VALE GORDON LANE
The Mt Eliza Cricket Club is in mourning as it comes to terms with the passing of Life Member Gordon Lane.
For more than thirty years Gordon Lane was an institution at the Mt Eliza Cricket Club. On field and off, as a player, umpire, socialiser or administrator, he immersed himself in the culture of the club and was warmly held in its heart.
On the field, Gordon had a distinguished career, playing 135 games across six grades. His career commenced in Round 1 of the 1980/81 season, and it was as a medium-pace bowler he excelled, taking 250 wickets from 1,765 overs at the excellent average of 17.44. His wicket tally ranks inside the Top 30 all-time wicket takers for the club. He was a dour defender with the bat, scoring 1,048 runs at 11.03 with a top score of 66.
Gordon was appointed captain of the 6ths for the 95/96 & 96/97 seasons, and took the team to the grand final in his first year, unfortunately losing. In 1997/98 he won one of the major club awards, the Andre Narik Trophy for Best Individual Performance for his stunning 9/32 versus Seaford.
Gordon served two stints as club Treasurer, from 1996/97–1997/98 and 2000/01–2002/03. He was also a member of the 1990 and 1998 MECC South East Asia touring parties. In recognition of his contributions to the club, Gordon was awarded Life Membership in 2006.
Off the field, Gordon was actively involved in the social life of the club from the day he first rolled up for training at Howard Parker. He quickly established himself as a keen social member, a role he maintained throughout his playing career and beyond. As such, he was a generous contributor to the club coffers.
Gordon was known for his love of music, and many members of the time will happily recall joining him in song around the bar, late on a Thursday night. He loved Monty Python and often joined Glen and Spock in quoting from the films. He loved his Swannies and would happily discuss them with all and sundry.
Everyone will have their own memories of Gordon or Gordy or Lethal. They should be enjoyed by all who knew him.
Vale Gordon Lane.
IMAGE GALLERY
One of life’s wonderful people. Thanks for the laughs, the songs and the memories old mate.
Great times spent together Gordy over so many years. Never forget the first day you trained at the Club and the great Sir Garry Sobers was with us for the evening. The greatest cricketer you saw and there he was in the nets with you! Many memories on and off the field mate. RIP.
One night back in the early 1980’s Gordy and were discussing cricket at the bar (as usual) and the subject of Donald Bradman came up.
We both agreed that he was clearly the best batsman the world has ever seen and statistics proved it with a test average of 99.94…everyone knew that.
The conversation about Bradman continued and Gordy suggested that his first class average was even higher, over 100. Now remember that this was in the days before the internet and Google and I was equally as sure that his first class average was under 100. So a wager was made for $100 (not an insignificant bet at the time) to the person who was right.
About a week later, Gordy caught up with me and said he’d looked up the records and I was indeed right, Bradman’s first class batting average was 95.14. So I’d clearly won the bet and he was ready to settle the bet. but at the same time he was adamant that he’d read somewhere a statistic that proved he was right.
So we made another deal – I was happy to nullify the bet if and when he found the info he had read and could show it to me.
So several years pass, life goes on, and bets made in the past are forgotten (by some)…..then out of the blue one Thursday he hands me an envelope. I open it up and inside is a cheque made out to me for $100.
He tells me that he must have read 1000 books on Bradman since we renegotiated the bet and he couldn’t find the statistic he was looking for (not even a misprint to prove he was right) so he was finally ready to concede.
Suffice to say, the $100 was put on the bar that night and a close group of mates drank free VB until the early hours (as usual).
Footnote: Over the past 30+ years, I have used every opportunity to bring Bradman’s name into our conversations only to watch Gordy roll his eyes and giggle a bit. Even over the past couple of years when times were toughest for Gordy, I was able to get a smile and laugh out of him just by the very mention of Bradman’s name – it remained our private joke and will stay with me forever.
RIP Gordy.
Thanks for the great times mate. Life was always richer when you were around. Murrp!
Gordy Lane, what an exellent clubman ! I dont recall a single cricketing High !! I recall a high class clubman, a mate you could talk to after a great win or a shithouse loss, a person of intelect and humour who would lend his ear to anyone and support his clubman throught the best and worst of times at the club. The man I recall was kind and fair, ready with a whitty reply and some of the nights when there was only 4 -5 left at 2 – 3am Gordan was there at the rooms at Woralla drive, what a bloke ! sad to hear he passed, and high regards to you JB for sticking by him these past years. Love ! Respect ! Farewell mate.
Lots of fond memories of Gordy, both on and off the field. Still the best medium paced googly ever bowled. Gordy was always committed to the Mounties and as his captain, I knew I would get his very best every time. Gordy was at his best on the social cricket field however, and always had great stories and companionship. Will be sadly missed. RIP mate.
I very much enjoyed playing many games in various grades with Gordon and saw him collect wickets with his accurate medium pace bowling. Always put in when needed and was a handy bat. Off the field very social and the last time I saw Gordon was at the OPAL Nursing Home at Mt Martha. RIP mate.
Sad to hear the news, R.I.P. mate you were a great support to me when i was at the club.
Very, very sad to hear that Gordy has passed away. He was a very big part of my, and others at the club in the 80s, life. I couldn´t tell you how many times we all had met at Gordys’ house and had sung. drunk. partied and watched films (mainly Monty Python) until all hours of the morning. I had just turned 18 when he came to the club and was amazed at how much he seemed to know about everything. Footy, cricket and in particular music were his passions. His CD collection that he had recorded from his record collection was incredible, every CD in it’s place, hundreds of them. He knew exactly where to find a song he wanted to hear. Then came the computer era with the Commodore 64. He is one of the few people I know that actually played an adventure game to the end. ( Rdf- shoot the tree.) Of cause the whole Cd collection was then transferred to floppy disks and sorted in the chest of draws so that he could find the songs quicker. As I remember, he was one of the first computer science teachers at the Pines High school. He was a very talented man and I learnt a lot about life from him. We had a lot of laughs together and once or twice we cried together but I’ll always remember Gordy as a good mate. Last time I visited Oz I wanted to visit him but somehow didn’t manage it. In a way I’m happy that I didn’t because now I have the memory of Gordy as he was. My deepest condolences to his family, and to the club for losing an important member of the “family”. Always look on the bright side of life. RIP mate.