Sport
1 February, 2024
Natte Yallock Cricket Club brings up 50 years of cricket with celebration tomorrow afternoon
It’s 50 years up for the Swans, with Natte Yallock Cricket Club set to celebrate a special occasion tomorrow afternoon as they look to continue their finals push. The celebration is the first of two in two weeks around the Maryborough District...

It’s 50 years up for the Swans, with Natte Yallock Cricket Club set to celebrate a special occasion tomorrow afternoon as they look to continue their finals push.
The celebration is the first of two in two weeks around the Maryborough District Cricket Association (MDCA), with MKM also set to celebrate their 90th anniversary next week.
The day has been set up by both Trent Mortlock and Alan Streeter, who both say the club is a success born out of playing good cricket, but also their continued survival through community spirit.
“It should be fantastic. I’ve had plenty of people RSVP, quite a few interstate as well, not just local, so it will be great to see the people who have moved on from our community return,” Mortlock said.
“It’s one of the best things about Natte — no matter whether you’ve been there for one year or your whole life, you always feel welcome when you come home.”
The Swans have had a great deal of success across both the Pyrenees Cricket Association and also the MDCA, with their last premiership coming in 2021’s A reserve competition, where the club currently competes.
As a result, the club are looking at a good turnout on Saturday, according to Mortlock.
“We spoke about it last season that we were coming into our 50th year, and we wanted to get everyone together,” Mortlock said.
“Sport now, not just cricket, seems to be dying off a little bit. There’s people that are still passionate about it and come and go, so whenever you get a big milestone, be it 150 years or 50 years, I think it is worth celebrating.
“There’s a lot of hard work that goes into sporting clubs, especially not-for-profit like Natte. We hope to see a lot of people there.”
Streeter agrees, knowing that there will be plenty of entertainment, including a live band and also a barbecue tea.
“At this stage, we’re looking at about 60-odd people, with past players, current players and supporters,” he said.
“It will be good to hear the old stories, look back on the old cricket grand final scoresheets and remembering the old days, talking about who and where we used to play.”
According to Streeter, the club’s greatest success is maintaining its survival after the Pyrenees Cricket Association disbanded following the 2016/17 season.
“When the Pyrenees Cricket Association started, there were quite a few teams, originally there was Elmhurst, Amphitheatre, Avoca, Lexton, Moonambel, and then they introduced Stuart Mill for a few years, Waubra and Talbot came into the Association. Unfortunately, many dropped off,” he said.
“To think we are the only original surviving team and the longest running of the Pyrenees Cricket Association still going, it’s a credit to our club that we have stood up through these times and have still been competitive.”
Streeter said there will still be its challenges, but in true Natte Yallock style, the club always rises to the challenge.
“To continue on, it will still take a lot of work,” he said.
“Being a farming community, it’s harder with the harvesting that goes on, and the younger ones that are eligible to play are being picked up by the local farmers for the harvest too.
“It makes it hard to get the young ones involved on a regular basis.”
This weekend’s clash with Talbot holds extra-special significance, not just as a clash between two teams that used to play each other in a different competition, but also one which is a friendly rivalry in modern times.
With both teams currently in the top four, this weekend’s game sees the Yabbies looking to keep their chances of the minor premiership alive, while the Swans will look to shore up their place on the ladder.
“Ever since Talbot came into the Pyrenees Cricket Association, they are the only other team out of there that are continuing to play, apart from Lexton, who do not play in our competition,” Streeter said.
“Talbot are on top, so this week will be a good clash to see where we are at.”
Mortlock agreed with the sentiment.
“I’ve always played against Talbot in my time with Natte since I’ve been around,” he said.
“We’ve always had good battles and we get along with them well. There’s good banter, we have good company and we always have a drink with them after the game, and that’s the most important thing about country cricket.
“You work hard and try to win, but you can always have a drink together and a good laugh.”
The festivities at Natte Yallock Recreation Reserve will begin at 1 pm, running through until late on Saturday night.