting place for most of its functions during the 1970s.David was also an enthusiastic tourist on the Society’s Ashes Tours of England in 2009, 2013, and 2015.In addition to this, David’s love for the game revolved around his beloved Prahran Cricket Club.
David Jukes first entered Toorak Park in 1952, the home of what was to become a lifetime of happiness for him namely Prahran Cricket Club, to see along with his Father their favourite cricketer, Neil Harvey, playing for Fitzroy against Prahran. That’s where it all started.David then followed Prahran for years after, due to the locality of his home, and in season 1958/59 David was appointed as First Eleven scorer through until 1970 when he then became Honorary Secretary, a position he held for 34 years!! The commitment, effort, love, and work he did maybe equaled but never bettered as he tirelessly gave of his life to helping the Club and many, many others that passed through it. His honesty was never, ever questioned and the hundreds and hundreds of players who participated during those years held David in the highest of esteem.
This respect was also acknowledged to David from the many officials who served the Club over that period of time.David Richards who was Secretary, as it was known then, of Cricket Victoria (he later became CEO of Cricket Australia and then likewise at the ICC – International Cricket Council ) was quoted at the time saying that David “was the ‘best’ Club Secretary he had seen as his (David’s) attention to detail, accuracy, reporting on time, plus diligence to a task given, had to be seen to be believed”.David was a Society Life member as well as a Life Member of Prahran Cricket Club, inducted into the Hall of Fame, a Club Patron, and ultimately received Legend status. A most wonderful contributor to the game of cricket, the sport he adores.A true gentleman, he still loved nothing better than seeing the game played in the spirit it should be. #RIPDavid