Bluey Paxton Award
The concept of the Bluey Paxton award is to encourage and reward Junior players of Boronia Cricket Club for contributions over several seasons to their team and club, both on and off the field.
The winner ideally should have displayed:
Courage on the field
Desire to win and achieve his/her personal best
Dedication and loyalty to team and club
Sportsmanship on and off the field
Respect for the game of Cricket and those who play and officiate regardless of ability
Leadership shows an ability to naturally lead and take responsibility
Clubman has shown an interest in assisting the club. (Coaching, fund raising etc)
Written nominations are to be submitted to the Junior Coordinator at the end of the season.
The winner will be decided by three members of the Junior sub-committee and the Junior Coordinator.
Mark Kowacki
THIS ANNUAL AWARD IS IN HONOUR OF THE MEMORY OF MARK KOWACKI.
The concept of this award is to recognise a player under the age of 16 that apart of the Boronia Cricket Club junior program for determination, courage and dedication.
Mark Kowacki played cricket at Boronia CC from U12’s through to his first year of U16 when his illness forced him to retire from sport.
Mark was always a most determined competitor who always gave his all on the field. You never heard him say anything detrimental to anyone; he never had a bad word to say about anybody and he was his own harshest critic, always expecting the best out of himself and feeling as though he had let the side down if he did not achieve performances up to his own high standards.
He was an opening bowler, with a fast bowlers build, strong and broad shouldered. Mark was a mid to late order batsman who liked to hit the ball hard and like many bowlers who think they can bat he enjoyed having a go. The difference with Mark was that he actually could hold a bat and was involved in many fighting late order partnerships that frustrated the opposition and saw his team reach competitive totals.
He particularly enjoyed taking opposition bowling attacks apart and did so on many occasions.
In his first year of U16’s Mark had to retire from cricket due to the onset of illness – he was running out of energy and after a period of time he was diagnosed with leukaemia.
Mark’s battle with his illness was as he played his sport. Through all the trials of his treatment he battled his best through it all. Always his own worst critic, Mark never ever, ever stopped trying. On the field he gave and gave and gave everything he had for the team.
Unfortunately after a period of remission his illness returned and following major surgery, an unrelated infection attacked Mark and given his weakened state, Mark’s system could not combat this infection and he passed away. During his illness, Mark remained positive and upbeat and never complained. He remained so until his passing.
This award for the Most Determined and Courageous U16 player is struck in Mark’s honour.
The winner needs to be considered a determined and courageous player, displaying a never-give-in attitude. The recipient will be team oriented, and will always encourage his team mates particularly when the going gets tough, whilst at the same time displaying all aspects of sportsmanship towards both team mates and competitors. Whilst Mark displayed many skills and talents, this award is NOT recognition of individual skills but of ATTITUDE, and attitude that Mark always displayed.
Cricket is a team sport and most awards that players can win such as bowling or batting averages are recognition of an individual’s ability, however these cannot be won without the assistance of their team mates.
This award is one of two, the other being the Bluey Paxton Award that is purely judged on the character of the recipient and should be considered as an absolute honour to be nominated, let alone receive. These two awards should be treasured by the recipients as they are THE highest awards that this Club can confer on its junior players.
Written nominations from Under 16’s coaches are to be submitted to the Junior Coordinator at the end of the season. The winner will be decided by three members of the Junior sub-committee and the Junior Coordinator.
The Daryl Watson Perpetual Trophy
FOR MOST PROMISING PLAYER LEAVING U16’s
The purpose of this award is to acknowledge and encourage U16 players to strive for this honour, to persevere and pursue their senior cricket at Boronia CC. This is in the form of a Perpetual Trophy with a plaque/trophy for the winner. It is announced and presented at the Boronia CC Junior Presentation Night.
The criteria for this award are:
Most promising junior leaving U16’s
Consistent performance over their junior career
Demonstrated determination in their attitude and performance in completing their junior career in U16’s
This award is to be adjudicated by the Under 16 Coach, Senior Chairman of Selectors or The President of the Club or his nominee, preferably the Senior Coach or Club captain.
DARYL WATSON - LIFE MEMBER
Darryl Watson is a Life Member who continues to give to the club. His contribution through his senior career, his time in coaching and administration with the juniors, as a committee member and as a past President of our club, is worthy of the recognition that goes with a Perpetual Trophy.
Daryl’s’ Statistics:
183 Games (12th all time)
2421 Runs (14th all time)
218 wickets (14th all time)
2 Centuries
Highest Score: 139
Best Bowling: 6 for 26
One of only 4 players to make 2000 runs, 200 wicket double for our club
1st player to achieve 1000 run 100 wicket double on turf
In 1978-79 took 36 wickets @ 5.97 in second XI
Captain: 3rd XI 1982/83, 2nd XI 1984/85, Vets 2000/01 to 2005/06 (6 seasons)
Non Playing:
- President: 2003/04 to 2005/06 (3 seasons)
- Past Junior Coordinator for 3 seasons, Past RDCA Junior executive member
- BCC General Committee member