Two of a kind

Lindsay George, 73 and John White, 66 were among the 22 recipients to be recognised at the Bupa Sheffield Shield clash between Victoria and New South Wales.

Having been involved in the same association for a combined 111 years, the pair admitted they had always been rivals and had never played in the same team.

“He (Lindsay George) used to give us yack behind the wicket,” White said.

As life members of the association, the pair have devoted their lives to cricket as players, coaches, umpires and administrators, with White spending the last 25 years as President of the CGCA.

“When it took on the presidency of the Central Gippsland Cricket Association, I certainly didn’t expect to stay 25 years,” White said.

“I took it on because a life member wanted a change in presidency.

“So I put my hand up and 25 years later we haven’t had another election.”

During his 51 years in cricket, White has also written two books titled “Coal Dust and Cricket” and “The History of Morewell Cricket Club”, highlighting his most significant moment when cricketing legend Sir Donald Bradman sent a letter to him after reading one of his books.

“I opened the letter and went weak at the knees,” he said.

While White took on the administrative roles, friend Lindsay George devoted his time to coaching, as one of the few level three coaches in the district.

In his time, George notes one of his highlights as coaching Australian fast bowler Peter Siddle during Junior Country Week.

On the day, both recipients were humbled for being recognised as long serving members of the cricket community, 

“When you start something you don’t do it so that you can get recognition, you do it because of the love of what you are doing,” George said.