A President for all Seasons - Michael Roy Whitney AM
Randwick Petersham Cricket Club | July 29, 2025
At the recent 24th annual general meeting of Randwick Petersham Cricket Club, Michael Whitney AM, was elected President for a 25th term. This places him equal fourth on the list of long-serving presidents of NSW Premier Cricket clubs. Only Austen Hughes (Northern District) with 34 years; Aubrey Oxlade (Manly-Warringah) with 33 and Sydney Bull (Balmain) with 28, have served longer terms. On the 25 years list, Mike joins David Thomas (Manly-Warringah), Brian Freedman (Bankstown) and Bevan White (North Sydney).
When Randwick and Petersham-Marrickville got together on 19 July 2001 to form Randwick Petersham, Whitney was elected the club’s first President. Going into its 25th season next summer, he remains its first President. Not bad for a former Test cricketer who said at the time that he would fill the role for two years!
As a means of getting the newly merged club away to a good start, it was felt that a high-profile leader was essential if the club was to gain early acceptance and be a competitive force in the competition. Michael Roy Whitney was the perfect choice. And as it turned out, the perfect choice, not just for the club, but for the Sydney competition and the game itself.
Mellick Wealth Management is a proud sponsor of Randwick Petersham Cricket Club
In his term in office, Mike Whitney has been an outstanding leader, a point acknowledged in an address at the AGM a few days ago by the Cricket NSW Board Chairman, John Knox. A down-to-earth character with a personality to match, his active, positive and enthusiastic approach and attitude, has earned the admiration and respect of people at all levels throughout the cricket world. His passion and emotion for the game, his club, his country and his state, knows no bounds. His effervescence rubs off.
Mike’s contribution to cricket was formally recognised by his club Randwick, when he was granted life membership in 1993. He received a similar honour in 2002 from Cricket NSW. And while such recognition was representative of his time in the game, it was also reflective of his contribution to the community at large. For many years he was involved with the Christopher Robin Committee for the Children’s Hospital at Randwick and for eight years from 2008, served on the Board of Surfing NSW.
The respect of his peers was also highlighted in 2012 when he was installed as the first Chairman of the newly-formed The Baggy Blues, a support group set up to assist former NSW Blues cricketers in need. And it was a proud moment for both Mike and the NSW Blues when he was fittingly inducted into the NSW Cricket Hall of Fame in 2024.
In 2000, Whitney was awarded the Australian Sports Medal for his achievements and contribution to Australian sport. Further acknowledgement was to follow. It was, therefore, no surprise to anyone close to him or who had admired him from afar, that when the 2019 Queen’s Birthday honours were announced, the name Michael Roy Whitney was high on the list of those appointed as a Member of the Order of Australia (AM).
It is no secret that in his early days, Mike Whitney was a wayward lad. But that changed when he joined Randwick Cricket Club in 1976 and was subjected to the responsibilities which went with being a representative of a community-based sporting club. Over the years which followed, those accountabilities, reinforced by certain dedicated club officials, were well heeded, and a changed attitude brought with it three words which have been his mantra ever since–trust, respect, humility.
Congratulations, Mike Whitney AM. Randwick Petersham Cricket President. Term 25.
Lyall Gardner OAM
Randwick Petersham Historian
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