As a youngster, Gerard McGrath had a natural talent for sport — cricket and golf, in particular.
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He loved all sports, yet it was not only the competition that appealed to him, it was also the strong friendships he continued to make throughout his life
Gerard was born on Christmas Eve in 1951 at Albury and his family lived at Boree Creek, near Lockhart. His parents were Harold and Mary. Dad was a baker in town.
Gerard attended Boree Creek Public School, then Narrandera Convent for four years before completing his schooling at the high school.
He soon discovered the enjoyment of playing tennis, football and cricket — and loved it all!
Unfortunately, at the age of 14, Gerard suffered a horrific bicycle accident, which was to dramatically change aspects of his future sporting life.
A serious fracture to his right temple, which had been penetrated by the bike’s handle bars, took many months to heal and by no means was the lad allowed to continue to play one of his favourite sports, footy. Mum was firm on that.
However, he convinced mum he would be all right to play cricket and proved it as he went on to become a valuable opening bowler at Cobram Cricket Club.
“I was a handy bowler, but I wasn’t the best batsman, just a number 10 slogger,” Gerard said.
When he was aged 16, and during school holidays, Gerard was given the job of operating the night telephone exchange where he learnt everything (not only the gossip) about the town and its people and got to sleep overnight at the exchange when the line wasn’t busy.
Leaving school, the family moved to Cobram where his dad operated the baker’s cart and Gerard picked fruit at Cornish’s Orchards.
From there he secured a position in administration at the State Rivers and Water Supply Commission before his role was made redundant 23 years later in 1993.
However, Gerard was offered a dream position with the ground staff at Cobram Barooga Golf Club.
“It was the best job,” he said.
“I loved it. I worked out of the best office in the world.”
For more than 20 years he spent his days working outdoors predominantly in fine sunny weather.
The region is constantly recognised as having more hours of sunshine than anywhere else in Australia.
Gerard played cricket and golf all his life, succeeding at both.
When he began cricket it was early days at the Cobram CC, and the club was without clubrooms, nets or a turf wicket.
“We had little else but our enthusiasm to provide good facilities for our members and players,” he said.
“We had some amazing volunteers who worked tirelessly at the showgrounds to produce what is now recognised as one of the best cricket grounds in the association, and we have a right to feel proud.”
He became heavily involved with the club, serving as a committee man for many years and curator of the grounds for 25 years, which overlapped with his role at the golf club between 1975 and 2000.
Gerard was an executive member of the Murray Valley Cricket Association for three years during the 1980s and a member of the Hall of Fame at Cobram.
In 1994, the club won its first game in A-Reserve on its new turf wicket and took out the pennant that very season.
The club grew in strength and went on to win 10 senior premierships.
In the words of one of Gerard’s best friends, Barry Walker, also a keen sportsman, who was the best man at his wedding to Cathy Burke in 1993 — “Sport is not about winning premierships but friendships.”
With his marriage to Cathy, Gerard inherited two-step daughters, Joanne and Diana, who have produced five grandchildren.
Over time, they have become the latest crop of Cathy’s family to show amazing sporting ability, and Gerard and Cathy are their keenest supporters.
Cathy was a fine netballer and heavily involved in the Murray League as secretary when her girls were playing.
She served on the junior tennis committee and was a talented tennis player herself.
Today, she continues to enjoy a game of golf, but not in 40-degree heat.
During his years on staff at Cobram Barooga Golf Club, Gerard got to know the course rather well and ultimately reduced his handicap to eight, which he managed to keep for 10 years.
An amazing achievement, and very pleasing for Gerard.
Today, at 74, Gerard has hung up his boots, and his golf spikes too.
He maintains a strong interest from a spectator perspective in all sports, both the ones he played and the games the grandchildren are involved in.
He is a good source of advice for the young ones, has a cool head with a wealth of valuable knowledge to impart to them.
During the football season Gerard can be found at the main gate at the Cobram Tigers on game day, collecting entry fees and selling the game booklet.
Then he and Cathy find a comfortable seat to cheer their side on to yet another win.