Since the amalgamation of Campaspe Cricket Association and Kyabram District Cricket Association, grades have simply been attributed the titles A, B, C, and D.
The league’s top tier A-grade has officially been renamed the John McMahon Shield, in honour of the Rochester and District Cricket Association (RDCA) legend, league representative player and life member.
B-grade cricketers will now play in the Bill Williams Shield, a nod to the district cricket legend and Victorian Country Cricket League life member.
C-grade will now be known as the Gus Underwood Shield in acknowledgement of the KDCA legend and long-time Kyabram Free Press sports journalist.
Finally, Rushworth Cricket Club’s Peter Raglus has been recognised for his work at the club and league-wide in the revamped Peter Raglus Shield, formerly known as D-grade.
GMC operations manager James Stokes said it was a revamp 10 years in the making, and many names had been considered during the past six months.
“The executive has been working for about six months on it, trying to figure out how we were going to do it,” Stokes said.
“The criteria were based on the length of time each had given to cricket.
“John McMahon gave a lot to the Rochester association, he’s a life member, and he served his community pretty well.
“Bill (Williams) has given 50 years of service to cricket both here and in Cricket Shepparton, where he’s a life member. He was awarded life membership of the VCCL for 50 years’ service, and he was Northern Rivers president for around 10 years.
“Gus Underwood has been tremendous, especially back in the KDCA days. He gave a lot to the Kyabram Cricket Club.
“I think he was president for around 20 years. In his capacity writing for the Free Press, he’s given more to local sport than most.
“Peter (Raglus) has also been enormous for Rushworth over a long period.”
On top of that, several league accolades will have a different name attached to them when the GMC presentations roll around on March 9, including the league best-and-fairest award which has been renamed the Graham Turner Medal in honour of the Bamawm Lockington stalwart.
“Graham’s probably our most recognised cricketer and given a lot to the Bamawm and Lockington area,” Stokes said.
“He represented the RDCA, represented in the VCCL about seven or eight times, coached them for three or four years, and then was a VCCL board member and selector.”
Fittingly, Echuca’s Rob Owen has also been honoured for his extensive work in sport as the namesake of the GMC’s Volunteer of the Year award.
The Jack Stone Medal will recognise the best under-21 player, and the Paul Denham Award will recognise the league’s finest umpires.
