By NICOLE VALICEK
A MAN who provided 63 years of service to his community will be commemorated by the naming of an oval at W.L.J. Croft Reserve in Altona North.
Hobsons Bay City Council unanimously agreed on a request made by the Altona North Cricket Club to name the main oval (No.1) at the reserve the Morris G. McDonald Reserve after the late Mr McDonald during last week’s council meeting.
Mr McDonald joined the Altona North Cricket Club in 1947 from the Yarraville Cricket Club and remained active with the club until his late eighties, an involvement that spanned 63 years.
He played 277 games and was a member of two premierships teams.
The naming of the oval was supported by a number of other users including the Western Jets Football Club and the Agility Dog Club of Victoria.
According to the submission he played cricket until he was 55 years old, because of his love of the game and the fellowship of his team-mates and opponents.
“Morris was a man of passion and vision who always strived to improve the club and its facilities for the enjoyment of its players and supporters,” the submission said.
As well as being a life member he was president of the club for 25 years from 1964 to 1988.
Among his many achievements were the establishment of a women’s cricket team and the development of a sporting complex where cricket and football could successfully co-exist on a larger scale- which he successfully achieved.
Mr McDonald passed away on 28 December 2012, aged 91.
