Phil Arbuckle

About Phil:
Phil made a blistering start to his POCC career with the bat and was a member of the 93/94 1st XI Premiership side. His career was cut a bit short by the effects of an accident that occurred years earlier but he enjoyed a long and successful career with both bat and ball.

Phil captained a very successful 2nd XI side in 97/98 which set a club record with runs scored in an innings but went on to lose the semi final at Domeney. A year or so later, Phil started the 4th XI at POCC and we have never gone backwards from then.

Phil has worked tirelessly for the club, stuck with his beliefs and doesn’t suffer fools! He brought a new energy and represented a new movement of change that is never easy to implement in place of old habits and attitudes. He worked genuinely hard for the club and what he believed in. Phil retired as President a few years ago but only had one year off as his replacement retired from the position after one term. Phil stepped down again at end of 06/07. He has given an enormous amount of his time and energy to the club and for that we will be eternally grateful.

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Bill Armstrong

About Bill:
Bill hails from a strong Mont Albert Cricket Club family (he had a 25 year career there). Our incomplete statistical record shows Billy took at least 40 wickets for POCC but it is more likely to be double that amount. He was no mug with the bat either, as he protected his wicket fiercely and had an average of 15 runs. This is not bad for a tail-ender!

POCC missed out on Billy’s best years of bowling but benefited from his influence on the players. Bill encouraged a balance between the boys having fun and taking the game seriously.

The 1st XI moved up a number of grades in his time as President and, in true Park Orchards fashion, we lost a number of semis in that same period. Bill’s presidency culminated in the club’s first 1st XI premiership flag in ten years. There wasn’t another 1st XI flag for nearly another 10 years.

As President of POCC, Bill implemented Maddocks (indoor) pre-season training, he also door-knocked around Park Orchards to recruit junior players. The year before Bill’s presidency there were 9 junior players, one year later we had around 50!

All 3 senior teams won on his first playing day as president which Billy felt extremely chuffed about! This was an omen of sorts as POCC’s “Golden Years” socially were around that time; there was particularly excellent camaraderie around the club during the early 90s as well as excellent performances on the field.

Bill nurtured a great balance between a relaxing, social club and a competitive group of cricketers.

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Alice Bennet

Steve Chapman

About Steve:
Chappy was part of the reformed POCC 1983/84 Premiership winning side where he opened the batting with Kruges’ brother Paul. Our records are incomplete but we think Chappy completed around 16 senior seasons and averaged around 35 runs per innings for POCC, mostly in the 1st XI. We thought he held the club scoring record of 183 for a long time until Troy Behm made 196 a few years ago. We have since found out Craig Sarre made 225* in the late 1970s…

Chappy was a bit of an idol to the younger blokes in the 90s. He was always ready with a word of advice and a smile and was fearsome on the field of battle. A gun batsman, handy bowler and excellent fieldsman; he was also a great leader both as Captain and role model. Chappy set excellent standards at this club.

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Tony Hubbard

About Tony:
People haven’t really thought of Hack as an all-rounder over the years but he has made well over 1500 runs with the bat at an average of around 15.00. This includes one century and at least four half-centuries.

Hack is better known for his bowling abilities where he has taken around 250 wickets at an average of about 17.00. He achieved this in well over 150 matches, a majority in the 1st XI.

Hack can’t quite leave well alone when he feels there is a better way of doing something or that an injustice has been done. He’s been an active member of the club throughout his time here and we commend him for the constant service he has given the club as junior and senior coach, captain, treasurer, committee member and of course strike bowler in the 1st XI.

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Richard Kruger

About Richard:
Kruges was one of only two blokes who were over 18 in the reformed POCC of 1983/84 that went on to win the E-Grade flag. He went on to play well over 200 games, scored approximately 2000 runs and took about 50 wickets.

Kruges looked after juniors in the lower sides for much of his career, helping them in the transition from U16s to seniors. He was a bit like an annoying big brother at times but was in fact a great role model and a very good captain. Kruges is part of the furniture at Domeney and a much loved member who we hope to see more of in the coming and future seasons.

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Janice Pruesker

About Janice:
Janice of course was a huge help to Arthur in the 15 or so years they were active members of POCC. She was ever-present around the club helping with administration of teams, facilities and the bar. Both Janice and Arthur have been prominent figures around the Park Orchards community for many years and, although it’s well known people didn’t always agree with their views on some issues, they are widely respected from all corners of society for the work they have done for the Park Orchards community and, in particular, the Park Orchards Cricket Club.

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Arthur Pruesker

About Arthur:
Arthur is ultimately the reason we are all at the club today. The previous administration of POCC disbanded after the 1982/83 season and left a trail of debt in their wake. Arthur’s boys (David and Carl) and some other local lads wanted to play cricket so Arthur set about reforming the Park Orchards Cricket Club and clearing the debt of his predecessors.

Although the club was actually formed in 1966 and this is essentially still the same club now, it is Arthur’s reformed POCC that we are all members of today. His commitment to the club was unquestionable and he also committed a huge amount of his time to being here.

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