ABOUT US
The Lord’s Taverners is an organisation dedicated to helping young people to play cricket when they might otherwise not have the opportunity to do so. It was originally formed in1949 by a group of theatrical personalities, who used to enjoy watching cricket from the old Tavern at Lord’s Cricket Ground.
One of those personalities was John Varley, who migrated to Australia. He was a logical choice for Chief Executive when John Darling obtained permission from the UK body to form The Lord’s Taverners Australia. A separate section of this web-site ‘Founding Fathers’ describes the story behind the establishment of the Australian body, which occurred on 22 October 1982. The Lord’s Taverners Australia is an autonomous organisation with branches in all States and Territories. Australia-wide there are about 2000 members from all walks of life with the media, the professions, the arts, entertainment and business communities being well represented. What we have in common is a love of cricket and a desire to raise money to support the game at all levels but especially with juniors and disadvantaged and/or handicapped children.
We believe in a balance of membership so that the commercially inclined can assist with fund raising, the sports lovers can identify specific needs and causes to support and the media-oriented can promote the events we hold, the causes we support and the results we achieve. Also, through the nature of the events that are organised, we actively seek to promote a feeling of fellowship and bonhomie among our members. While our membership is predominantly male, we have an increasing number of female members and wish to encourage more women to join.
With support from the then Secretary to the ACT Cricket Association (Richard Hickman) and the then British High Commissioner (Sir John Leahy), the ACT Branch was established in April 1986 with Graham Wilkinson as President and AVM Desmond Hall as Chairman. The Branch has maintained a close relationship with both the ACT Cricket Association and British High Commission ever since. Each of the 100 Foundation Members paid $100 to place the new branch on a sound financial footing.
The Committee then set about meeting the following Taverners’ objectives:
`The Lord’s Taverners Australia has been established to encourage and promote the playing of cricket, especially among disadvantaged children. It raises money for coaching; the provision of cricket playing and practice facilities, equipment and competitions to enable children to become proficient and knowledgeable about the sport. The children it assists may be disadvantaged by virtue of financial constraints or geographical problems. It also supports the enjoyment and companionship in cricket.’
From the beginning, Graham Wilkinson made the point that, while fundraising is an objective of The Taverners, the driving force behind forming the ACT Branch was for its members to have fun. The Committee has always arranged activities under the unofficial motto of `Fun and Fundraising’. Activities that have become traditional are the annual dinner, cocktail party, cricket match against the British High Commissioner’s Eleven, Golf Classic and a marquee at the Prime Minister’s Eleven match. Since 2001, an event which is proving to be very popular and a good fundraiser has been a dinner on the night before the Prime Minister’s Eleven match. Members of the famous 1948 Invincibles team have attended, and we hope that, in the future, we shall have past Australian captains attending (Bob Simpson was the guest speaker last year). The new Sir Donald Bradman Stand at Manuka Oval has proved to be an ideal location for this dinner.
Funds raised at our functions and through raffles have been used to support youth cricket in the ACT. The Committee has found that the most effective way to do this is through the ACT Cricket Association, which has been able to identify young people in need. Over the years, we have been able to increase the amount provided to meet our objectives, and in 2002-03 we distributed $20,000.
The Lord's Taverners Australia is best described as a benevolent Association which includes charitable objectives among its fund raising activities. We exist on membership subscriptions, fund raising events and donations.
OBJECTIVES
As a benevolent association it is the primary aim of the Lord's Taverners Australia to raise money to propagate the game of cricket at all levels. Our financial disbursement program is balanced across a number of worthy causes including the provision of sporting facilities, equipment and opportunities for under-privileged and/or disadvantaged children, across all sports. The children assisted may be disadvantaged in a number of ways, including financial constraint and geographical isolation.
A secondary but equally important aim is to promote enjoyment in the companionship which flows from the game of cricket.
A third objective is to ensure the type of fund raising event organised and the way it is run generates enjoyment, fellowship and bonhomie among members.
The constitutional powers of The Lord's Taverners Australia have been structured to assist the Association in fulfilling all of its objectives. Sponsorships, donations and assistance are welcomed from corporations and individuals who empathise with the Lord's Taverners Australia cause and who are in a position to help.
MANAGEMENT OF THE ASSOCIATION
The Lord's Taverners Australia is a national body comprised of a council which meets yearly to formulate policy and from time to time to give guidance to the State and Territory branches. Representatives from these branches sit on the National Council together with the other office bearers usual in an organisation such as ours.
Each State and Territory has its own President, Chairman, Hon. Secretary, Hon. Treasurer and Committee. Each Committee meets regularly to conceive and implement the objectives and activities of the Branch in furthering cricket in its State or Territory.