NDCC | Blackmail Newsletter

crhambleton
6 days ago
7 min read

TAKE A BREATH!

It has been a turbo-charged start to the 2025-26 season. It kicked off on 7th July 2025, when Hornsby Shire Council

hosted a Civic Reception for Northern District Cricket Club in the Council Chambers, recognising the centenary milestone. That evening, the Club celebrated its 100th AGM at the Hornsby RSL Club, one hundred years to the day since the inaugural general meeting.

It wasn’t long before the doors swung open to welcome 425 people to the incredible Centenary Dinner, held on 6th Sept. The Dinner celebrated the journey of NDCC through the ages. It highlighted the 20 years of women's cricket at the Club, and the 20 years of support for all-abilities cricket.

It took a few weeks to come off that Centenary Cloud. We hit the ground running into a blitz of T20 madness that

concluded with the Centenary Match on 4th October. The game was played between NDCC and the Randwick-

Petersham Cricket Club, replicating the initial NDCC first-grade fixture held on Saturday 3rd October and Monday 5th

October 1925 against the Marrickville Cricket Club.

On top of all these celebrations, add in the weekly site meetings and the endless Teams on-line meetings regarding the new Pavilion. Add in the tremendous success of some of our players reaching the next level … and you have one hell of an exciting time for the Northern District Cricket Club!

There is a finishing line somewhere in the distance. It’s blurred somewhat by the weight of the Centenary Book (not the mental weight … the actual weight!). We still have a huge “Back to Waitara” Day early Feb (TBC) and let’s not forget the Annual Prezzo Night in mid April 2026.

I close my eyes and the finishing line becomes very clear … There’s the committee, the alumni and all members and friends lying on banana chairs on the balcony of the new pavilion, sipping pina coladas, watching the victorious players approach the gates … and we all break into song … “I wanna be an ND Ranger!”. Can we all see that?

As we now settle into the more relaxing 2-day program, sprinkled with some 1-dayers, it’s time to take a quick snap shot to see where we sit …

Round 4 of the competition has now been completed. NDs has managed to win all grades in three of those rounds! (vs Wests, Hawkesbury & Fairfield). I would guess that that is one of the best starts the Club has ever had. Congrats to all coaches and players for an incredible effort. The old saying pops up … It’s not where you start, it’s where you finish! … So long may it continue. Club Championship-wise we are doing ok! On top in the mens and the girls will be looking to climb the ladder.

CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS

TABLES

SOME HIGHLIGHTS OF PREVIOUS ROUNDS

TOP 10 - MENS

These 2 tables will appear throughout the year showing all top 10 run scorers and wicket takers. BUT, it also includes stats scored in Poidevin Gray and Green Shield (when it starts). That’s because I am too lazy to extract them!

TOP 10 - WOMENS STATS

A huge congratulations to Caoimhe Bray and Makenzie Wheeler on making their Women’s First Grade debuts for NDCC.

Caoimhe received cap number 178, presented by Tara French, and Makenzie received cap

number 179, presented by Michael Phillips.

A special milestone for both players and a proud moment for the ND family.

HAPPY 97TH BIRTHDAY TO NEIL HARVEY (8-10-1928)

Northern District Cricket Club extends our warmest wishes to Neil Harvey, who celebrated his 97th birthday on 8th Oct.

Neil captained our first grade side from 1964 to 1968 winning a premiership in 1966-67. Neil was the youngest member of Bradman’s 1948 team to England.

A true legend of the game and a proud part of our club’s history.

Left: Recent picture of Tubby and Neil at MTO.

GET ON BOARD!

NDs “Oldboy” Phil Voysey has written to the ND Alumni and Friends, inviting them to get on board for the trip of a lifetime! It looks like it will be! ……

From Mark Taylor Oval to Machu Picchu: Why You Should Take on the Inca Trail by Phil Voysey

Calling all NDs cricketers present and retired. Are you up for some adventure? In July 2026 I’m taking a small group to Peru to do the four day Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, visit Cusco and travel around the Sacred Valley of the Incas. I have a few spots left and am hoping some of you might be interested in coming along.

The Inca Trail is four days of trekking through some of the world’s most dramatic landscapes: cloud forests, high mountain passes, ancient Inca sites, finally arriving at the Sun Gate, where we negotiate with one of the guardian llamas for the privilege of looking down on Machu Picchu in its spectacular mountain setting —I’ve found sitting at the Sun Gate gazing into infinity to be the perfect place to contemplate all those 30s and 40s I never converted to tons.

Fit Enough for the Andes?

Some of you might be wondering, ‘Am I still up for this?’ After all, most of us aren’t exactly charging in for ten (or even one) overs straight these days, or running those hard threes in a well compiled 40. It was usually around 40 that a loose technique combined with an impulse to dominate got me into trouble. Harpo Marks always had sage advice for me: ‘Another f*^kin’ forty Phil’.

