DAVID Hopper considers sport as one of the three fundamentals passed onto him by his parents.
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It comes a step below maintaining a functional family environment and works in tandem with his families electrical business.
“Cricket in particular has played an important role,” he said.
“My dad, Cec, and George Hopper were both great cricketer and on my mum’s side there was Merv and Art Kerr.
Merv was one of the best swing bowlers in our association and Cec was probably the most gifted batsman and wicket keeper in the Wimmera.”
That foundation of talent and love for cricket was certainly passed on to David who continues to play for Homers and represent Victoria into his 70s.
“It has always just been a part of life,” he said.
In a career full of special moments one that stood out for David was the chance to play alongside his father and brother Barry in what was his first premiership in the top grade.
“I would have been about 20, so it was about 50 years ago,” he said.
“Barry and I made about 30 each and I had a good day bowling with seven wickets.
We beat a Jung team that was full of legends like Don Rush, Jock McRae, the Bakers, Pietsch and then even more McRaes.”
David said he had lost count of the amount of premierships he had won playing alongside great players such as Peter Cramer, Bill Ainsworth, Steve Harvey, Gary Radfor, Graeme Bath, Dennis Tyler and all the Wades.
One memorable win came on a particularly wet wicket that the umpires only allowed a lawn mower on to act as a roller.
“Amazingly we only lost a few wickets on that awful wicket,” David said.
“Peter Hassett was nearly impossible to keep out but Bill Ainsworth and I managed to bat for most of the day but ended up covered in turf because it was such a wet and stick wicket.”
A grand final loss that stood out was when Dimboola’s Rex McKenzie was bowling brilliantly.
“Looking back its how to understand how we batted without helmets,” he said.
David’s career also included various opportunities at Melbourne country week.
“We won at least five premiership in different divisions and my best effort was 127 in a final against Henry Gunstone’s Grampians,” he said.
“Henry was another great player and I should also mention the Morgan family from Rupanyup – they probably had our measure during that period.”
The social aspect of the game was always important for David as he recounts countless afternoon teas with legends of the game.
He also had the chance to bowl to Barry Richards at Horsham City Oval who he said made batting look extremely easy.
“Cricket is so great because anybody can play it and pick it up at any age,” David said.
“Playing with and against great players, average players and not so good players is all the same – you just have to respect their love of the game.”