The reunion is scheduled for Friday, October 11 and Saturday, October 12, and will coincide with the opening round of the Murray Valley Cricket Association on the Saturday.
The Rhinos have secured two English imports for the A-grade side - Matt Taylor and Griegan French - who are expected to arrive in Deniliquin in September.
Organisers anticipate the reunion will be a great opportunity to make them feel like part of the Deniliquin cricket family.
The reunion will feature a sportsman’s night with two amazing speakers - Australian men’s cricket coach Andrew McDonald and South Australian First Class and Big Bash League player Tim Ludeman.
Both have also had notable international cricket success.
Tickets are now on sale for $70, with dinner included. Drinks will be available for purchase on the night.
There is also an option to donate to the DDCA Future Fund, to continue to improve the facilities in the Deniliquin and District area.
Tickets are available at: https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing/1270803?embed.
In light of the international theme emerging, this week’s feature story is on the DDCA’s Fiji cricket tours in the 1970s and ‘80s.
The following report ran in the 1988 reunion souvenir booklet.
Fiji Capers
One of the highlights of the 1977-78 season was a cricket tour of Fiji arranged by the DDCA through local travel agent, Lance Lloyd, and Fijian cricket authorities.
An invitation was extended to all interested persons to join the DDCA touring party on a one week tour of Fiji from January 29 to February 5, 1978.
The trip, at a cost of $450 per person, was to include two cricket games.
A party of 20 comprising local players and their wives eventually made the memorable trip with Warner Tasker named as team captain.
Deniliquin played Lau in the opening game of the tour on February 1 at Albert Park, Suva.
Lau made 104 on a matting wicket laid on grass.
Under conditions completely foreign to the visitors, Deniliquin began brightly to reach 2-72. However a dramatic collapse resulted in Deniliquin being dismissed for 96.
Despite the loss Deniliquin were able to celebrate in style that evening as their hosts provided a traditional Fijian feast at the home of Barry Agar. Agar also played against Deniliquin in 1985.
The second match, against Queen Victoria’s Old Boys and played at Nadi on February 4, also resulted in a loss to the tourists.
Another traditional Fijian feast was prepared for the players after the game in Nadi.
In January 1985 a similar one week, two match cricket tour of Fiji was undertaken by a party of 26 from Deniliquin.
Although the trip was not officially arranged by the DDCA the team, sponsored by Brian Gibb’s Federal Hotel, proved to be admirable ambassadors for Deniliquin cricket.
Captained by Michael Connop, the Deniliquin team won both games on tour, defeating Suva by 17 runs on the Albert Park Oval and winning by 47 runs against Nadi.
Gerry ‘Cowboy’ Corrigan had the distinction of being a member of both the 1978 and 1985 touring teams.
• If you would like to be involved in the reunion or have memorabilia you can share, contact Brad Todd on 0401 174 853, Tim Hillier on 0427 641 791 or Gerry Corrigan on 0428 267 758.
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