WHILE your typical sporting stalwart gives blood, sweat, tears and time to their club, Elaine cricketer and administrative all-rounder Murray Arnel has given a little bit more: a tractor.
Years ago, Mr Arnel travelled the 9.5 kilometres from his home down the Midland Highway to cut the grass at the town’s oval.
After completing the job he went to Deniliquin for work, only to return to find the tractor had been pinched.
“It’s the things you do for little cricket clubs,” the 60 year old says. “Some blokes give time and effort to a club, I gave a tractor too.”
Mr Arnel has been serving Elaine Cricket Club since he first arrived in 1982. He was an opening batsman for the club, peeling off 13 centuries.
But you could argue his best work was done off the pitch last year, when he helped put the club back together after 12 years in the wilderness.
“We were pulling blokes out of the pub to fill a team, it just wasn’t viable,” Mr Arnel says of the final season before the club folded in 2000-01.
“It was really disappointing to turn the lights out and shut the gate.”
After starting his career as a 14 year old at Narraport in the Mallee, Mr Arnel says he’s been overwhelmed by the resurgence of the club.
The Stock and Land reporter has been rewarded for his dedication after the club nominated him to take part in Cricket Victoria’s volunteer appreciation program. He’ll be treated to a day at the Boxing Day test between Australia and Sri Lanka at the MCG.
“I’m very chuffed,” he says. There are a lot of blokes like me in the scrub keeping teams together, so this award is for them too.”
