Welcome a new Life Member

9 Apr 2019 by Jim August

Congratulations to our latest life member, Mr Stephen Kemp.

This was the speech to celebrate Stephen’s achievements
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Life Member

What does it mean? I have found a few definitions – member of a club until you die, a person who has lifelong membership

To me it is an acknowledgement and recognition of outstanding and distinctive contribution of an eminent person to our club, the Kenwick Cricket Club.

In a sense, over the years many people have come and gone, they played, they have been on various committees, helped out, some more so than others, but each have left their own fingerprint on the club. Some are forgotten as quickly as they are gone while others are revered, admired, respected and so on as time goes by. Some from time to time, however, leave a distinctive mark on the club, an impression these people are not quickly forgotten, they become engrained in the history of the club. People such as Bert & Jim McKenna and my time Kevin & Carol Wilson, Barry Nicholas, Brian Bassell.

In the more recent era, people like Doug Tink, Geoff Martin and recently Jason Thompson. Each of these people have made a huge impact on the DNA of the club today.

During the life of the Kenwick Cricket Club which is now heading towards 70 years of existence, 18 people has been previously recognised by the club, some that I have just mentioned, as people who have made an outstanding and distinctive contribution to the club.

Tonight, it is time to once again to recognise the outstanding contribution of another individual and bestow life membership of the Kenwick Cricket Club to that person.

This individual first arrived in the season of 2009/2010 and played a Round 5, fourth grade game. Geoff Martin was the skipper and he had what you might say was uneventful game, bowled three overs, the highlight was possibly the two wides and batted at number 11 scoring a brisk 6no. Some might remember this game because that night the club celebrated 60 years.

The next time we saw this person was for the full season of 2011/2012 when he became a regular member of the club bouncing between 4th grade and the One Day Grades. That season he became a premiership player under the guidance of his now good friend, Jason Thompson. Fourth grade defeated Hilton that season to win the flag and give him his first premiership. Now having looked at the stats, he must have conned someone because during the season he was opening the batting and even scored 47 in one match!

Overall his cricket career has had many highs and lows, but the highs appeared to have occurred last season when he scored his first 50 and his first 5 for, including a 5 for in a losing grand final but it’s not his exploits on the cricket field that make him stand out.

Its off the field where he really shines. Think about this, this person comes from the bush, arrives at a club and within two seasons is voted in as the president of the club, either is very ambitious or very silly, or even both! Now he did that role for three seasons before stepping away, others might have walked away but no, he decided to take on the secretary role for three seasons, in between adding the role of Vice President as well.

Many times, this person has stepped up, organised, arranged, picked up, whatever has needed to be done and I can honestly say that when others have blinked or baulked at doing something, he has put his hand up. Many times, when the club has been on the edge of possible extinction and difficult times, he has managed to find a way to get us through.

Now I know there have been times when he has had thoughts about wanting to walk away, possible pressure from outside sources, (he now has a second love and it may one day overtake cricket) but he has stayed the course and bleeds royal blue. He loves nothing more than signing the club song after a stirring win especially if it’s against Thornlie.

I would everyone stand as we toast our 19th life member, Mr Stephen Kemp!

Well done!



Location

Mills Park, Beckenham

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