Gary Goodman Cricketer
Gary Weech Goodman was an Australian cricket player, who played for the Tasmania and South Australia. He was a right-handed batsman and occasional off break bowler who represented Tasmania from 1978 until 1980, before playing for South Australia from 1980–1983 and returning to play for Tasmania until 1992/93, playing his last representative match for Tasmania at age 39. He commenced his cricket career with the strong St George Cricket Club in Sydney at the age of 16, winning the prestigious Junior Cricketeter of the Year Award for four consecutive seasons. He also played in 23 Grand Finals winning 18 of the 23 and spanning a career from 1966 to 1992/93. He was famous for scoring a century in his very first match for Tasmania against Queensland at the Gabba in 1978 and a successful team member of the first Tasmanian Cricket Team to win a National Title in the Gillette Cup, and was seen as a potential Australian player. However, after a few inconsistent performances with both the bat and the ball and a seriuos head injury in 1985, he was overlooked for Test selection. His flashes of brilliance with an electrifying 123 runs against the formidable West Indies attack in 1985 were compounded by his disappointing batting average; only 25 runs per innings for an opening batsman. This didn't cut it for Australian selection, even if he had the ability to score the odd century and the odd half century every 4th innings. His academic (M. Ed, B. Ed. Dip Teach) and sport administration skills (AAMI, MAICD) saw senior administration and teaching roles with the Australian Sports Commission, New South Wales, Tasmanian and South Australian Education systems, Tasmanian and Australian Capital Territory Cricket Associations where he was instrumental in developing with the Australian Football League the new picturesque Manuka Oval and new Sir Donald Bradman Stand. He also played a major role as National Director of the powerful valuation and lobby group, The Australian Property Institute (2001–2002)and as National Project Manager for MAXIhomes Australia (2003–2005). Goodman is now a Senior Teacher of Health and Physical Education and Coach of the Associated Southern Colleges First X1 Premiership Cricket Team at historic Marist College Canberra, ACT Australia.