Q Where did you move to Owaka from?
I moved from Alex about 11 years ago. I was an aluminium joiner there and I came down because my parents were managing the Owaka pub. I had my bar manager’s licence and they were short of someone so I decided to come down.
Q What is it about Owaka that you like?
I like the people. I like the small community. Great community spirit. That’s what I’m all about. Community and teamwork and all that stuff. Everyone knows everyone and everyone says hello.
Q What is your involvement with cricket and rugby in South Otago and how has this changed or evolved over the years?
I started off 11 years ago and just started playing rugby for Owaka. I was trying to get involved in the community and it seemed the majority of the people that floated around played rugby. I was working in the pub and they all came in after rugby. Cricket was the same. I was just trying to meet new people and get involved. Since then I’ve become a committee member of each sport and captained the cricket team and the rugby team. I became a member of the South Otago Cricket committee. Since then I’ve pretty much done everything. I’ve pretty much been the go-to-fella for organising things. I’ve gone from being a player to pretty much having a crack at everything. I’ve been president of the Owaka cricket club for three years now but that’s it. I’ve pulled the pin on that now.
Q You recently received the overall contribution to cricket award from Otago Cricket. What does it mean to you and why do you think you were honoured with it?
I was very humbled and surprised I was awarded with it. I presume I was nominated by someone and I presume it’d be for the work I do through South Otago Cricket — but I don’t do all the work to get awards. I’m stoked to get it. It’s supposedly quite a big award. Like I said, I’m humbled and surprised. I enjoy the work I do with the cricket ... so to get an award for it is quite special.
Q After all the rugby and cricket has been played in the weekend, how do you go about getting the information you need to write your reports for the paper?
On a Saturday after the games, I ring the coaches and I’ve got a wee book which has three or four questions to ask them, like, who played well, all their point scorers, any injuries and that sort of thing. So, that’s the Saturday so I get my report done for the Monday paper on the Saturday night. Then during the week, usually Wednesday or Thursday, I ring the coaches again to see how they’re tracking and to get their starting line-ups for Saturday just so I can put them on Facebook so people know what’s going on.
Q What is it about sport (whether it is rugby or cricket or otherwise) that you enjoy so much and what keeps bringing you back?
The people. Like I said it’s the team spirit and the togetherness. Sport brings a lot of different people together and it’s great to mingle with other people, if you know what I mean.
It’s good to hear other people’s stories and to share it with them, good times and bad times.
Q What do you do outside of sport?
I like spending time with my family — my wife and daughter and my parents. I’m a big family man. Between sport and family I can get in a bit of work. I mean I have to go to work but that takes a back seat sometimes. Between work as a meat inspector at the freezing works, family and sport that’s about it, really.
Q How long do you think you will stick with what you’re doing at the moment?
As long as I keep enjoying it.
It’s a big thing to run and if you don’t enjoy it then you’re not going to put 100% in. So, I can’t see it stopping anytime soon but as long as I keep enjoying it then ... And, as long as people keep enjoying what I’m doing.
If people start thinking I’ve had enough then I’ll probably give it up but as long as I’m enjoying it then I’ll keep going.
- Mr Parker writes the weekly roundup of South Otago sports in the ODT on Mondays.
