Sarah Oliver
It was a double celebration recently for Bacchus Marsh umpire Michael Wheelahan.
Michael umpired his 300th Victorian Sub-District Cricket Association first XI match on Saturday and was presented with life membership of the VSDCA on the same day.
“I’m thankful to the sub-district [association] because I’ve enjoyed it for so long,” he said.
“I’ve enjoyed the game and it’s made me feel happy that I’ve reached that mark.”
The 71-year-old said he’s had a lot of support from his wife, Dawn.
“It’s probably been hard for her because with umpiring you don’t go out a lot, but she’s been a support,” he said.
The VSCDA took to Facebook to announce Michael’s achievement.
“Congratulations on an outstanding contribution to cricket!” the post read.
Michael said one of the biggest highlights over his cricket career was seeing his son, James Wheelahan, win four premierships for Melton in the VSDCA.
James has three children, but Michael said they probably won’t be continuing the family cricket legacy.
“They’re more into basketball,” he said.
Michael found his love for the game at age 14 when he began playing for Sunshine Cricket Club in 1965 where he played in the second side for four years.
He moved to Footscray Cricket Club where he spent four years working on his craft. His best match figures came with an outright victory with 6-23 and 3-23.
His first years in Subbies was with Altona in the 1973-74 season. In 1976, Michael moved to Melton Cricket Club where he played for 14 years, finishing in 1990 and included taking home two premierships.
After ending his playing career, Michael became an umpire and he joined the Subbies umpire panel for the 1995-96 season.
“I thought about going up and watching each weekend but then a gentleman said to me, ‘why don’t you take up umpiring if you love the game?’.”
So he did, and he hasn’t looked back since.
Michael has now umpired in Subbies for 25 years and is closing in on 400 games. Michael won the coveted Matt Harris Award for the most improved Subbies umpire in 2001-02.
He has also umpired a VSDCA against South Australia representative match, two VSDCA versus country representative matches, three XI grand finals and three championship finals, as well as multiple VSDCA grand finals.
When he’s not on the field, Michael works for Melton council part-time picking up the elderly and taking them where they want to go and home again.
After 26 years umpiring, Michael said he probably has two more years left in him.
“It’s been a terrific journey,” he said.
