A Brief History of the QDCA

Queensland Deaf Cricket Association (QDCA) is an incorporated association for state-wide Deaf
cricketers in which its foundation was formed by all-deaf cricket players in January / February 1955 after
the conclusion of the 2nd Australian Deaf Games ( the first one is in 1946) and after the creation of the
Australian Deaf Cricket Association at the same time. The association became incorporated on 19th
March, 1996, and its former name before the incorporation was the Queensland Deaf Cricket Club.

At the time of the foundation, the committee was made up of entirely Deaf players after the total "disagreement" from a superintendent at that time, Mr. Aubrey  A E Landers, of the Queensland Adult Deaf and Dumb Society  (formerly known as QLD Deaf Society, now called Deaf Services Queensland), who "controlled" the Deaf players since the late 1930's. This is one of the main reasons why the players formed its own association to allow the players to make decisions and giving votes themselves, instead of being controlled by hearing people. The foundation committee
members of 1955 are: Mr. Clifford Ellwood (honorary president), Mr. Charles Bergman (honorary secretary), Mr. Jeff Armstrong, Mr. Ray Hayden and Mr. Percy Bates. Up to today, Mr. Bates is the only sole surviving foundation member, a Life member, and is still active in some small parts with the QLD Deaf Cricket Association.

Percy Bates is also our oldest surviving cricket player. He first played cricket at the Queensland School
for the Deaf at Dutton Park in 1928 with a group of deaf boys under their teacher who is their coach.
When Mr. Bates left Deaf School in 1930 he played with Valley Colts Club at New Farm which is played
on turf, and later moved to Nundah to join
Toombul Juniors for a while until he heard from
his father and his brothers about the old Deaf
Mission cricket team so he joined and played with
them from 1931 to 1970. He also played with
hearing teams such as Annerley Recreation and
Ford Motors. From 1970 until his "retirement"
from deaf sports in 1996, he was involved with
deaf cricket in several positions such as manager
of the team, official, score person, etc. he also
have an on and off and on as committee member
of the QDCA from 1955 to 1996, and was awarded

a Life Member. He also usually attend the Annual General Meeting of the QDCA and did attend the recent AGM on July 2007. Currently the Secretary of QDCA, Mr. Stephen Pay, is working with Mr. Bates to preserve the historical areas of the Deaf cricket in Queensland such as gathering the photos, any records such as career statics of the players, etc. and arestill in progress.

The early history of the association from its beginning of
1955 to 1963 is, regrettably, lost; due to Mr. Landers who
destroyed some of the records (meeting minutes, etc)
when its office was located inside the QLD Adult Deaf and
Dumb Society at Turbot Street, Brisbane City, and also
some other records are lost through the transit between
secretaries in those times. The QDCA still have most
the records dating back to 1964. Some sources stated
that other records are destroyed by dampness caused by
rains when it was being stored inside the shed on the
back of Spencer Park (dampness was created from the
holes of the shed roof and the rains helped, therefore the records are beyond repair).

Historically, the QLD Deaf Cricket Teams had played with the Church Union Division and the Warehouse
Division. 

Currently, the Deaf cricket team which is called the Brisbane Deaf "Bulldogs" Cricket Team is with the Warehouse Division, played during the summer season of 2006/07 in the C3S division of the Warehouse.During the season of 2003/04 the Brisbane Deaf Cricket Team has won its premiership in its own class, the C1S, within the Warehouse Division which has broken the drought to win its premiership since 1965/66. The 1965/66 premiers are with the QLD Cricket Association Church Union Division, A2 Grade. Since 1946, The Deaf Cricket Team has appeared in the Grand Final in theChurch/Warehouse divisions 5 times and only won three (1959/60, 1965/66 and 2003/04).

The Queensland Deaf Cricket Team (state-wide, mostly metropolitan) is usually played during its National Deaf Championship Games such as the Australian Deaf Games (organized by Deaf Sports
Australia), which is still playing since the Games first started in 1946, as well as some historical dating back as far as 1906 which is played during some events such as "carnivals" etc; and the Webby Cup Tournaments, which is being organised by the Deaf Cricket Australia. This current championship games are in the 50-over per team white uniform game format.

Previously, Deaf Cricket Australia has organized the Test game format which is called the E. J. D. Abraham Shield. This shield is to be played during the Australian Deaf Games.. The first Abraham Shield games were held at Brunswick Oval in Melbourne in 1923. There were no Queensland teams since 1923 until the 10th Abraham Shield games which were held at Oxenham Park Oval at Nundah in Brisbane in 1946.

 
The shield games has played 14 times which involves QLD, with Queensland who won the shield 4 times
(1973/74, 1985/86, 1987/88, and 1993/94). The shield was last played and then dropped after the
conclusion of its game during the season of 96/97 season, and then the 50-over format was introduced as the Anthony Webb Memorial Trophy, also known as the Webby Cup, which was played for the first
time in the 1999/2000 season. The cup was played 5 times and QLD has yet to win the cup. The recent
Webby Cup Tournament was played in Adelaide on January, 2007. Queensland was forth out of four
teams which were last played there.

The QDCA was trying to field a team for the last Australian Deaf Games which was held at the Gold Coast in January 2008. Unfortunately we could not find enough players to get a team together. The biggest obstacles which faced the association was to get players from regional Queensland, due to the lack of financial resources, and also many of the metropolitan players which has been with us for long time are now resigned. Some due to age, financial circumstances, moved interstate, and health problems. Most of the players which we had for so long and where they came from were from the long defunct Queensland School for the Deaf at Dutton Park, which closed its doors in 1989 (after 94 years since first opened).

QDCA is in progress with Deaf Cricket Australia to determine the future of Deaf Cricketing in Australia,
and at the recent Annual General Meeting of the QDCA, the members wanted the QDCA to affiliate with
Queensland Cricket to seek its support, help, and ensure its survival of the association.

The QDCA has its own constitution which was created on 22nd of June, 1999 and has not made any amendments since then, after it was incorporated. QDCA currently only have two affiliations: one to the Deaf Cricket Australia, in which is eligible to play for the Webby Cup Tournaments outside the Australian
Deaf Games; and the other to Deaf Sports and Recreation Queensland, to ensure that the QLD Deaf
Cricket Team is eligible to play at the Australian Deaf Games, in which is being organised by Deaf Sports
Australia whom the Deaf Sports and Recreation QLD are member of.

Currently, the "home" field which the Deaf Cricket Team usually uses is the Western Districts
Community and Sports Club at Queenscroft Street, Chelmer.

The current Committee Members of the QDCA for the term 2007/08 are: Mr. Matthew Woodforth
(president), Mr. Stephen Pay (secretary/treasurer), Mr David Capes, Mr. Trevor Harwood & Mr. Con
Eglezos.