The Little Master - The Fabian Heaton story
Randwick Petersham Cricket Club | June 17, 2025
When Fabian Heaton took a regulation catch off Northern District no. 10 in the 5th Grade match at Storey Park on 4 November 2023, it was just another to add to his imposing tally of 211 catches in a career wicketkeeping record of 246 dismissals. But there were two important features of that particular snare. Firstly, it was his last as a wicketkeeper and secondly, he did it in his 60th year!
Fabian had been playing with Randwick / Randwick Petersham since 2000-01. He was most impressive in his first season with 341 runs and 18 lower grade dismissals, earning the Phil Tresidder Encouragement Award after being described as “another of the exciting young players to emerge in the club”. He was 36.
Fabian Gerard Heaton was the youngest of three children born to Lionel and Katherine Heaton in Chandigarh, India, on 17 September 1964. An Aeronautical Engineer in the Indian Airforce, father Lionel was constantly on the move, resulting in the young Fabian attending several schools in his primary years. He completed his education in Madras (now Chennai) with a Bachelor of Science (Physics) Degree from Loyola College in 1985.
During the course of his studies, the right-hand bat played representative cricket for St Bede’s Anglo Indian Higher Secondary School and Madras University. He had gained a real interest in cricket through his father’s fascination for the game and backyard hit-ups with his brother, Gavin. He later played for his local district cricket club, Adambakkam, captaining them to win the Chingleput District championship.
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His success at that level led to representative honours with Tamil Nadu State under 22 and 25 teams and in 1991, he made his first-class cricket debut with Indian Railways. It was a short-term top level cricket career however, as two months later in March 1991 at 27 years of age, he migrated to Australia. The move was on the advice of his father, who, in the course of his world-wide job travels, had claimed Australia was “the best country in the world”. His sister Sharon had already taken the step and moved to Australia in 1987.
Living initially in Melbourne, Fabian found it hard to land a permanent job and was forced to work part-time with a microfiche company. Fortunately, his English boss loved cricket and through his contacts, he managed to secure a position as captain / coach of Silverton Cricket Club. He also played for the Dandenong District in a few representative matches.
Six months after he had migrated to Australia, he was joined by his girlfriend Maria, who he met at a New Year’s Eve party in Madras in 1987. He had known her and her family since she was seven years old as they both lived in the small town known as St Thomas Mount. Dancing together at that party was the beginning of a long-distance relationship with Fabian travelling around playing cricket, while Maria completed her nursing studies at university in Vellore.
In 1992, Fabian moved to Sydney after securing a full-time job in a sports store during a visit to the NSW capital. Being a retail job with varying shifts, he was unable to commit to regular cricket practice and played sparingly with park clubs. That year, he also married Maria on Boxing Day in Melbourne. That venue was chosen as it was home to his sister and parents who had also migrated to Australia, along with some of Maria’s family, including her elder sister who was friends with Fabian in his final school years.
The newlyweds set up home in a granny flat in Sully Street, Randwick, before moving to Kensington and later to their current home in Pagewood. With family responsibilities a priority, it wasn’t until Fabian landed a new job in the public health sector, that he decided to get back into cricket and stepped out for his Sydney Grade Cricket debut with the local Randwick club in 2000-01. It was a short career with Randwick, as the club merged with Petersham-Marrickville the following season to form Randwick Petersham Cricket Club.
Fabian stayed with the merged entity, playing in the 5th Grade team with a couple of appearances in 4ths. He was a star with the bat and showed some particular flair for wicketkeeping, when asked to take the gloves. Two seasons later, he opened the batting and completed 14 dismissals behind the stumps in a 5th Grade side which made the Grand Final.
In 2004-05, “Fabs” was installed as 4th Grade’s wicketkeeper/ batsman. He had a brilliant season hitting 378 runs with a maiden century–108* against Sydney University in the semi-final–while recording 17 wicketkeeping dismissals with just a handful of byes.
But after two Grand Final losses, Heaton finally enjoyed premiership honours when the 4th Grade side defeated Fairfield-Liverpool at Coogee Oval. Captain David Townsend christened Fabian “The Little Master” and claimed him to be “the heartbeat of the side”. Amidst many outstanding performances, including a fine 112 against University of NSW, Townsend wrote of Fabian in his end-of-season report: “His joy in other people’s success and determination with everything he did, made him oh so valuable to this premiership year”. He went on– “Once again, he ‘kept with gusto and although not always moving like Phar Lap (a famous Australian racehorse), he took any chance coming his way”. Fabian also took out the club’s annual wicketkeeping award with 32 dismissals across 3rd and 4th grades.
Over the following three seasons, Fabian was a consistent performer both with the bat and the gloves. In 2007-08, he added another 4th Grade premiership to his CV. But in 2009-10, he played just a handful of games and it appeared he was on the verge of retirement. However, he was back the next summer, recording 32 wicketkeeping dismissals. Despite his “never-say-die” playing attitude, it appeared “Father Time” had caught up and at the end of that season and at 47 years of age, he announced his retirement as a player.
