At 81 years old, The Patch resident Derek Braidner still walks out onto the pitch twice a week to prove age is no barrier when it comes his passion for the game.
After hanging up his bat at 55 following a long stint with the Eastfield and Mooroolbark cricket clubs, Mr Braidner thought his playing days were behind him, but a chance encounter a decade later changed that.
“I ended my local club playing career when I was 55, but at 65 I saw a few older blokes playing in a Veterans Cricket game and thought that I could make a comeback,” Mr Braidner said.
“I am now 81 and still playing twice a week.”
Mr Braidner is part of the Yarra Valley Veterans Cricket Club, which plays at Wandin Cricket Ground on Clegg Road every Sunday under the umbrella of Veterans Cricket Victoria (VCV).
The organisation was established to give men over 50 and women over 40 a chance to keep playing in a friendly but competitive setting.
The VCV supports around 10,000 players across Victoria, catering for men aged 40 to 75, and continues to grow as one of the country’s most active sporting communities.
Veterans Cricket has also expanded internationally, now played in 14 countries.
For Mr Braidner, that spirit of camaraderie is what sets Veterans Cricket apart.
“It is not just my team, the camaraderie exists in every veterans team that I am privileged to compete against, local, national and international,” he said.
“While cricket as a sport fosters great sportsmanship, it seems to get more honest and intense as you get older.”
More than the competition, it’s the friendships formed on and off the field that bring players like Mr Braidner back each week.
When asked to share one moment or memory from Veterans Cricket that’s really stuck with him, Mr Braidner laughed and said:
“Crikey, you only want one? How do you pick? The sheer joy of playing this wonderful game at our age allows for so many moments of delight and great laughter every single match,” he said.
Mr Braidner said Veterans Cricket had also been a major boost for his health and wellbeing.
“If you asked 100 per cent of the wives and partners that question, their answer would simply be, Veterans Cricket has given my husband a new vigour in his step, he is more relaxed and he is most definitely living a healthier, happier and longer life,” he said.
“I watch him leave the house with a smile on his face and return with the same smile, but a little wearier.”
For those in the hills who might think they are too old to play again, Mr Braidner said the door is always open.
“Veterans Cricket starts at 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70 and now 75-plus, with playing groups in all age groups,” he said.
“You do not have to have been a good player in the past, all you need to be is enthusiastic – all levels of skill mix together.”
He said the sport offered more than just competition, it helped older players stay connected and active in their communities.
“If you want to stay healthy and have a good end to your life, you really need to recognise that if you don’t use it, you will most certainly lose it,” he said.
“You can play and socialise twice a week if you want to, and of course there are many local, state, and national events you can participate in, regardless of your skill level.”
For locals interested in getting involved, the Yarra Valley Veterans Cricket Club welcomes new faces to drop by the Wandin ground on Sundays.
“Go along and introduce yourself to the blokes, you would be made most welcome,” Mr Braidner said.
