By JARROD POTTER
WHILE he’s humbled to receive Cricket Victoria recognition, it has never been a driving force for Peter Barnes with his passion for local cricket.
Barnes, 71, North Dandenong, has been a part of the Dandenong District Cricket Association (DDCA) executive committee for 25 years and was honoured as one of Cricket Victoria’s 20 outstanding volunteers at its Volunteer Recognition Breakfast on day-three of the Boxing Day Test match in December at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).
No one could question Barnes’ commitment to all things DDCA as a 10-year veteran of the president’s seat as well as serving in various other roles on the committee in his two-and-a-half decades of helping the Dandenong-area cricket community.
Heading in to the Australia versus India Boxing Day Test was an experience in itself for Barnes – who was none the wiser about the association nominating him for the award and would have been just as happy without the recognition as it’s his passion to help out.
“It was very humbling actually,” Barnes said.
“I didn’t know the association had nominated me for the volunteer recognition… I didn’t know until I got the letter from Cricket Victoria.
“My involvement with the association – I think has been 25 years on the executive – you enjoy the camaraderie of the people that you actually work with and do all these things with… it’s something you enjoy as a pastime or a hobby.
“It is a very humbling experience to be nominated for something like that because that’s not the reason you do – you don’t do it so you can get recognition, you do it because that’s what you want to do.”
It’s been 25 years since he was first elected onto the executive and while Barnes doesn’t remember why he even stood for election in the first place, he wouldn’t change it for the world.
“I’m not really sure why I stood – the first time I stood to be elected on the executive I missed out… didn’t get on there,” Barnes said.
“As far as a catalyst I’m not sure really of the reason why I did it, but I did it and it was a worthwhile opportunity.”
Barnes’ 10 seasons at the helm of the DDCA from 1994/95 to 2004/05 – in what he calls an “enjoyable and rewarding, if not challenging at times experience” – followed his time with North Dandenong Cricket Club beginning in the mid-1970s as a founding member and life member.
He was named a DDCA life member in 2001 and his focus has switched to his camerawork as Barnes goes around the grounds filming the matches for the annual Allan Wookey Medal vote count.
Barnes believes the association has improved dramatically in the last 20 years with the introduction of covers and the improving skill-level of Turf cricket along with the creation and cultivation of junior pathways.
“We offer all forms for cricket from Milo In2cricket… there’s a pathway for six and seven-years-olds and that extends all the way to seniors in the same association,” Barnes said.
“Then we provide masters for people like me who get too old to play Saturday competitive cricket – if you want to continue with masters’ cricket, we’re one of the only associations that provides it.”
Cricket Victoria Chief Executive Officer Tony Dodemaide said the governing body was committed to recognising the extraordinary contributions that volunteers make to the game as many associations, clubs and teams would not exist without their support.
“On behalf of Cricket Victoria, I would like to congratulate this year’s outstanding volunteers,” Dodemaide said.
“I would like to thank this year’s recipients as well as all of the volunteers across the state for their continued support and tireless efforts to help our game thrive.”
Also recognised for their volunteering efforts at the breakfast were Andrew Kincaid (Noble Park) and John Wise (Berwick Springs CC).
