The 74-year-old first played for Otago as a 17-year-old, and, 57 years later, plays for its over-70s side, and this year was in the New Zealand team who played in England in the first over-70s World Cup.
Over a 20-year career, he took 174 first-class wickets for Otago and Auckland.
However, his involvement in veterans’ cricket has also been amazing. He organised the first Otago over-60s side seven years ago, and captained the NZ over-60s side in three Australasian tournaments.
He was also chairman of selectors for that NZ team, though over the years he also selected and coached numerous Otago under-age teams.
Cushen — who leaves next Wednesday to play for the NZ over-70s, which he’s vice-captain of, in an Australasian tournament in Dubbo, New South Wales — says his honorary membership’s "a pretty amazing honour".
Ironically, it was presented by another Queenstowner, OCA chairman Russell Mawhinney, who’s also a former first-class cricketer.
Asked why he’s still playing when most of his contemporaries retired decades ago, Cushen says "it gives you a reason to get off your butt".
"And it’s the people you meet, isn’t it?"
However, he admits he’s not the aggressive bowler he used to be — "now I can’t open my mouth".
