Clunes Cricket Club, which has a long history of developing quality cricketers, celebrated its 100 years of existence with a special centennial event at Sam Trimble Oval, Bexhill, on Sunday afternoon.

Clunes Cricket Club was established in October 1920 and the original event scheduled to be held in October last year had to cancelled due to the COVID-19 restrictions.

Sixty plus people honoured the occasion, consisting of past and present players, to recognise the centennial milestone with the older former players passing on advice to the current juniors at the club.

Local Federal MP Kevin Hogan was in attendance and spoke about his connection to Clunes Cricket and to congratulate all involved for their continued support in local community sport and the benefits it brings to local communities. Mr Hogan presented an official recognition certificate to 92-year-old Hugh Gallagher, the oldest surviving associate of Clunes Cricket Club.

"It is a club my children have had the pleasure to be a part of. It has produced many great cricketers, but even more important than that it has enriched our community spirit," said Mr Hogan.

Kevin Hogan presents a plaque to 92-year-old Hugh Gallagher, the oldest surviving associate of Clunes Cricket Club. Photo: Facebook / Kevin Hogan MP

Clunes' living legend Warren Noble, who was a fearsome right arm fast bowler who represented NSW, addressed the audience and spoke about the history of cricket in the region and how it was the lifeblood of small communities such as Clunes and Eureka. Noble, a former board member of Norco, is President of the Lord's Taverners Northern NSW branch.

Joy Collings provided the history of how Clunes Junior Cricket Club was founded and evolved into what we know today.

From left: Luke Collings, Joy Collings, Toby Collings and Dean Collings at the centenary celebration of Clunes Cricket Club.

Clunes region has a rich history of cricketers that have progressed in the game and represented at national or state level in a variety of age groups including:

Matthew Phelps: a right-handed middle order batsman, who represented New South Wales. He retired in 2006 after a career best domestic season where he was named NSW Pura Cup Player of the Year. He scored 635 runs at 45.35 with three centuries. It was the second season in a row that he had scored over 600 runs.

Tom Cooper: a right-handed middle order batsman and a right-arm off-spinner, represented the Netherlands; played for Australia A and for Australia's under-19 team at the 2006 Under-19 Cricket World Cup; played for South Australia in domestic cricket and was a key member of Melbourne Renegades in their Big Bash League 08 premiership team and left the Renegades after eight years as their most capped player. He then played for Brisbane Heat in BBL10 and had started the Big Bash with the Adelaide Strikers . He also had a successful season in England playing for Somerset.

Simon Milenko: a right-right-handed middle order batsman and a right-arm medium pace bowler, represented Queensland under 19s, made his first class debut for Queensland in 2014–15 and played three Sheffield Shield games before joining Tasmania for the 2016/2017. Played Sheffield Shield, making a maiden century in first class cricket against South Australia in December 2019. Also played for Hobart Hurricanes, where he played in four BBL semi-finals, and returned to play for Brisbane Heat

Jack Cooper: a right-handed opening batsman, played for Queensland under 19s in Cricket Australia's National Championships in Perth last December and plays for Gold Coast Dolphins in Queensland Premier Cricket.

Lewin Maladay: a wicket-keeper, represented Australia Under 19s against Sri Lanka in three day and one-day matches in Hobart in April 2017, plays for Gold Coast Dolphins in Queensland Premier Cricket.

Caelen Maladay: a 17-year-old fast bowler, played under 19s cricket for NSW Country/ACT, first season for Randwick Petersham in NSW Premier Cricket, at 17 years/294 days Caelan Maladay was the youngest player to take a 1st Grade five wicket haul with 5-15 v Bankstown, Randwick Petersham won the Premier League for the first time in its 19 years' existence.

Sammy-Jo Johnson: an all-rounder, playing for NSW Breakers in the Women’s National Cricket League side, first person to win three straight Big Bash titles (two with Brisbane Heat and one for Sydney Thunder); on verge of selection for Australia to tour New Zealand next month.

Olivia Osborne: an opening pace bowler, Olivia is an under 19 NSW/ACT representative and made her debut for Goonellabah Workers Sports in the Northern Rivers Cricket League First Grade competition on February 6.

Clunes Cricket Club is now solely a junior cricket club, still focused on developing young players through its junior club. In recent years Clunes juniors aligned with Goonellabah Workers Sports Cricket Club to provide a pathway for young players to move into the local senior system, said club vice-president Graham Armstrong.

The youth and the older members of Clunes Cricket Club reflect the importance it has in the community. Photo: Facebook / Kevin Hogan MP

There about 10 Clunes Junior Cricket Club players representing Goonellabah Workers Sports Cricket Club. Charlie Alexander and Armstrong's son Kaleb have been selected to represent the under 16s Country squad to take on the Coast at Murwillumbah on February 28. Tom Chatterton has progressed to be a regular in the Second Grade side in his second season with GWS..