INTRODUCING OUR PATRONS
The Northern District Cricket Club is very fortunate in having such “Legends” as Patrons
Neil “Harpo” Marks (born September 13, 1938, Randwick, NSW), Harpo was an ND’s junior, an ND’s 1st Grader, a First Class cricketer and State selector, whose career was cut short by illness. A renowned story-teller and raconteur, Neil Marks is a former NSW Sheffield Shield cricketer who scored a century in each of his first two matches. A prolific writer, Neil has had five books published to date, and his style of writing is guaranteed to bring a smile to your face and a tear to your eye. Harpo brings to life a spirit many believed was lost.
Matt Kean, Matt is currently the Liberal Member for Hornsby in the NSW Legislative Assembly, and since April 2019, the Minister for Energy and Environment. Elected in March 2011, Matt has held important prior positions, most recently the Minister for Innovation and Better Regulation for over two years. Matt was instrumental in obtaining $9 million worth of funding for the Club's Mark Taylor Oval Development Project at Waitara, which he announced on Tuesday, 12th March 2019.
Matt was the Vice President, Berowra Cricket Club and the Delegate to the Hornsby Kuring-gai Hills District Cricket Association in 2010. His interests include - Mental health and suicide prevention, education policy, rugby and rugby league.
Alister Henskens is the Cabinet Secretary in the NSW Government and has been the Member for Ku-ring-gai in the NSW Parliament since 2015. He has served as the Parliamentary Secretary for Finance and as the Chair of several Parliamentary Committees, including the Transport and Infrastructure Committee. He is deeply committed to keeping Ku-ring-gai a great place to live, whether it is to grow up, be educated, have a family or retire.
Prior to entering Parliamentary service, Alister was involved in a number of community activities including as a director of Basketball NSW, a coach and manager of club and representative sporting teams and President of his local Public School’s P & C. Alister also held various positions in the local branches of the Liberal Party.
Steve Taylor, Steve is an Old Boy of the Club, playing cricket (as a batsman) for NDs in the 80’s as well as serving on the committee. Steve and his company, Total Construction, became involved again (this time as a sponsor) in 2008. His generosity and support for the Club has changed life at NDs. Steve was totally responsible for the new practice facilities at MTO a few years ago, and without the assistance from Steve and Total Construction, the new dressing room facilities at MTO would probably still be on the drawing board. His support has helped enormously in the development of many young local cricketers.
Mark Taylor (born 27 October 1964) Mark is a former Australian Test opening batsman from 1988 to 1999, as well as captain from 1994 to 1999. His predominant fielding position was at first slip. Mark was widely regarded as an instrumental component in Australia's rise to Test cricket dominance, and his captaincy was regarded as adventurous and highly effective. He debuted for Northern District in 1982/83 and first played for New South Wales in 1985.
He retired from Test cricket on 2 February 1999. In 104 Test matches, he scored 7,525 runs with a batting average of 43.49, including 19 centuries and 40 fifties. He was also an excellent first slip – his 157 catches, at the time, a Test record. Mark won plaudits for his always cheerful and positive demeanour. and was named Australian of the Year in 1999, he is now a cricket commentator for the Nine Network, and Director of Cricket Australia. In recognition of his long and enduring service to the Northern District Cricket Club, Waitara Oval was renamed "Mark Taylor Oval" in 2011 in his honour.