31/05/2026
VALE The late Gary Mathew
It is my sad duty to report the passing of Gary Mathew, an outstanding cricketer who shared in 5 premierships with Randwick including 4 in 1st Grade. He died after a long illness at Barraba last Thursday night, 28 May, sitting on his lounge watching the footie. He was 67.
Gary joined Randwick as a 17-year-old from Grafton in 1975-76. He made his 1st Grade debut the following year although he wasn’t a regular until 1981-82. He scored more than 500 runs a season that and the next two, forming a brilliant opening partnership with State representative Peter Clifford. The pair led the batting for three years putting on more than 100 for the first wicket on many occasions. He scored three 1st Grade centuries with 140 against Mosman his best, although his 112 playing Sutherland led by Test fast bowler Len Pascoe was a memorable performance. However, his most important knock occurred in the 1983-84 Grand Final when he made 70 in almost six hours against Balmain at Hurstville Oval to ensure a Randwick victory. Due to business pressures, Gary took a break from cricket after that season.
In 11 seasons with Randwick, Gary Mathew scored a total of 4,559 runs across four grades with 2,915 in 1st Grade. A sharp fieldsman, he held 77 catches. That was not the end of his Grade Cricket career however, as a season later he re-surfaced with
Mosman alongside good friend and former Randwick team-mate Gary Bensley. He played five seasons with Mosman adding another 1,432 1st Grade runs to give him a career total of 4,347 in the top grade. Gary remained a member of the Randwick
Petersham Cricket Legends Society for many years.
RIP Gary Mathew.
A wonderful player, friend and person.
Lyall Gardner OAM
