Grandpa an inspiration: Ferntree Gully District Cricket Association president Norm Reeves. Picture: Wayne Hawkins
NORM Reeves' love affair with cricket began at the knee of his grandfather and has extended ever since.
Reeves went from learning about the game from his grandpa William Swindon, the first captain of Upper Ferntree Gully Cricket Club, to becoming a player and then official in his own right.
This year will be his 60th in the game. He started as a player in 1952 and has spent the past 26 years as president of the Ferntree Gully District Cricket Association.
At the end of this season, Reeves will cease his tenure as president and move into retirement from cricket administration.
The 70-year-old Croydon resident announced the move at the FTGDCA's annual meeting earlier this year, surprising many but allowing the association time to find a successor.
Reeves says he wants to sit back and enjoy more free time. "I've been in the chair for some time. I was senior vice-president for many years as well and it was just time to sit back and relax, enjoy my lifestyle with my wife," he said.
"I want to get around and watch some good cricket, pop into the city and see some games. I'll always be part of the FTGDCA, watching games with interest but now enjoying sitting back."
The association has also honoured Reeves in the best possible way, naming its premier competition after him with the FTGDCA's best sides now playing for the N.R. [Norm] Reeves Shield.
The announcement and the manner in which the honour was decided shocked and overwhelmed Reeves.
"Our general manager announced at the AGM that they were thinking of changing the name to fit in with the DeCoite Shield, our second division," Reeves said.
"It came as a bolt out of the blue for me, but it was brought up and clubs were asked to think about it and they all said they didn't need to and wanted to vote it in straight away. It knocked me over. It's just wonderful for me and for my wife and my two boys who play cricket at Upper Ferntree Gully. It's a big honour. I don't know if it should be bestowed upon just an ordinary bloke like me."
Reeves was also honoured by the Victorian Country Cricket League in 2004 with an award for services to cricket.
He said he was inspired to move into cricket administration by grandpa Swindon.
"He gave me an incentive to take up the game and enjoy it," he said. "He was a pioneer in his era and decided to make contact with the local council to put aside land on Talaskia Road as a future sporting facility for Upper Ferntree Gully. It's still a sports ground."
In the late 1970s, Reeves joined the FTGDCA board and was a vice-president for several years before being asked to take on the president's role. "I was talked into doing it for a couple of years . . . I've stayed on a bit longer than that."—Roy Ward