While Northland cricket legend Brian Dunning is firmly entrenched on most minds around the region, his memory will live on forever at Whangarei's Cobham Oval.
Last night Northland Cricket Association recognised Dunning's devoted service to the game, with the opening of an entrance archway next to the Bellahomes Players' Pavilion,in memory of the great sportsman. After making his debut for the province in 1959 as a 19-year-old, Dunning went on to play cricket 159 times for Northland, scored 7164 runs, hit 18 centuries (at one stage twice as many as any other cricketer had for the province) and, with 93, caught more opponents out than any other Northland cricketer has done.
In 1972 Dunning became the first Northlander to win national honours and, as a batsman for Northern Districts, scored more than 3898 runs at a 29-run average. His career with ND lasted 17 years as a player. At the age of 49, Dunning retired due to arthritis, and almost immediately he started an equally impressive career as a cricket selector.
Despite his impressive sporting achievements, Dunning was a humble man. His oldest daughter, Margaret Northey, said her dad would most likely be a little embarrassed at all the fuss being made over him at his beloved home ground.
"But at the same time, Northland meant so much to him and the thought of his family and friends walking underneath the archway named after him at the Oval would make him proud," Northey said.
Northey attended the small function held at Cobham Oval last night, along with her three sisters - Johanna Tito, Shonagh Dunning and Kirsty Stuart and their mum Trudy Dunning - who all spent many hours watching Dunning play at the old Cobham Oval (which closed in 2002), and saw Dunning bowl the opening ball of the initial First Class match played at the new Cobham Oval facility.
"That was towards the end of his life when Dad was the chairman for the NCA. Dad passed away in 2008 [aged 66] ... he hadn't played for a while but he would go down to the Oval and watch the young ones coming through," Northey said.
Dunning has seven grandchildren and two great grandchildren and many of the family attended the event, as did NCA board members and life members.
Family was important to Dunning, and Northey said his clan were most proud of his achievements.
"As a family we are hugely proud of him and this recognition from Northland Cricket. We were always his biggest fans," she said.
President of NCA, Murray Child, who played much of his cricket career alongside his old friend, said it was a no-brainer to have a memorial to Dunning at Cobham Oval. "He is recognised as one of Northland's greatest cricketers ... he was an outstanding servant to Northland cricket and a legend really. He was an unassuming character ... but he got the job done," Child said.
