40-Year Reunion for NSW Domestic Double The First Event To Be Supported By New Team Reunion Grant

The ACA has launched a new initiative to support milestone reunions for champion teams.

The ACA’s vision is Thriving Members Connected To A Healthy Game, and in support of this we are delighted to launch a new grant initiative.

The Team Reunion Grant provides up to $750 to one member as a contribution to a domestic team reunion which celebrates a milestone anniversary of a champion team.

The first event to be supported by this new initiative was the 40-year-anniversary of the 1984/85 NSW Men's team that won the Sheffield Shield and One-Day Cup double.

ACA Chair Greg Dyer was part of the team and present at the celebration. He provided some words around that 1984/85 season, and the event:

The years since that incredibly successful season have passed very quickly and some wonderful memories of our time together were recalled on the day, often in great detail!

The Shield final against Queensland at the SCG was an incredible match which ebbed and flowed across the 5 days. There were some remarkable performances from both teams and it's worth noting that there were 18 Test players in the two assembled teams. Nine wickets in the match to Imran Khan, an unbeaten 83 runs from Peter Clifford and a 6 wicket marathon bowling spell from Queensland's Carl Rackemann were memorable highlights.

The result being a nail-biting one wicket win to the Blues - with resolute number 11 Dave Gilbert in support of Cliffo - together holding the Queenslanders at bay - preceded an unforgettable night of celebration!

Our One Day season was also remarkable - we were unbeaten across the year and had built the belief required to perform strongly in a one-sided win against South Australia.

14 of the 19 players who represented NSW that year in both forms were able to make the lunch. We spent time remembering the great Bob "Dutchie" Holland who sadly passed away in 2017.

In summary, we had a wonderful afternoon recalling the great achievements of a wonderfully talented group of cricketers - our only stated regrets being that we had not gotten together more often across the years. Thank you to both the ACA and CNSW for supporting such a wonderful event.

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Standing (from left): Greg Dyer, Rod Bower, Murray Bennett, Wayne Seabrook, Steve Waugh, Mark O'Neill, Geoff Lawson, Steve Rixon, John Dyson, Phil Marks

Seated (from left): Dirk Wellham, Greg Matthews, Peter Clifford, David Gilbert

The State Reunion Grant is a wonderful example of ACA members and staff working together to find an outcome that benefits all.

Bringing members together and encouraging long-standing connections to flourish is mutually beneficial and the ACA looks forward to rolling the new grant out across the 2025-26 season.