Always Redders

Ticked two boxes. Sadly missed the one we both wanted.

It’s been a cold few days here. Walking through the Geelong cricket ground precinct yesterday morning, I glanced at the hibernating scoreboard and was reminded of my late friend, Ian Redpath MBE—it bears his name.

Redders passed in late 2024, aged 83. He made his Test debut two years before I was born—making 97 against a strong South African side, and combining with Bill Lawry to put on 217 for the first wicket. He remained a fixture of Australia’s side through the 1960s and 1970s, returning 4,734 Test runs at an average of 43.45. A national treasure.

I came to Geelong in 2020 to coach his beloved cricket club. His welcome was reassuring and genuine. I will always be grateful for his friendship. I remember him charging me with three goals:

“Don’t let the local GCA competition distract you. If you plan to join a golf club, make sure it’s Barwon Heads—I’ll help with that. And yes, it would be nice if we could win our first premiership.”

Ticked two boxes. Sadly missed the one we both wanted.

Nick