The Millicent Naracoorte Cricket Association has decided to strike a new premiership shield to honour the memory of noted Furner sportsman Dale Bateman.
The fourth-generation farmer died on August 5 at the age of 65.
Bateman was generally regarded as one of the finest cricketers of his generation from the Millicent district, a talented Hatherleigh footballer and a dedicated administrator.
Local cricket officials believe it was appropriate to honour Bateman and a new trophy was needed as the Millicent and Naracoorte associations had merged in recent years.
The current trophy is called the Cameron DeGaris Shield and it is set to find a new home in the Millicent Public Library.
It was donated by cricket enthusiasts Ewan Cameron and Ralph DeGaris in the post-war years.
The pair also laid a turf wicket at this time in the centre of the Gordon Memorial Oval at the Millicent Showgrounds.
It is understood that Cameron was a bachelor while local cricket officials obtained the endorsement for the Bateman memorial trophy from Bill DeGaris, a grandson of Ralph DeGaris.
The new Bateman Memorial Shield will be presented for the first time in March.
Bateman’s great talent as a top-order batsman and spin bowler was first seen at Kangaroo Inn Area School and when he boarded as a teenager at St Peter’s College in suburban Adelaide.
After leaving college, he played A Grade district cricket with Kensington in the capital city.
Bateman played with distinction when Kongorong fielded a team in the Barber Shield in the Mount Gambier and District Cricket Association and topped the batting.
Throughout this period, he regularly appeared in representative fixtures and played for the SA Country team in the annual national championships.
As he entered his 40s, Bateman returned to his roots with Furner in the Millicent and District Cricket Association and he was still winning batting trophies well into his 50s.
He was selected in the Veterans Cricket Australia over 60s touring party for the United Kingdom in July and August of last year.
His dedication to the MDCA was seen by his willingness to serve as its president for several seasons.
Bateman’s late father Max, brother Richard and son Jase have also served Furner and the MDCA well as players and administrators.
