Gary Whitaker
Randwick Petersham Cricket Club | July 24, 2025
In a Randwick Cricket Club career spanning 17 years between 1984 and 2001, Gary Whitaker has many fond memories. And although there were some spectacular moments during that period, there are two which stand out. One was his debut match for Randwick when he made an unconquered century and the other was when he met his wife Robyn, who came to Randwick to assist the club with some injury rehabilitation to a number of players. While he had met her previously when playing rugby, the relationship blossomed and as they say in the good books–the rest is history.
Gary Paul Whitaker was born in Cape Town, South Africa, on 4 August 1959 and immigrated to Australia with his family in 1971. A keen cricketer, his Carlingford High PE teacher, Balmain’s Kerry Thompson, convinced the budding all-rounder to play in the Tiger’s 1973-74 under 16 years A W Green Shield team. The following season however, he and a mate decided to join Sydney Cricket Club where he became established as a 1st Grade opening bowler. In 1982-83 he switched clubs to Gordon but two years after, he was wearing the Randwick colours having been coaxed across by good friend, Peter Clifford.
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Whitaker commenced his Randwick career in 2nd Grade in 1984-85 against Sydney University at University 2. Chasing 218, Randwick was in trouble until Gary, batting no. 7, joined Doug Elphick. Together, the pair pulverised the attack putting on more than 160 between lunch and tea to take the game away from the students, ending at 9-268. Whitaker’s debut innings had yielded a magnificent 105*. And while he struggled with injury early that season, towards the end of the summer he hit his fast-bowling straps taking 4-20 and 5-38 against University of NSW and 5-56 playing Mosman in the next and final game of the season. He also made his Randwick 1st Grade debut that season against his old club Sydney, taking 1-26 off 10 overs at Coogee Oval.
The all-round talent of Gary Whitaker was again on show the following 2nd Grade season when the hard-hitting right-hander scored 102* in a total of 7-325 to chase down Waverley’s 306 at Trumper Oval. He also proved his value with the ball, taking 6-51 and 5-37 respectively in wins over Penrith and North Sydney. A contribution of 2-25 playing Fairfield in 1st Grade also led to a win.
Over the following seven seasons, Gary was a regular in the Randwick 2nd Grade team and one of its most consistent all-round performers. He also played the odd 1st Grade match and a dozen or so games in 3s. One of those 3rd Grade stints in 1986-87 produced a performance of 6-47 against Balmain at Kensington, which turned out to be career-best figures.
In 1989-90 Gary was appointed 2nd Grade captain and led by example, topping the batting with 305 runs for the season. He went on to maintain the skipper’s role for three years relinquishing it in favour of Greg Doyle in 1992-93. That season, he led the attack to a place in the semi-finals, taking 28 wickets. In round 9, he was seen at his fiery best, taking 5-18 to have University of NSW out for just 44 at Coogee, enabling his team to be the only side taking win points in a round dogged by wet weather. It was that performance which eventually secured fourth place on the points table and a spot in the semi-finals.
Despite his good form and value to the 2nd Grade team, in 1993-94 Gary dropped a grade to 3s and took on the captaincy when Peter Devlin was required as skipper of 2s. The side led the competition early before some hiccups saw it end up in fifth place, just one spot outside the semi-finals. Whitaker again led the way taking 20 wickets, while providing every opportunity for young pace bowlers Adam Warren and Andrew Downton to develop their skills under his experienced eye.
Two seasons later, Whitaker was appointed Randwick’s Director of Coaching. This was the beginning of a new facet in the 36 year old’s cricket career which would eventually take him to the pinnacle of cricket coaching and a reputation as one of the most respected and successful club coaches in Sydney Grade Cricket. Randwick that 1995-96 season, won two lower grade premierships and three minor premierships, a great deal of which was attributable to the enthusiasm and dedication Gary attached to the role. The success continued the following season with the 1st Grade team taking out the Limited Overs competition and the three lower grades, all making the semi-finals and one the Grand Final.
Gary was lost to Randwick in 1997-98 when he joined the Shires club Lane Cove, assisting them win the premiership. But he was back the following summer, playing the odd game in the lower grades through to the end of 2000-01 when the merger with Petersham-Marrickville to form Randwick Petersham occurred. In concluding his time with Randwick, he did so as the taker of 263 wickets across the five grades with 170 in 2nd Grade. He also scored 2,586 runs with 1,685 in 2s including two centuries.
In the years which followed, Gary became the Director of Cricket for Sydney University Sport and Fitness, a position he held for eight years. During that time Sydney University CC won a Club Championship, four 1st Grade titles (ironically defeating Randwick Petersham in two Grand Finals), as well as a number of lower grade premierships. A regular nominee, he was named SCA Coach of the Year in 2012-13 and 2013-14 and has been recognised as Sydney University’s Premier Coach of the Year. The holder of a Master’s Degree in Coaching, these days he is content to enjoy family life while chasing a little white ball around Bexley Golf Course.
Lyall Gardner OAM, Randwick Petersham Historian
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