Graham Medlow
When Graham Murray Medlow and family arrived in Woodside, Graham’s achievements in cricket and football were well known in Adelaide and Murray Bridge.
Soon after settling in Graham and further achieving with the bat, Graham undertook Presidency of Club. This role continued for nearly 16 years, half of the club’s existence.
Over the years he has amassed 6354 runs in 243 games. He captained the A grade for 8 seasons including all 3 of the clubs A grade premierships.
For many of these games Graham was in an eldership role and encouraged many a young talented junior to step up in their pathway to success.
Whilst being on TVCA Exec and as President of the TVCA he steered the senior competition and oversaw the establishment of the junior competitions that we know today.
We even wrote rules (from the SAPSASA Handbook) for U/10s, U12s,U14s and set up the competitions. Eventually there were more TVCA junior teams playing in the morning than senior teams in the afternoon.
With the expansion of teams, Woodside needed an extra oval.
Graham and the Committee were able to get approval and oversee the formation of Oval 2. To even out the main oval to some extent an extension of playing area was added to the western side, and later the fences were erected
As SACA Cricket Officer he visited schools and encouraged youngsters parents, schools and clubs to form teams for their local competition.
After attaining L 3 coaching status, he also arranged Coaching clinics for the personal development of players and to encourage them to undertake Junior coaching.
With the Club expanding it was time to establish a club base.
When Onkas went to Balhannah in 1976 to establish their club the Aldgate United Soccer Club were given the change rooms to develop into a clubroom. They were quite agreeable to allowing the cricket club to hire the rooms. Thus begun the rooms becoming the centre of off field activities and under Sue and Grahams leadership developing the family atmosphere we know today.
Involving our younger senior players was an interest of Grahams.
They formed social committees and arranged social activities. Great leadership development.
Graham was instrumental in organising and arranging The WEARY WARRIORS Activities to celebrate past occasions and have past members return to the Club.Everyone is familiar with Graham’s recent involvement around the club.
Coaching, selection, (6 senior teams) bar purchasing & bar operations.
These activities are an indication of Graham’s early years when if he saw something that would benefit the club, he proceeded with the help of others, to bring it to fruition.
The Woodside Cricket Club has the most members, most junior and senior teams and the best family atmosphere of any country club I know.
This is a credit to all of those responsible for the ongoing Club Activities.
The one thing that I wish to highlight tonight is that a lot of what we are is due to the foresight, leadership and endeavors of Graham in the early years.
For these efforts On behalf of the Woodside Cricket Club I have been asked to appoint Graham as a LEGEND of THE CLUB.
Taken from speech inducting Graham as a club legend made by Peter Johns at our presentation night, April 4th, 2014