Kathy Campbell: North Sydney's 49th Life Member

UTS North Sydney District Cricket Club | July 08, 2025

In July 2022, Kathy Campbell was unanimously elected as the 49th Life Member of the North Sydney District Cricket Club, recognising well over a decade of service to the Bears, which has not dimmed since! Here we reproduce the speech from the 2022 AGM where Sarah Berman recommended Kathy for Life Membership.

This is quite a personal one for me, as Kathy was the first person from the club that I met when I was looking for somewhere to score, we’ve spent countless hours putting the world to rights in her car on the way to matches, and she’s basically become a second mum to me as I live 17,000km from my close family.

But of course, Kathy’s contribution to my life is not the reason we are proposing her election to life membership of this illustrious club. But it is but one example of the generosity and hospitality that she is known for across the Bears.

In 2006, a young quick by the name of James Campbell joined the Bears’ Green Shield squad from our junior club, and North Sydney District Cricket Club gained one of its all-time great volunteers in his mum, Kathy. Since then, Kathy has served the club in a host of roles, including eight years and counting on the committee, four years as a delegate to the SCA, organiser of countless events including presentation evenings, and a key contributor to fundraising, including raising tens of thousands of dollars of sponsorship.

Just as importantly, she has been the queen of the canteen through James’s 11-year First Grade career to date, with a reputation far and wide for the best chicken burgers in Sydney Grade Cricket. North Sydney hospitality is known and appreciated by players and umpires alike, and that’s all thanks to Kathy and nothing being too much trouble for her… especially when it comes to umpires, because you never know if that cookie she provides before play might make a difference when there’s a close lbw shout off James’s bowling!

While James is certainly the reason for Kathy’s involvement and commitment to the club, and her pride in his achievements on the pitch is immense, her influence and contribution reach far wider, and her passion for the club is boundless. She will always travel to away First Grade games and run a canteen for home games when James is out injured, she ensures we have top-notch catering for any grade’s home finals, she sorts all the supplies for Bon Andrews and Tunks Park, and treats all of our players like they are her sons.

Her efforts coordinating countless events have been enjoyed by us all, and her significant contribution to the club’s fundraising has made a huge difference to our financial situation and the budget we have to spend on coaching and gear.

Kathy has been one of the club’s most tireless and dedicated servants over the past decade, and it gives me great pleasure to formally recommend her for life membership.

BeaconPoint Club Clips  - Paul Ryan introduces the Captains Circle in BeaconPoint Cricket