At last weeks senior presentation night, Luke Pich was awarded the highest honour at MACC – Life Membership. Luke has been a stalwart of the MACC for 20+ seasons, and he is an invaluable member of the club. Gus McLean spoke on the night, and his speech is below. Congratulations Luke!
Luke commenced playing with MACC at the start of the 1994/94 season. Since that time, he has played 460 games for the club. It is a milestone achieved by very few. Luke has taken 249 wickets and made over 2417 runs.
As much as Luke would like it to be true, he does not fit the definition of an allrounder as his batting average is less than his bowling average which is a very respectable 24.88.
Although Luke has never served on a committee or captained a team, he is a worthy person to be a life member as he has made a valued contribution to MACC over the last 25 years and represents what a Mont Albert player should be like.
Luke has a great love of cricket. Luke rarely misses a training a night and he makes himself available for selection and he cheerfully plays in the grade that he has been selected. He is patient and gracious when he has been asked to miss a game when number are strong. He has a heart as big as an ox and he gives 100% regardless of the conditions and the state of play. Whatever is asked of him as a player he will do his best, whether it is opening the batting, batting number 11, or bowling first change uphill into the wind or playing with 9. Luke has a never say die attitude and he leaves nothing on the ground.
Even though Luke has played most of his cricket in the lower grounds or Veterans he has high expectations of himself when he fields, bowls and bats and he always wants to do well for himself but more importantly he wants to do well for the team. He is disappointed himself when he drops a catch or goes out cheaply or bowls a wide. Consequently, Luke keeps striving to improve his game, even though he has physical limitations. There is a fierce desire to get better even though it is becoming harder to do so.
Luke communicates well with his skipper and always lets him know in good time when he is not available. He gets along with his teammates. He is reliable and dependable (even though he can get lost on his way to the ground). He is cheerful and he never makes excuses for himself. He owns his mistakes and he is quick to apologies when he has done something wrong.
No one celebrates a wicket like Luke. No appeals for LBWs like Luke and no one umpires like Luke.
Luke is a strong supporter of social nights and he rarely misses a presentation night and he pays his subs on time. He helps around the club at working bees when he is able. He contributes when he can.
It is fair to say that Luke’s skill set means that he was never going to serve on a committee or regularly captain a team, but Luke has served Mont Albert with the gifts and the abilities that he has. Luke has given what he can to the Mont Albert Cricket Club as a player and as a person for a long period of time because he loves cricket and he loves the club. He has shown a dedication to MACC consistent with any Life Member.
And so, it is for these reasons that Luke O Pich has been nominated and accepted as Life Member of the Mont Albert Cricket Club.