It is with regret that Northern Districts Cricket Club announce the passing of Life Member - Gary Benstead - suddenly, and peacefully at home during his sleep, aged 63 years.
Gary commenced his cricketing career with Thirroul Junior Cricket Club and burst into the senior ranks as a 16 year old by scoring 110 in his 1st grade debut during the first round of the 1964/65 season (read the article here). Gary continued to play for Thirroul Cricket Club for a further 21 years until his career as a school teacher took him to Bowral and so too his cricketing talents, and then later another move to Inverell in 1990.
Gary plied his trade on the pitch as a prolific allrounder - a left hand batsmen and left arm bowler - who could turn matches and dominate with either skill. Gary loved cricket, playing into his 60th year, before knee and hip issues forced him to give it away and spend more time trying to lower his golf handicap, but his career came with some battle scars to prove it - courtesy of a smashed hearing aid trying to play a mis-timed pull shot which forced Gary to finally succumb to wearing a helmet in the later years and he also played through what was later revealed to be a heart attack in the mid 90's after the local doctor (who was also in the team) told him he had angina, before travelling to Sydney for tests on the Monday and undergoing a triple by-pass on the Tuesday.
Gary was also a member of the NDCC "Team of the Century" and although Gary never had any children of his own, his younger brother Glenn and nephews Matthew and Daniel have continued the Benstead name at "The Butchers"
Gary is survived by his wife Lyn and the thoughts and condolences of NDCC are extended to her and the entire Benstead family on this sad day.
R.I.P. - Gary John Benstead, November 27, 1947 to July 12, 2011
RELATED LINKS
Gary Benstead
Glenn Benstead
Matthew Benstead
Daniel Benstead
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