Toronto Workers Kookaburra’s History

Southern Lakes District Cricket Club was formed in 1959 when a group of local players decided to form a district club based at Awaba.

Southern Lakes DCC has produced many representative players, including 2 Australian Test Cricketers,

Robert “Dutchy” Holland, debuting at the Gabba, Brisbane, in the 1984/85 season against Clive Lloyd's West Indies and Paul "Blocker" Wilson in the 1997/98 season against Sachin Tendulkar's Indians in Calcutta, India. Robert Holland has the distinction of playing test cricket while playing grade cricket with Southern Lakes.

Paul Wilson played for Australia whilst playing Pura Cup (formerly Sheffield Shield) for the Southern Redbacks.

Paul also had 2 seasons with the Western Warriors. Paul became the first cricketer from the Newcastle competition to attend the Commonwealth Bank Cricket Academy in South Australia.

Recently, the Club has undergone a name change to Toronto Workers Kookaburras.

The Club has produced several New South Wales Country players and numerous Newcastle District Representative players at both Junior and Senior levels.

Over the years, Toronto Workers Kookaburras has been home to many outstanding sportsmen. These include:

First Class cricketers: Robert Madden (NSW), Mark Nicholas (Hampshire, England 2nd X1Capt)

Bruce Patterson (Scotland), Tim Caban (QLD) Aadil Somani (Wellington, Northern Districts, NZ &

Nottinghamshire UK) 

Australian Soccer Representatives: Darren Stewart, Mark Jones, Jobe Wheelhouse & Robert Madden 

Golf: Wayne Stewart - World Junior Golf No.3

Rugby League: Michael Oliveira – Newtown, Neville Elwin – Manly (Sydney),

Glen Randell - NSW Country, Peter Alexander – NSW Country.

Life Members: John O’Brien 1971, Robert Holland 1978, Graeme Jenkinson 1982

Gary Pinches 1986, Greg Singleton 1988, Steven Woodbridge 1988, Robert Hertogs 1988

Wayne Hackett 1997, Allan Collins 1997, Matthew Wagstaff 2000, Tony Parker 2000

Geoff Smith 2000, Warwick Elliott 2000, Roger Black 2007, Matthew Jardine 2007

Alan Nichols 2007 & Rodney Mudford 2007

Toronto Workers Kookaburras 1st and 2nd grades are based at JR Hill Oval, Straight Drive, Toronto. The 3rd and 4th grade sides are base at Awaba Oval, Olney St, Awaba.

Southern Lakes Life Member John O’Brien – Wicket Keeping