Tomerong Past
1910 Tomerong Past Cricket TP2094
The Tomerong Cricket Team in the 1909-10 season. Back left to right - Joe Barham?, Walter Barham, Don Bryce, Edward (Charlie) Watt. Centre left to right - Jack Pepper, Thompson (Ken Thomson?), Jim Barham, Sam Pepper, Joe Canavan, Alf Pepper. Front left to right - Tom Walsh, Thompson (James Thomson?). (Tomerong Past, TP2094) Shoalhaven's doyen of local history, Alan Clark, wrote about Jack Pepper; "John Pepper 1889-1978, always known as "Jack", made a great contribution to Shoalhaven cricket both on and off the field, and was honoured with life membership at the Association's 1947-48 annual meeting. Cricket was in his blood, for his grandfather (also John) had played in Nottinghamshire prior to migrating to Australia in 1848. Born at Tomerong, young Jack started playing with that club at 15 years of age, and was a member of the junior premiership team in 1908-09. He soon developed into a stubborn right hand batsman and competent right arm off-spin bowler, and by 1913-14 he had attracted the attention of the representative selectors. He was to make regular appearances in these games over the next 10 years. As captain of the 1913-14 second grade premiership side, he made top score of 48 in the grand final, and took eight wickets in Cambewarra's first innings. Such was his keenness for the game, in this era he often walked the 14 miles from Tomerong for games in Nowra. Jack featured in two first grade grand finals with Far Meadow in the early 1920s taking 13 wickets against Pyree in 1920-21, and 6/37 against Currambene the following year, but his team went down each time. The next year he was back with Tomerong, but was again in the runner-up team against Currambene. In 1926-27 he joined the Perseverance club in Nowra, and the change brought a change of Luck, for he was a member of the team which won three successive premierships in the late 1920s, and a fourth in 1931-32. He was particularly prominent in 1928-29 when he scored 54 and 71 in the grand final. By this time, Jack had become more active in administration, and for more than a decade he was an association selector and delegate. At the SDCA annual meeting in 1939, a vote of thanks was recorded for his valuable service, and while with the Nowra club, he served two seasons as President. He played first grade until he was over 50 years of age (being in the 1939-40 grand final with Wandandian) and then in the lower grades until he was 60. At one stage he played for 33 years without missing a match. He also qualified as an umpire and acted in this capacity over many years. A lover of all types of sport, he also found time to be involved in athletics, tennis, rugby league, woodchopping, shooting, cycling and boxing."
1910 Tomerong Past Cricket TP2094
The Tomerong Cricket Team in the 1909-10 season. Back left to right - Joe Barham?, Walter Barham, Don Bryce, Edward (Charlie) Watt. Centre left to right - Jack Pepper, Thompson (Ken Thomson?), Jim Barham, Sam Pepper, Joe Canavan, Alf Pepper. Front left to right - Tom Walsh, Thompson (James Thomson?). (Tomerong Past, TP2094) Shoalhaven's doyen of local history, Alan Clark, wrote about Jack Pepper; "John Pepper 1889-1978, always known as "Jack", made a great contribution to Shoalhaven cricket both on and off the field, and was honoured with life membership at the Association's 1947-48 annual meeting. Cricket was in his blood, for his grandfather (also John) had played in Nottinghamshire prior to migrating to Australia in 1848. Born at Tomerong, young Jack started playing with that club at 15 years of age, and was a member of the junior premiership team in 1908-09. He soon developed into a stubborn right hand batsman and competent right arm off-spin bowler, and by 1913-14 he had attracted the attention of the representative selectors. He was to make regular appearances in these games over the next 10 years. As captain of the 1913-14 second grade premiership side, he made top score of 48 in the grand final, and took eight wickets in Cambewarra's first innings. Such was his keenness for the game, in this era he often walked the 14 miles from Tomerong for games in Nowra. Jack featured in two first grade grand finals with Far Meadow in the early 1920s taking 13 wickets against Pyree in 1920-21, and 6/37 against Currambene the following year, but his team went down each time. The next year he was back with Tomerong, but was again in the runner-up team against Currambene. In 1926-27 he joined the Perseverance club in Nowra, and the change brought a change of Luck, for he was a member of the team which won three successive premierships in the late 1920s, and a fourth in 1931-32. He was particularly prominent in 1928-29 when he scored 54 and 71 in the grand final. By this time, Jack had become more active in administration, and for more than a decade he was an association selector and delegate. At the SDCA annual meeting in 1939, a vote of thanks was recorded for his valuable service, and while with the Nowra club, he served two seasons as President. He played first grade until he was over 50 years of age (being in the 1939-40 grand final with Wandandian) and then in the lower grades until he was 60. At one stage he played for 33 years without missing a match. He also qualified as an umpire and acted in this capacity over many years. A lover of all types of sport, he also found time to be involved in athletics, tennis, rugby league, woodchopping, shooting, cycling and boxing."