Sport
7 August, 2026
Ken Gibbs — Maryborough’s greatest cricketer
The local cricket community has commemorated the life of Maryborough’s finest cricketer following the passing of Ken Gibbs, aged 89, on July 15, 2026.
As an outstanding player, valuable mentor, long-standing volunteer, passionate advocate and truly outstanding human being, Ken’s impact on the Maryborough District Cricket Association (MDCA) is immeasurable.
Born in 1936, Ken’s first sporting love was football, but he quickly transitioned to cricket after he lost a kidney at the age of seven.
After starting his cricketing journey with the Church of England juniors, where he quickly impressed with big bags of wickets, including a memorable 10/18, Ken made his senior debut at 15 for P&N 2 midway through the 1951/52 season.
When P&N 2 folded before the 1953/54 season, Ken was a key figure in the formation of Colts.
Despite still being a teenager, Ken won the 1953/54 MDCA’s best player award, already a destructive wicket-taker, first-class fieldsman in any position and a capable middle-order bat who loved hitting the ball hard and straight.
At the beginning of the 1960/61 season, the Colts and Phelans clubs merged to become Colts Phelans Cricket Club, where Ken’s legend only grew.
Ken’s record for Colts Phelans is nothing short of sensational.
In 258 games for the club, Ken took a stunning 627 wickets. He’s still the club’s all-time A grade wicket-taker with 571 wickets. That includes taking 52 wickets at an average of 7.02 in 1961/62 and 50 wickets at an average of 4.9 the following season.
Ken’s also sixth on the club’s A grade run-scoring charts with 4933 runs, took five or more wickets in an innings 37 times and played in nine A grade premierships, five of which he was captain.
Ken’s impact at his beloved Colts Phelans goes well beyond his on-field excellence.
Alongside his tenure as president and serving on the club’s executive for 25 straight seasons, Ken was also head curator for 20 years and was a driving force behind the establishment of Hedges Oval as a cricket venue.
He even opened the bowling in the first-ever cricket match at Hedges Oval alongside his son Dale.
Ken’s countless contributions earned him a life membership at the Colts Phelans Cricket Club.
While he consistently performed at an elite level in local competitions, Ken’s reputation for being one of country Victoria’s most successful cricketers was established at Melbourne Country Week.
From his first taste as a 16-year-old back in 1952, Ken became infatuated with the prestigious competition, often beginning preparations months in advance.
After taking 25 wickets in 1960, Ken captained the MDCA to a historic provincial premiership in 1963. During that magical weekend, Ken took 28 wickets at an astonishing average of four against some of the best players in the state.
His performances included 9/28 at the MCG facing Horsham, 9/30 at St James Park against Warragul and 5/35 at the MCG in the Grand Final versus Shepparton.
Following decades of devastating bowling, match-winning innings, astute captaincy and brilliant leadership, Ken retired as a Country Week player in 1975 and quickly stepped into the role of manager/selector.
In commemoration of his playing days and involvement on the league’s executive where he was vice president and secretary, the MDCA awarded Ken a life membership and has named its A grade Player of the Year award in his honour.
Ken also distinguished himself in matches against international teams, playing England in December 1962 for Country XI at Bendigo and again in 1965 at Hamilton, where he made 20 not out and took 1/41.
Ken also had two further games for Country XI against Victoria. In 1963 at Ararat he dismissed Ian Redpath and Jack Potter, while in 1968 he captained the Country XI in Maryborough where his opposing captain was the legendary Bill Lawry.
After spending most of his working life at Patience & Nicholson (now Sutton Tools), Ken moved to Melbourne in 1984. When he retired and moved to Ballarat in 2001, he quickly became very involved in coaching juniors at both club and zone level.
Ken’s sporting prowess wasn’t just limited to cricket. He was a long-time golfer and even had a handicap in the single digits during his younger years. Ken was also an excellent table tennis player and umpired football matches as a member of the Ballarat Umpires Association.
Ken raised a lovely family alongside his first wife Norma, with the couple having two kids, Carina and Dale, together.
After Norma passed away in 1981, Ken remarried to his second wife Elaine and supported her two children, Heather and Craig.