But hey, forty is a great number and a great age to think about doing the Inca Trail. The group I took in 2024 comprised people in their fifties and sixties. The truth is, the Inca Trail is challenging—but it’s made for ordinary people with a bit of grit. It’s where you get to channel your inner Steve Waugh or Justin Langer.

The infamous Dead Woman’s Pass on day two climbs to 4,200 metres. It’s as much about pacing yourself—taking one breath one step one rest at a time and digging in— as it is about lung capacity and fitness. If you’ve spent a day in the field at Asquith Oval in forty degree heat watching the opposition smash 300 then you’ve got the requisite resilience and understanding of what a steep climb means.

The defining moment comes on the final morning. We rise before dawn, trek that last stretch, and watch the sun pour over Machu Picchu from the Sun Gate. I can only compare that feeling of relief and ecstasy to that of knocking off a cocky St George side stacked with first graders to win the PG final ... we were a raggedy bunch of lower graders with loads of talent and attitude. Of course, in the 80s, we believed that a good third grader at NDs would play first grade with any other club.

When you get to Machu Picchu all I can say is life changes … forever. Every time I go (I’ve been four times now since 1986) I experience the same slightly different feeling of wonder, relief and fatigue. I find a good spot to sit, against an Inca stone, away from the nosy guardian llama, and take in the spectacular view of the city below and the surrounding mountains. All sense of self dissolves and I have a quiet cry.

What About the Altitude?

The altitude is something you need to be aware of but

not worry about. It’s tough walking at over 3000 metres. Altitude sickness affects some and not others, regardless of fitness level. But our local partner Tropic Peru has organised the tour to minimise any likelihood of the dreaded soroche striking you. When we arrive in Cusco at 3,400 metres we go straight down to the Sacred Valley to

acclimatise at a lower altitude.

We drink lots of coca tea in the days leading up to the

trek and chew coca leaves on the trail. They’re

disgusting but they offset the effects of altitude. If you

prefer, there’s also medication you can take to

prevent altitude sickness.

And to get you match fit, in the months leading up to the trip, we organise bush walks up in the Blue Mountains to build endurance, optimism and instil a “I’ve bloody got this” belief.

Cusco and Other Stuff

We do other stuff as well. We explore Cusco, the historic capital of the Inca Empire, and the nearby Sacred Valley. We visit local communities and give back to a local school. The food is great, even on the trail— we had well deserved chocolate cake on the last night and roasted guinea pig in Cusco— and the service from our local partner is outstanding. You will be well looked after.

Next year we’re also offering a 4-7 nights jungle extension for those who are interested in experiencing the Amazon jungle, perhaps even getting involved in a Citizen Science project. So, mates, dust off the boots, apply a thin smearing of linseed oil to aspiration and get ready.

From Mark Taylor Oval to Machu Picchu, the next great innings awaits. My wife Cheryle Yin Lo is acting travel agent in this venture.

You can find out more information and book at: https://www.travelglobe.com.au/peru-adventure-13-day-tour

Or contact me at: phil@possibilityofus.com.au

ND/HKHDCCA COACHING CLINICS - January Holidays 2026

Registrations are open for the Coaches' Association / Northern District CC school holiday junior cricket (2-day) clinics at Mark Taylor Oval, Waitara on the following dates (8.30am - 2.00pm each day):

 Wednesday 14 & Thursday 15 January 2026

 Monday 19 & Tuesday 20 January 2026

Online registrations can be made via this link – https://www.trybooking.com/DGPRQ

During the past 16 years, the Coaches' Association has conducted 91 successful school holiday cricket clinics, which are designed for boys and girls aged from 6 – 14 years. They cater for all standards from beginners to representative level players.

HKHDCCA’s experienced Cricket Australia Representative (Level 2) and Community accredited coaches provide a fantastic experience for all the junior players, combining skills development with fun activities in small groups.

The Coaches' Association is a not-for-profit cricket body affiliated with HK&HDCA and its fee structure is subsidised, with further discounts available for previous attendees (wearing the blue t-shirt and white cap), siblings, and players attending both clinics.

Lots of awards and certificates are presented at the end of each cricket clinic. These popular clinics always generate excellent feedback from the players and their parents. Our two cricket clinics at MTO in January 2025 were Sold Out in advance, so please register early for January 2026 to avoid disappointment. For more information, please go to the

Coaches’ Association’s new website: website: www.hkhdcca.com.au

and/or Facebook page: www.facebook.com/HKHDCCA

NEXT ROUND vs EASTS

The next round involves a 2 dayer for 1st Grade (Sat/Sun game) at MTO this weekend. Grades 2-5 will play one-dayers on Saturday.

For those who need to go to Specksavers, it means that 1st grade will play at MTO, 2nd Grade at Waverley Oval, 3rd Grade at Asquith Oval, 4th Grade at Trumper Park and 5th Grade at Storey Park.

See you on the sidelines!

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