10/04/2026
Vale Monaro cricket life member, Tony Mackenzie
The Monaro District Cricket Association would like to pass on the thoughts and sympathies of our players and supporters to the family of MDCA life member Tony Mackenzie, following his passing earlier this week.
Tony’s contribution to Monaro cricket spanned decades. He was a keen follower of Monaro cricket right through the years.
Tony is well known in the community for his work with the Cooma Lions Club over 65 years and with many other organisations.
Below are some words from Russ Haylock on Tony’s local cricket involvement.
Arriving in the area in 1960 to work for the then Cooma Municipal Council as their Director of Environmental Services, Tony was eager to join the local cricketing community.
He began playing for the Colts Cricket Club and joined the MDCA firstly as secretary.
He would later serve two separate terms as president that spanned more than 20 years.
His proudest achievements across that time were the formation of a local Umpires’ Association, and hosting South Africa for a tour match against NSW Country at the Cooma Showground in January 1964.
The cricket association and council had ensured the ground was in top shape, but a storm flooded the ground the day before and threatened to wash away their good work.
Pumps were needed to get the water off the outfield, and the pitch was looking like an even sterner challenge.
Tony and his band of volunteers worked long into the night trying to dry the pitch, but with no light and little heat, they decided to use ‘the petrol method’.
They doused the pitch with petrol, lit it and rolled it over and over, and by the morning of the game it had been successfully salvaged.
The match was able to be played the next day, with locals Jack Thurbon, David Mould, John Romney, Noel Bergin and Peter Metcalfe turning out for NSW Country.
They had the opportunity to play against South African legends like Eddie Barlow and Colin Bland with the help of the many men behind the scenes.
Tony was one of these men for decades afterwards, and his good work is still felt around the local cricket scene today.
Tony’s life will be remembered with a memorial service on Thursday, 16 April at the Cooma Car Club at 12pm.
📷 From the Cooma Express archives 1977m members of the Monaro cricket committee. Tony is pictured far left.
📷 Tony receives his 65 year service medal for the Cooma Lions Club.
