General News
11 October, 2024
KEN GIBBS: All round excellence — By Brian Lennen
Ian (Lefty) Wright, champion Warrnambool cricketer, regarded Ken as the best all round cricketer in country Victoria.
As a champion player himself, he needed to be heard.
Maryborough in the 1950s was a far different place than today. It had a thriving industrial base and offered ample work opportunities for its population.
Its technical school offered a variety of trade skills and the only university at that time was in distant Melbourne.
Most found work and stayed in town. Today most young people are attracted to the regional universities of Ballarat, Bendigo or Geelong.
This has led to a draining of local talent for many don’t return.
One of the locals to excel was Ken Gibbs who made a long and outstanding contribution to cricket as a player, administrator, coach and ground curator.
In his distinguished career he performed brilliantly at a local level and against the state’s best country cricketers, Victoria and touring English teams.
Despite all his personal efforts on Saturday mornings, he would be working with the juniors umpiring or scoring, before heading off to play in the afternoon.
Ken and his late wife Norma’s house was a frequent venue for after match entertainment.
Interestingly their backyard, like the Hannan’s, backed onto Hedges Oval.
During his career Ken performed brilliantly as a bowler, batsman and captain.
Colts Phelans, his local side, won a series of premierships under his captaincy.
Maryborough competed in and won the Kenmac Shield against Ballarat, Bendigo, Gisborne and Stawell.
In 1963 Maryborough performed possibly the city’s greatest achievement since Frank Moore’s all-conquering team.
Ken Gibbs’ efforts at the top level were outstanding.
On the Monday at the Melbourne Cricket Ground against Horsham, he took nine wickets, on Tuesday at Carlton he claimed five wickets, Wednesday was washed out, then on Thursday he claimed another nine wickets against Wangaratta.
At Hawthorn and in the final at the MCG he took five wickets.
In five games less the washout, he took 28 wickets averaging seven wickets per game (a feat not equalled before or since).
For those who witnessed the final they will never forget Kevin (Buff) Watts throwing down the stumps from the boundary at the G.
Ken played twice against the visiting English teams playing for country Victoria.
In the game in Bendigo he took two early wickets but found Ken Barrington (with his face on stance) impenetrable.
At Hamilton Ken took one wicket but was proud of his 20 not out.
In a game against Victoria at Ararat he dismissed two outstanding players in Ian Redpath and Jack Potter.
One of his highlights was captaining Victoria Country against the Victorian Shield side at the Park Oval.
Local stars to play were Art Pritchard, Graeme Malone, Rob Linton, Colin Trickey and George Skinner.
During his Maryborough District Cricket Association career, Ken took 627 wickets and scored 6884 runs at an average of 42, playing over 250 games. This doesn’t include any representative games.
An indication of his future talents was taking 10 for 18 as a junior.
While in Melbourne Ken trained at Coburg. Don Arnall, an Australian baseballer and brilliant cricketer, couldn’t convince Ken to join the club.
Having resided in Ballarat for over 20 years he continues his involvement in cricket as a talent developer and mentor.
Among his squad of junior talent was Australian player and player of the year in the “Big Bash” for 2022 and 2023 Matt Short.
Ken worked at Patience & Nicholson (now Sutton Tools) for most of his working life. While working as assistant export manager and once staying in Guatamala he was woken by the building opposite being under “rocket attack!”
He boarded the first plane out of South America. This made facing George Skinner’s thunderbolts look tame.
Ken’s contribution to cricket hasn’t ended.
Along with his life memberships of Colts Phelans and the Maryborough District Cricket Association, he was also made a life member of Wendouree Cricket Club in March 2021, thus joining his old foe and close friend, Geoff McRae.