Seven years passed. It was season 2018-19. The club needed an experienced player to captain the promising but young, 5th Grade team. And out of retirement came just the man – “The Little Master”, Fabian Heaton. Although he was then 54, the veteran was still an active player, participating in Sydney Masters over 40s and 50s cricket tournaments representing Georges River District Cricket Club. He is currently the skipper of the clubs over 50s side.
The season results showed his value at the helm, with the team improving seven places on the competition points ladder. And to top it off, he was the club’s “Wicketkeeper of the Season” with 28 dismissals defeating the record-breaking gloveman, Anthony Sams, who won the previous season and the following nine.
Remarkably, Fabian captained the team for another three seasons full-time, before “tapering-off” with some fill-in games in 2022-23 and 2023-24. When he finally hung-up the bat and the gloves, he had played 193 matches for Randwick / Randwick Petersham, spread over 24 years. Across 3rd, 4th and 5th grades, he scored 4,071 runs at the impressive average of 24.52 with two centuries and 15 fifties. Behind the stumps, he completed 264 wicketkeeping dismissals, with 223 caught and 41 stumped.
In July 2017, Fabian represented Australia against England in the over 50s UK tour. He played two tests against England with scores of 18 and 30 not out and completed three wicketkeeping dismissals. He scored 243 runs in the 10 games played and topped the batting average with 60.80. It was a proud moment for Fabian to be able to don the Australian “baggy green” as the picture indicates.
In March 2020, Fabian represented India at the over 50s Cricket World Cup in South Africa. Unfortunately, the global pandemic conspired to end the tournament early after only a handful of matches. “Fabs” made his debut against England in their first match of the competition but did not get a bat in that game which India lost.
The Fabian Heaton story is not just about a cricketing life. It’s a story about a husband, a father, a health worker, a volunteer, a fund raiser, a model to others and a person who may best be described as one of nature’s real gentlemen.
During their life together, Fabian and Maria have had more than their share of family challenges. In 1994, they rejoiced in the birth of their first child, Danica, a healthy, energetic and happy baby girl. Two years later in 1996, they had a son, Tristan, but within 12 days of his birth, he was diagnosed with a life limiting condition called Lissencephaly. Four years later, a second daughter was born after the couple were assured by doctors that it was safe to have another child. Despite that advice, baby Tiarna was also diagnosed with the same condition as Tristan, suffering a seizure when she was just eight days old. Tristan lived for 18 years although Tiarna survived only three.
Fabian with the three children
Life was a roller-coaster for both Fabian and Maria between 1996 and 2014, juggling doctor appointments for the two younger children while ensuring Danica received their complete love and affection. Few would have exchanged situations with them, although they believe it was a joyous family experience in many ways, quite apart from the ongoing and worrying health issues.
Despite these challenges, the couple have not been idle. Maria has been involved in advocacy for people with intellectual disability since 1999 and is the current co-chair of the Agency for Clinical Innovation Intellectual Disability Network. Fabian turned his hand to community support, particularly in fundraising ventures such as trivia nights, raffles and Bunnings barbeques for the Prince of Wales Hospital.
Maria and Fabian with eldest daughter, Danica
In 2007, Fabian started the Prince of Wales Hospital Foundation Heartbreakers Team, to run in the annual Sydney City to Surf fun run. Throughout the 17 years they have participated in that event, the team has been raising much-needed funds for various community causes. By 2024, they had collected around $500,000 to support patient care, staff education and research.
Also in 2007, Fabian was named “Father of the Year” for the Eastern Suburbs and in 2016 was presented with the Community Service award by Randwick City Council on Australia Day.
In recent times, Fabian has taken it on himself to raise funds for a cause close to his heart. Mental health. His aim has been to financially assist the expansion of health awareness and education programs in an effort to reduce the number of Australians suffering from mental health.
In 2024, Maria and Fabian, in conjunction with the University of NSW National Centre of Excellence in Intellectual Disability Health, set up the “Tristan & Tiarna Heaton Foundation” in memory of their children to assist with the health and wellbeing of people with intellectual disability.
In 2024, after 30 years of service to NSW Health, Fabian’s contribution as well as his undying dedication to the Prince of Wales Hospital at Randwick, was formally recognised when he was presented with an honoured service award. In his acceptance speech, the Senior Analyst in the Electronic Medical Record Support Team, explained that it was a highlight of his career to be able to perform that role as he felt he was “able to make a difference”. He went on to say, “I love my work, I love my colleagues, and every day I learn something new.”
The great Indian cricketer Sachin Tendulkar was tagged “The Little Master” due to his masterly deeds on the cricket field. Fabian Gerard Heaton may not have matched Tendulkar’s performances in world cricket, but he undoubtedly has done so in many aspects of life and is more than entitled to be similarly described as “The Little Master”.
Lyall Gardner OAM
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