Des Nolan

Des Nolan was a well known cricket identity in and around the late 1960’s. He arrived from his beloved Wycheproof to take up work as a postie with his much adored wife Denise and settled into a little unit at the Shepley end of Pultney Street. One Saturday he wandered across to the park and found the Dandenong Methodists cricketers in the field and although a confirmed Catholic, decided to join them anyway once he found they did actually drink.

Des only bowled off 4 or 5 steps but would surprise the batter with the amount of pace he could generate and was quite successful in the competition. Where Des had his biggest impact was in administration, a man not afraid to meet a challenge head on and say what he thought, he quickly became a leader at the Methodists and then an integral part of the Dandenong and District Cricket Association where his forte was on Rep selection, Rules and Permits including Tribunal hearings where he swore he could tell guilt as soon as they walked in the door. He was made a life member of both. The pavilion at Fotheringham Reserve where the Methodists played was named the Des Nolan Pavilion in recognition of the enormous contribution he made.

Des went on to represent the DDCA at the Victorian Metropolitan Cricket Union for around 20 years and his service was recognised by them through the naming of the under 14.2 representative competition becoming the Des Nolan Shield. He particularly enjoyed his role as selector and Manager of the VMCU under 21’s attending carnivals around Australia.

It would be remiss not to mention the importance of Denise to the story of Des’s cricket life, she was with him every inch of the way as scorer for the first eleven, caterer, and scorer for the DDCA and accompanist wherever he went.

Des really loved watching and encouraging youth to grow in the game. He became Manager of the under 14 Dandenong Hatch team and then later the Under 16 Dowling team. He loved nothing better than a trip to the country to watch aspiring cricketers two of whom became particular favourites, Cameron White and Adam Bull who both went on to become fantastic players — Cameron with Australia and now a lead coach, and Adam as an outstanding premier cricketer.

When Dandenong came into Premier cricket, Des jumped in to help out as a selector, talent identifier and committee man. He was an ever present part of the Club. From his favourite spot on the bench under the trees across from the canteen he would bellow instructions to those on the ground and the umpires and hold court for those who wanted some advice which was readily available.

Des died in 2012 and his influence lives on with us.