Brief annual ritual belies significance of achievements

Every year before New Zealand Cricket's annual general meeting, a brief ritual takes place. It lasts only a few minutes but it is of genuine significance in the development of cricket in New Zealand.

"It" is the annual meeting of the New Zealand Cricket Foundation. The independent body was set up in 1979 with the aim of providing assistance in areas normally beyond the reach of the work of New Zealand Cricket (NZC). Among its committee and executive are some real movers and shakers in the cricket and business world.

President is long-time New Zealand cricket benefactor, businessman Sir Ron Brierley, while the secretary is the chairman of NZC and chief executive of the National Bank, Sir John Anderson. Elected members of the committee are: former commentator Iain Gallaway, another notable benefactor in John Oakley, cricket historian and former New Zealand selector Don Neely and former international John Morrison. NZC's four appointed members of the Foundation are: former international and co-founder of Sky Television Terry Jarvis, NZC board member Denis Currie, chief executive Martin Snedden and NZC operations manager John Reid, both of them former internationals.

Over the years, the body has donated $NZ4.15 million to groups around New Zealand for a variety of reasons. They have provided permanent wickets or practice wickets to a total of $NZ2.09 million while also assisting with coaching, coaching co-ordinators and development, funding New Zealand Young players to Lord's, travel grants and scholarships. They have also assisted ins funding New Zealand Youth tours, Kiwi Cricket and specialist clinics, and in other ways.

In the past year, the Foundation contributed $30,000 to Canterbury Cricket's indoor facility at Iversen Terrace while every year it presents the Sir Jack Newman Award in honour of one of the original members of the Foundation who had a transport empire in the Nelson region, to a person who has made a significant contribution to youth cricket in New Zealand. This year's winner was Marlborough man Mike Rhodes who has given 33 years of service to junior cricket in his region.

In the past year, the Foundation had a surplus of $NZ281,139, its first surplus for some time, mainly due to a gain on sale of a proportion of GPG shares held by the Foundation, while NZC also made two grants of $25,000 to the Foundation.

Examples of the spread of pitch funding can be seen from the following list: (all $NZ)

$15,000 - Taranaki Cricket Association, $9000 - Northern Districts Cricket Association, $7500 - Dunedin Cricket Association, $6000 - Bay of Plenty Cricket Association, $4500 - Burnside West - University Cricket Club, Mount Aspiring College, $4000 - Hillcrest High School Cricket, $3000 - Adams House: Christchurch, Campion College, Ellesmere College, Hamilton Cricket Association, Morrinsville Cricket Association, Oamaru Cricket Club, St Andrew's College, St Bede's College, Southwell School, Te Puru School: Thames, Waimea College, $2000 - Merivale Papanui Cricket Club, $1750 - Old Collegians Cricket Club, $1500 - Akaroa Cricket Club, Westport South School, Karamea Area School, Burwood School, Cromwell Cricket Club, Greenmeadows School, Highlands Intermediate School, Karamu Intermediate School, Mahora School, Manurewa Central School, Mauku Cricket Club, Merivale School, Mount Anglem College, Taitoko School, Taradale Intermediate School, Te Aroha College, Te Puke Cricket Club, Whangarei and Districts Cricket Association, $1250 - Picton Cricket Club, West Coast Cricket Association, $1000 - Papamoa School, $600 - Tamahere School, Vardon School.