Michael Perrett

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Michael Perrett is one of the best known figures in the Essendon-Moonee Ponds area. Meet someone from Essendon-Moonee Ponds in a different setting and ask them if they know Mick Perrett and invariably the catch cry will go up, ”Of course … everybody knows Mick Perrett!”

Michael’s earliest memories of playing cricket was in St Bernard's Under 10’s and one of his team mates was Graeme Bloom. Quick forward 70 years and they are still playing cricket together, in a club still associated with St Bernard's!

 

Mick was a competent opening batsman back in the day and won the senior batting average for the College in his final year at school. He was also considered a very promising wicket keeper and was selected in a squad for specialised coaching. That all came crashing down the following year when he badly broke his right wrist and arm playing football, which necessitated a number of operations, plates and screws and left him unable to play cricket for two seasons. He reckons it wouldn't happen these days – he would be back playing in six weeks!

 

Mick recommenced playing in the Industrial League, which he loved. Games started at 8.00am and finished at 1.00pm on a Saturday and you could play and then still get to the first race! The League included teams from the Fire Brigade, Police, Brewery, Henderson Springs and Woodruff Dairies. Mick’s team was Centax – mainly composed of players from the Central Taxation Office. He recalls that you wouldn't make the first race when you played the Brewery as they would put on a barrel after every game and they had two teams in the comp. Each of these fixtures became a very long day! Centax had a good side, won a premiership and all was good. No wonder he loved it! After a very long history the league morphed into the Wednesday mid-week competition in about 1967 and continued for many years. Centax folded as they were unable to get players who could play on a Wednesday.

As luck would have it, St Bernard's Old Collegians started a team the following year and he continued playing there – keeping wickets and opening the batting until he retired at 31!

 

 

So how did you come to play veterans cricket, Mick?

“About 30 odd years later Ron Luckman came down to the Moonee Ponds Club to ask permission to publicise the Essendon Over 60's Cricket Club and my mate Bob Sutherland said he would go and have a game. I was going away at the time and I told Bob, if you enjoy it I'll come and have a game when I get back in February. So I came and watched a game and then played the last couple of games of the season at Poplar Reserve. The Moonee Ponds Club is still the major sponsor of the Veterans, so it was a great visit by Ron! That was the start of it – and amazingly it still hasn't finished.”

 

 

“It has been a wonderful journey. From a competition that had about 8 teams to the mammoth enterprise it is now, with over 30 teams competing on Sundays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays at both over 60 and over 70 level. I have been lucky to play for the last 16 or so years in many Over 60 games against some amazing players and with wonderful teammates. In addition I was thrilled to be a member of the first Victorian team to tour New Zealand, to play cricket in Samoa, to compete in many State championships, encompassing all the states of Australia and to play in two matches which have been billed as being competed by “the world's oldest cricket teams.”

Undoubtedly the highlight of Mick’s veterans career was the Over 70's tour of England in 2015, where the team competed in matches against Surrey, Kent, Sussex, Hampshire, Somerset, Worcester, Cambridge, Herts, Suffolk, Essex and two tests against England. “It was a tour I enjoyed immensely and will never be forgotten.”

 

 

On all of these tours and throughout his career Mick was accompanied and supported by his lovely wife Joy, who although not a cricket fan, was happy to indulge his passion for our great game. Joy sadly passed away in July 2020. 

 

Since that time bowls and cricket have provided a wonderful outlet for Mick and he muses that when you are living on your own you do need some outlets.

 

Another highlight for Mick has been the growth of the St Bernards Old Collegians Cricket Club. His father, Bob Perrett, was the founding president in 1968. From very humble beginnings to now compete in the prestigious Sub-District competition Mick sees as a tribute to those responsible for its outstanding growth which has included playing finals in recent years. He has a grandson showing promise in the Under 14's and as Mick stated, “Who knows, he may have a lifetime of cricket ahead of him, all with the same club. Lovely thoughts!”

 

So what about other sports and work, Mick?

As well as with cricket Mick has had a long association with St Bernards through the Old Collegians Football Club. He managed over 200 games, playing in the first ever game in 1963 and then completed 107 successive games until work made him miss his first game by sending him to Sydney for a few weeks. St Bernards had great success in the VAFA, winning premierships in its first two years and then ultimately reaching A grade in 1971 – a very quick journey! They then went on to play in the A grade Grand Final of 1973 – Mick’s last game – which was an unfortunate loss to Ormond, a powerhouse club at that time. Mick became President in 1975 and in that year St Bernards won its first A grade flag in what was possibly the quickest time from inception to A grade premiership in the Association's history. Mick had two stints as President, in total 14 years, so a long time stalwart and massive contributor. Since then his eldest son Stephen has amassed over 200 games and this year he has become President of the club. We all wish him well as he sets out to emulate his father not only on the playing field but in administration. The apple doesn't fall far from the tree!

In 1990 Mick was asked by the College if he could do some work for them by establishing a Development Office. Initially a couple of days a week, this grew to full time work by about 1997. Mick describes his 23 years as a gratifying experience all the way through to his retirement in 2013 at the age of 70. As Director of Development Mick witnessed the growth of the College to the magnificent edifice it is today. He is justifiably proud to have been a part of this growth and development. With a record like above and a commitment to St Bernards we now all know why he has been so richly and deservedly honored with the wonderful pavilion named the ‘Michael Perrett Pavilion’ at St Bernards.

Michael has also had extensive involvements in senior positions at the Moonee Ponds Club and the Moonee Ponds Bowling Club. He has been an immense contributor at both organisations.

In conclusion, Mick stated “It also amazes me that, now at 80 years of age, I am still able to compete with a great cricket club, carrying the name of Essendon-St. Bernard's Veterans. And now, when I thought it was all over for me, they bring on an Over 75's tournament in Albury. I have just come back from that and had a marvellous time, so maybe it is not over yet!”

 

We are also able to report that Michael was made a Life member of the Essendon-St Bernards Veterans CC at the recent 2023 presentation evening.

Well done Michael Perrett and best wishes for many more enjoyable games with plenty of runs and wickets!

May 2023.