Tomorrow night will be an emotional occasion as the Mount Gambier and District Cricket Association celebrates a memorable summer during its presentations at Blue Lake Golf Club.
The race for the usual big-name awards such as the Whitty Medal and Under 20 player of the year awards will be good to watch after one of the closest seasons in years, but a new award will steal the show and carry extra significance.
For the first time ever the Heath Case Memorial Junior Association Volunteer of the Year will be presented, recognising a person who poured in a monumental contribution the game.
Before tragically passing away late last year, Case was one of the most treasured individuals in cricket circles performing a variety of roles. He started life as a long-term player for Yahl before taking on duties as an administrator, junior coordinator, parent and enthusiastic supporter.
Case’s life has already been celebrated in January when an entire round was dedicated in his honour, raising funds for Beyond Blue and his family.
MGDCA vice president Shane Dycer said the latest fitting tribute was a unanimous decision across the board.
“At the end of the day it is no secret what Heath did for cricket and the association,” he said.
“Early days we had this conversation and came up with this idea, floated it at a meeting and everyone thought it was great.
“We have got approval from the family and have some very worthy nominations, so we will announce the winner on the night.”
Dycer said there could not be a better individual to name the volunteer of the year award after than Case.
“He was not just brilliant for our association, but also cricket in general,” he said.
“He gave a lot as a player, coach, administrator, volunteer, parent and supporter and people like him deserved to be recognised.
“Sometimes we take people for granted to a degree, but at the end of the day it is a fitting tribute to Heath’s legacy and his family.
“Hopefully it is something that people get recognised for in the coming years because volunteers are so important.”
The fight for the Whitty Medal will be hotly contested after one of the most competitive Barber Shield seasons in years.
Despite many big names such as Jack Mullan, Robert Drenthen, Sam Willis, Will Rowland, Nick McInerney and Dion Stratford showing their class once again, this season has the added variable of COVID-19 enforced absences.
Dycer believes it is one of the most open races in years as players strive to steal the medal from reigning winner Alex Hentschke, while there is also plenty of anticipation around the B Grade award which has been renamed as the Neal Shallas Memorial.
“The medal count is going to be an absolute winner with many having great summers,” he said.
“It has been the rarest season in probably the last 15 years where bat has dominated ball.
“Between the three seniors grades there have 26 hundreds scored, which equals the last seven put together.
“With the batters and bowlers all performing it will be an interesting count across all the grades.”
The junior presentations kick things off from 5pm before the seniors medals are handed out an hour later.
