Norm Ryder has been a constant in Lismore cricket for more than three decades and he has been an umpire since 1986. Amongst the many tournaments that Ryder has officiated, he will umpire in his 25th consecutive Under 12 carnival in Lismore next week and there is every chance that he will have stood in his 800th cricket game by the time the tournament concludes.

The Lismore cricket carnival that produces champions

Ryder just loves everything about cricket and a conversation with this stalwart of Lismore cricket reveals a passion that has been delivered in many ways as a volunteer administrator and umpire. Rugby League was actually the sport of choice for Ryder in his early years and he was a pacey winger who played school footy for Ballina High and later scored plenty of tries for Marist Brothers in reserve grade in the sixties.

Despite being born in Bangalow, Ryder has been entrenched within the Lismore community since 1963, where he was employed for many years with the organisation that we now know as Australia Post. During a stint with his employer that saw Norm working for a while in Armidale, Ryder recalls how it was forbidden for players to participate in both league and rugby union. Darrel Chapman, who would go on to represent Australia in league, was attending university at Armidale and played union at that time. A secret (and unauthorised) switch of codes one weekend saw Chapman take Ryder’s place (as Norm was unwell) and play league one weekend and the future Kangaroo scored five tries. The Monday newspaper proclaimed that “Ryder scores five tries” and Ryder was summonsed by his boss to “explain” how it was that he was able to play league (and score five tries) despite being on sick leave? Ryder was unwilling to disclose that it was Darrel Chapman who had played, as that would have created drama for Chapman. Ryder was fined 2 pounds by the post office (which he subsequently appealed) and parity was restored.

Norm has a lot of anecdotes about his role as an umpire and decisions (generally for LBW) typically ignite clear views by one team that it was “OUT” while the other team believed that it was “NOT OUT”. I questioned him about no longer wearing glasses, as a consequence of having undertaken corrective surgery in recent years and Norm recalled an amusing tale. While umpiring a First Grade match a few years back, Luke Hamshaw was fielding at square-leg when he took a screamer. A second “very tough chance” occurred soon after and Hamshaw was lucky to get his hands up or the ball would have cannoned into his face. The ball was however spilled and Ryder called facetiously to Hamshaw, “Do you want my glasses Luke?” to which the quick witted Hamshaw retorted, “They are clearly NO good for you Norm, so why would I want them??"

Norm Ryder, who has been involved in local cricket for thirty years, holds aloft the Norm Ryder Shield.

Although Norm is best known as an umpire, his involvement in local cricket has been extensive. A brief summary of Ryder’s commitment to local cricket includes 16 years as secretary of Lismore & District Cricket Association, five years as treasurer, many stints as umpires delegate to Far North Coast Cricket and to the Zone and joint positions of secretary/treasurer for L J Hooker League in the initial five years of that competition.

It is no surprise that such a staunch stalwart of the game was recognised with Life Membership to Lismore & District Cricket Association and also to Far North Coast Cricket Council. The Winter cricket competition that existed between 2003 and 2019 contested the Norm Ryder Shield, is yet a further acknowledgment of the depth of time and effort that this man has given within the community.

Cricket may be our national game but regretfully it no longer attracts the same level of participation that it once did. Ryder reports that there were 42 senior teams and more than 40 junior teams playing in the Lismore competition at its peak. Times are now much leaner and Ryder has seen the changing landscape of this participation. A multitude of reasons that include a less traditional family structure and the dynamics within society that don’t support the same enthusiasm at grassroots level and even the game itself, have all impeded the progression of cricket.

Ryder was instrumental in getting funding for sightscreens at various fields and he was a staunch advocate for successfully lobbying Lismore City Council to get synthetic pitches for the cricket fields at South Lismore that were named after two of Lismore’s most treasured female cricket identities, Lyn Larsen and Marie Lee. He has truly been a pro-active influence for cricket, always available, willing and absolutely a “go to person” where local cricket is concerned.

Ryder remains upbeat that his beloved game will rise to the challenge, but he urges a collective effort, be it Cricket Australia and the funding that it provides, parents and their support for their children or individual clubs and the need to be visionary about promoting the game. Everyone plays a role and Ryder highlights that cricket is a team sport, just like life and different skills contribute to the bigger effort of what we are trying to achieve. On a personal level, Ryder hopes to umpire at three more Marist carnivals, to complete his role at ten such carnivals. Trinity Catholic College holds Ryder in such high regard that they previously flew him to Perth to officiate at a tournament and the school proposes to nominate him as an umpire for future events.

Norm and his wife Nancy were married 54 years ago and they have lived in the same house at South Lismore for 53 years. Their home is their castle and they have raised a daughter (Melinda) and a younger son (Matthew, who is now 46). Life has had its twists and turns and Norm cites three heart attacks (over three days) and five by-passes, 23 years ago that he says, ‘should” have claimed his life. The evidence would conclude that Norm’s number(s) were not up at that time and he continued to fight on. A significant fire caused extensive damage at the family home sixteen years ago, but this resilient family again re-grouped and Nancy and Norm were able to celebrate the graduation of their only grandchild (Bailey) from high school in 2018. They say that luck’s a fortune in the ebb and flow of life and Norm certainly exemplifies someone who I would consider to be a real fair dinkum individual who has always been a “salt of the earth” type of person.

Sport typically provides a focus on players and historical records have a propensity to etch the names of stars into the annals of cricket archives. Norm Ryder had an active role when cricket legends including Sachin Tendulker scored a century for India at Oakes Oval as a 17 year old and when Adam Gilchrist debuted in First Grade for Wests in Lismore as a teenager. He has seen players such as Tom Cooper, David Warner, Josh Hazlewood, Simon Milenko and Mathew Phelps, all show potential as young players when starting their respective careers at a Lismore carnival at some stage in the last 25 years. History should however also reflect the efforts of a quiet achiever standing with counter in hand during these games and who has “walked the walk” by giving more of himself than most would ever do themselves.

Norm Ryder, the cricket community stands and applauds your contribution and although few of the young cricketers at this week’s Under 12 carnival will likely realise what you have done, those of us who have recognised your efforts over many decades, look on with admiration and say THANK YOU .… sincerely .... THANK YOU Norm.

The 36th annual Lismore District Under 12 Junior Cricket Carnival 2020 is from 7 January to 10 January.

ARTICLE BY STEVE MACKNEY