Celebrating Excellence
By Mrs Annette Carter, College Historian
Radford College has a long-standing tradition of providing excellent facilities to support the growth and development of our students. Since 2004, our cricket amenities have been recognised as some of the finest, offering both synthetic and turf wickets, as well as indoor nets and a bowling machine. Mr Peter Wallensky, Director of Cricket in 2014, proudly stated, “Radford can boast some of the best cricketing facilities in the ACT thanks to the excellent work of the College grounds staff”. This week, we continue that legacy with the opening of the Boorer Family Cricket Centre.
Cricket at Radford began in 1984, with three teams participating in the Junior Cricket Competition. By 1986, the sport's popularity necessitated the construction of eight additional practice nets. The following year, Stephen Mendl scored Radford’s first century – 107 retired. By then, Radford was fielding nine teams, including two in the Associated Southern Colleges Competition.
The opening of the turf wicket on the J.A. Mackinnon Oval in 1990 marked a significant milestone, enabling Radford to host home matches and foster greater community engagement. In 1991, the scoreboard, funded by the 1st XI’s tour to New Zealand, was inaugurated.
The first girls’ team was formed in 1993 and within the next few years, there was a synthetic pitch added to the P&F Oval and the establishment of the ‘Friends of Radford Cricket’.
Tours have enriched our cricketing program, with the 1st XI travelling to the United Kingdom, New Zealand, South Africa, and Sri Lanka, while also welcoming international teams from these regions and across Australia. Radford College has a regular competition with Barker College for the “Mr Sensible Trophy”, exemplifying the competitive spirit fostered through these exchanges.
Our cricket program has benefitted immensely from the expertise of dedicated staff such as Angela Webb, Quentin Webster, and Darryle Macdonald, who have shared their high-level cricketing experience with our students. Additionally, numerous Radford students have gone on to represent Canberra and the ASC, with some Collegians going on to professional cricket careers.
The construction of the Boorer Family Cricket Centre demonstrates Radford’s ongoing commitment to providing world-class facilities. We are excited about the future and the many new milestones our cricketers will achieve with the support of this exceptional facility.