Brian Lawrence
Sport: Cricket and Rugby League
Year Inducted: 2019
Brian’s cricket career began in the mid-1950s, as a junior with the Wagga Cricket Club. He played with that club until reaching 2nd Grade in 1961 but then transferred to the newly formed Leagues Club team where he was immediately selected in 1st Grade.
A tall fast bowler, Brian took countless wickets against Wagga Grade, representative, O’Farrell Cup and touring state teams. During his playing career he captained the Leagues Club 1st Grade for five seasons during which time they won four minor Premierships, one Club Championship and their first 1st Grade Premiership (1969-70). He was voted Wagga Wagga Cricket Association Player of the Year in 1976-77.
Brian played Wagga 1st Grade until 1983 when a severe back injury forced him to stop bowling. Throughout his career he played in matches against the Victorian Sub Districts, NE Victoria, the Victorian Junior Cricket Association, Canada and the Cricket Club of India + Combined NSW Country (1967-68) and NSW (1966-67). He toured NZ with the Southern NSW Murrumbidgee and represented Wagga Wagga in the O’Farrell Cup for 20 consecutive years. From 1963-70 he represented the Riverina, and from 1964-68, represented Riverina-Murrumbidgee.
Brian Lawrence is a Legend of Wagga Cricket. In the City of Good Sports Brian has proven to be a sportsman above most others… As a cricketer, he stood the test of time and not many will be able to repeat the longevity and durability that Brian displayed
Eric Koetz, Wagga Wagga & District Cricket Association
As a player, Brian continued until 1987 in the lower grades with the Leagues Club, playing as a batsman and captaining the teams of promising juniors, helping them prepare for higher honours.
When not on the pitch, Brian had a lengthy career in sports administration, holding a total of 102 years in the following positions:
- 25 years as Secretary of the Wagga Wagga Cricket Association
- 25 years as Secretary of the Wagga Leagues Cricket Club
- 13 years as Secretary of the Riverina Cricket Council
- 5 years as Senior Riverina Selector
- 25 years as a board member of the Wagga Wagga Leagues Club including the last 12 years as President, making him the second longest serving Club President.
- 9 years as Secretary of the Wagga Magpies RLFC.
One of Brian’s fondest memories of his time in administration was the part he played in bringing World Series Cricket (WSC) to Wagga Wagga, following a direct approach to the late Kerry Packer. Initially, the Wagga Cricket Association were a little dubious, but Brian won them over. The scheduled match was a sell-out, but was washed out just as play was to begin. WSC rescheduled a second match, which took place at Robertson Oval on 24 January 1979, and was a great success.
Additionally, Brian spent five years producing a cricket show for Radio 2WG and was a guest writer for the Daily Advertiser newspaper for a year. He also holds a NSW Cricket Umpires Association badge, and coached many club and representative teams, finishing with the Wagga Association Under 16 Fife Shield team in 2006-07.
Brian holds five life memberships:
- Wagga Leagues Cricket Club (1971)
- Wagga Wagga & District Cricket Association (1980)
- Wagga Magpies Rugby League FC (1981)
- Wagga Wagga Leagues Club (1988)
- Riverina Cricket Zone (2007)
He was nominated for Citizen of the Year in 1979, and for services to sport, was awarded a Centenary Medal in 1988 and the Ted Ryder Memorial Award in 1993.
Today, in Brian’s honour, the Wagga Wagga & District Cricket Association presents the Brian Lawrence Medal annually to the best player in the 1st Grade competition.