In its 130 year history the Mt Clear Cricket Club has had many members who have served their country in times of war. We believe we had a member who served at Gallipoli after joining New Zealand’s Canterbury Infantry Regiment while working in New Zealand as a shearer. We certainly had men on the Western Front during WW1, and the annual report of 1946-47 records “As you all know, the club has been in recess since 1942 due to the fact that so many of our players were away at the war.” Most recently, Andrew Barnes, who will be known to many current members, completed a tour of duty in Iraq.
The Committee has determined that we should commemorate all of those Mt Clear members who have served Australia through a new annual award that recognizes the current player who best epitomises the Anzac spirit – courage, determination, endurance, self-sacrifice, mateship and good humour. The annual winner will be chosen by his peers.
In memory and appreciation of our club members who have served Australia in war and whose courage and sacrifice allows us to fight our battles on the cricket field. The winner will receive the Bradley Medal.Why the Bradley Medal? Of the many members who have served Australia, the committee determined that Vic Bradley should be chosen as representative of all Mountie ex-service members. Vic was chosen, not so much because of his service record, but because of his immense contribution to ex-servicemen and their families in the post-war years.
Vic Bradley: Victor Albert Bradley was born at Mt Clear on December 22, 1923. As a cricketer, Vic was a fast-medium opening bowler and useful lower order batsman who first joined Mt Clear in 1939 as a 16 year old. Vic figured in a 60 run partnership for the tenth wicket in what still stands as the club 1st X1’s record score of 429 in March 1949 against Napoleons. (The club scored 428 against Ballarat-Redan in November 1972.)
Note: Vic Bradley still holds the record for the highest 10th wicket partnership in the 1st XI – 79 runs vs Central at Vic Park 14 in season 1948/1949. Vic made 31 not out, his highest score of the season, sharing the 79 run stand with Ron Horwood who scored 51.
Just two years after starting with Mt Clear, Vic joined his brothers Harry and Jim in enlisting in the army. In 1942, Vic was stationed at Horn Island in Torres Strait when that base became the target of a Japanese bombing raid, then in 1944 at Bougainville, Vic was the sole survivor of an eight man detachment that was ambushed by the Japanese. Vic managed to escape into the jungle and eventually made his way back to his unit.
After the war Vic joined the Ballarat RSL but after two years transferred to the Buninyong RSL where he has been a member for 60 years, serving 20 years as president, a position he again holds. Vic has been active in Legacy for around 25 years and has also served on the Ballarat Avenue of Honour committee for 26 years.
| SEASON | AWARDED TO |
|---|---|
| 2015/2016 | David Peverill |
| 2014/2015 | Les Sandwith |
| 2013/2014 | John Carton |
| 2012/2013 | John Frdelja |
| 2011/2012 | Jarrod Rodgers |
| 2010/2011 | Cameron Snowden |
| 2009/2010 | Peter Blenkiron |