Robbie Aitken - a truly dedicated servant of the game
UTS North Sydney District Cricket Club | June 23, 2025
In March this year, Cricket NSW announced the inaugural winners of its Distinguished Service Awards, honouring 43 volunteers who have made significant contributions to cricket for more than 25 years. One of the 43, and indeed the first on the alphabetical list, was our own Robbie Aitken. In Robbie's case, the award recognises well over 30 years as a player, coach of our women's teams, and advocate of the game amongst everyone he crosses paths with. We are so fortunate that Robbie is a Bear, and congratulate him on this immensely well-deserved award.
We share below Robbie’s nomination for the award, compiled and submitted by Club Secretary, Sarah Berman.
Robbie has played First Grade cricket for over 30 years, with his most recent appearance at the top grade a year ago at the age of 48. He is the only player in history to have played over 500 matches at Premier Cricket First Grade level in Australia. He played in the NSW U19 and U21 sides before earning a NSW 2nd XI selection. He has won the Bill O’Reilly Medal for the best player in Sydney Grade Cricket and the Michael Bevan medal for player of the one-day final. He has been a premiership player at the club, played in numerous finals matches, and scored over 11,000 runs and taken over 600 wickets in First Grade. However, there's a lot more to Robbie than the extraordinary numbers.
What won’t turn up in the record books is the grace with which Robbie carries himself in all elements of life at the Bears. There is not a player, volunteer or club supporter Robbie won’t chat to. He’ll celebrate a ball well bowled in the nets whether it is delivered by a First Grader or the newest of Green Shield players. He will also brightly commentate a well struck drive if you’re foolish enough to feed him a straight half-volley. Robbie’s humility makes the club environment more pleasant to be around and his wisdom is available to anyone who wants to ask. He has also been an active clubman, helping lead the team when required and going above and beyond to help get the club in the press.
Robbie is always generous with his time. In the last couple of years when no longer being selected regularly for First Grade, Robbie has committed himself fully to playing at Second Grade level, including several matches as captain, and mentoring talented young players coming through that grade.
In recent years, Robbie has also been a key member of the coaching team for our women's squad, of which both his daughters are members. He does this on a voluntary basis, committing time to Wednesday evening training and Sunday matches, on top of his own Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday commitments. In this role, Robbie has shared his knowledge with many young players, many of whom are playing NSW pathways cricket, and always done so with a smile and imparting the importance of enjoying the game.
Robbie celebrates our 2023/24 Women's Second Grade premiership with elder daughter, Emily, who played in the team
Robbie is an extraordinary role model for young cricketers of achievement, longevity and enjoyment of the game. This would be the case just looking at his immense career on the pitch, but his active giving of his time to anyone he shares a net or pitch with amplifies it several times over. I can say with confidence there are scores of UTS North Sydney players, male and female, who have been inspired by Robbie to work hard and keep playing the game.
Robbie's humility means he is not overly comfortable with press attention (so perhaps he won’t love me for this!), but he has always been willing to be featured in the press when asked, in order to promote the Bears and the game. This applied in particular to when he reached the 500 First Grade appearances milestone, with coverage in the Sydney Morning Herald, The Australian, The Daily Telegraph, the Fox Sports website and the Grade Cricketer podcast.
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