Les Knox to join Indigenous Legends cricket reunion

The 1988 indigenous Australian cricket team and their supporters are heading back to the Western Victorian town of Edenhope, 35 years after a momentous cricket tour in England.

And one of the instigators and organisers of the tour was Narrabri resident Les Knox, who will be joining the celebrations in June 2023.

However, the story travels much further back than this, as Edenhope is the grass roots of Australia’s first ever international all-Indigenous touring team who travelled to England and played over 40 matches in 1868.

The 1868 side sailed to England and was made up of thirteen stockmen from Victoria’s western districts.

The team won 14 games, lost 14 and tied the rest, yet received little recognition after they returned to Australia.

The Edenhope community, however, has not forgotten its Indigenous cricketers of both the 1868 or 1988 tours and will be honouring their achievements at the reunion In June.

The 1988 side played and travelled under much better conditions than their predecessors, and it is hoped by organisers of the event that as many of them as possible will be attending the reunion.

This team was made up of Indigenous cricketers from every Australian state and territory.

They played feature matches in Edenhope, Harrow and Sydney before heading to England.

Following in the footsteps of the 1868 team, the 1988 all-Indigenous tour was also a success.

The story goes that there was some conjecture as to whether the team would score a match at the famed Lords cricket ground, and rumour has it that former Prime Minister Bob Hawke, a great supporter of the side, took matters into his own hands and rang Queen Elizabeth II himself.

The gamble was successful, and the team went on to lodge a proud record down in the history books of indigenous cricket, playing 26 one-day matches, winning 16, losing 10, and meeting Queen Elizabeth II.

Thirty-five years later, a team reunion is now in the planning stages and the town of Edenhope is preparing to welcome players, family, friends, and supporters alike, also inviting well-known cricketers from the era who played against the side.

Local historian and author Helen Mulraney-Roll says it is quite remarkable that the unassuming town of Edenhope has an Indigenous cricketing heritage dating back as far as 1868.

“I feel it’s so important to remember what a great part of our cricket and sporting history these two Indigenous sides were, and the role that Edenhope has played in the story,” she said.

Mrs Mulraney-Roll has her own ties to the story, as her ancestor, pastoralist Thomas Gibson Hamilton from Bringalbert Station, was the instigator of early cricket matches played in the local area.

“My great-great Uncle Thomas was a terrific all-round sportsman. He introduced the game to his friends who were Indigenous stockmen and local landowners from nearby sheep stations.

“Starting around 1864, he took it upon himself to teach them to play cricket,” she said.

“He saw how skilful they were, and soon set up a match between pastoralists and an Aboriginal side.

“They played on rough ground behind the Bringalbert Station woolshed, and in that first match, the Aboriginal side was victorious.

Mr Hamilton’s enthusiasm set the wheels in motion of a plan for a tour which had never been considered before, and history was made.

“The 1868 indigenous side went on to sail to England. They played 47 matches against intermediate-level English amateur teams,” Mrs Mulraney-Roll continued.

“Despite this success and the historic significance of their achievements, they were later largely forgotten about,” Mrs Mulraney-Roll said.

“It was a source of much sadness for Uncle Tom, who was stuck on the station.

“He was sad, not only that they didn’t receive the recognition they deserved, but that they were mistreated and ultimately exploited along the way.”

Mr Knox will be travelling to Edenhope in June to celebrate with cricket enthusiasts and hopes to reunite with many old friends.

“I thoroughly enjoyed organising the 1988 England tour with my good friend Vince Copley.

“Sadly, Vince passed away last year, and he will be sorely missed amongst the recollections and stories of the great memories we shared.

“We will be paying tribute to Vince and three other players who have passed away in recent years.

“Nevertheless, I am looking forward to getting together with everyone at Edenhope and revisiting where it all began.”