Wally Cornock – A True Blue Cricketer
Parramatta District Cricket Club | April 30, 2025
Wally was a Life Member of Parramatta District Cricket Club, a genuine ‘Club Legend’, a real stalwart both on and off the playing field. He was born at Waverley on 1/1/1921 and died at Mollymook aged 86 years on 20/11/2007.
At an early age his family moved back to England, where he grew up and saw active service in the Royal Navy in World War II. After the War he played County Cricket for Leicestershire C.C.C. and in 1948 represented that club in a match against the famous Don Bradman’s Invincibles.
Wally migrated to Australia and in the 1948/49 season began his long and distinguished career with the Central Cumberland District Cricket Club. As an Allrounder [Hard-hitting right-hand batsman and ‘crafty’ left-arm slow medium bowler] he quickly established himself as an important member of the Club’s 1st Grade team. During his 1st Grade career [1948/49 – 1961/62] he played with several notable contemporaries, some of whom were Lou, Richie and John Benaud, Ron James, Ray Rowe, Bert Alderson, Stan Teale, Jack Treanor, Bruce Richie, Wilf Ewens, Gordon Woolmer, Joe Anderson and Harold Goodwin.
As a cricketer Wally strongly believed in playing the game in a positive and entertaining fashion, upholding its ethical standards and treating the opposing teams in a respectful manner. In all grades he scored 5,211 runs @ 21.10 and captured 409 wickets @ 20.89.
Whilst for much of his 1st Grade career Wally acted as a mentor to many of the emerging players in the team, on quite a few occasions he demonstrated how valuable an allrounder he was at this high standard of cricket. His personal best performance with the bat was a punishing 98 runs against Balmain in 1956/57, which was part of his most iconic season as a batsman. Throughout that season he opened the batting in a very aggressive manner, compiling 438 runs @ 33.69, which included scores of 85 v. University and 81 v. Petersham. In 1957/58 Wally routed Paddington on a lively SCG strip to record his best bowling figures of 7/63, other notable bowling efforts were 6/23 v. Balmain (1953/54), 6/59 v. Randwick and 6/82 v. Gordon (1954/55). But as an Allrounder, perhaps his two most cherished performances were – (1948/49) v. Mosman 52 runs and 6/51, and (1952/53) 86 runs and 6/48 v. Glebe.
Wally was a highly regarded leader and captained the Cumberland 1st Grade team in 1959/60, 1960/61, 1961/62, he then dropped down to captain 2nd Grade in seasons 192/63 and 1963/64.
In Second Grade he scored his first century for the Club a dominating 121 runs against Manly (1961/62), Wal’s other century was made in 3rd Grade (1965/66) – 107* against Petersham.
After a break as a player Wally ‘answered the call’, returning to the field to captain the Club’s lower grade teams. Many people believe this to be perhaps his most beneficial contribution, he was in his element nurturing the youngsters, instilling his cricket ethics and love of the game into them, helping the youngsters to grow as cricketers and people. In 1972/73 he led the 5th Grade A team from the front snaring 29 wickets @ 8.34. The next season he followed this up by guiding the 5th Grade Bs to win the NSWCA Encouragement award, and in the process having another productive year with the ball 29 wickets @ 8.63 (v. Sydney University 61 runs & 5/38). Wally concluded his 5th Grade stint in 1974/75, again registering a great season’s bowling performance – 30 wickets @ 8.83, highlighted by a masterful 8/38 v. Sydney University. Walter brought down the curtain on his long-playing career captaining the 4Th Grade side in 1975/76.
Wally was a Clubman to his core, and made his mark in Club Administration, his record in that sphere is as follows:
- Club President – 1974 to 1976.
- Club Secretary – 1976 to 1978.
- NSWCA Delegate – 1976 to 1979.
In this period Wally is well remembered for organising working bees at Old Kings Oval, and it was primarily his personal efforts that enabled the current Old Kings Sightscreens to be erected. It was rumoured that he once took a chainsaw into Parramatta Park, under the cover of darkness, to remove a troublesome Tree that would obstruct the Sightscreen construction.
During the 2007/8 season, the Club’s Management Committee with the support of the Parramatta Park Trust, officially named the Old Kings sightscreens – The Walter Cornock Sightscreen – in commemoration of Wally.
Wally’s sons Peter and Richard also played for the Club, and Wife Lyn was also very active and popular within the Club.
