Ronald ‘Ron’ Wright (O.A.M.) – A Gem of An Administrator
Parramatta District Cricket Club | December 28, 2025
On Tuesday 27th July 2021 the Parramatta District Cricket Club members were stunned by the sudden death of Ron Wright the club’s iconic Secretary at the age of 89 years. Ron who had been battling worrying health issues over recent years but never let them interfere with his determination to ‘get on with the job’, was dressed and ready to venture into the office of his own surgery supply business for yet another day’s work, when he became ill and was rushed to Westmead Hospital where he sadly passed away.
Originating from Kent, England Ron Wright has been a monumental figure as an administrator for the Parramatta District Cricket Club, his unrelenting ‘off the field’ efforts and devotion ‘to the cause’ are legendary within both the Parramatta club circles and the Sydney Premier Cricket community, and place him in the forefront of the parade of splendid officials who have administered Parramatta over its long-lasting history.
An amiable and kind-hearted gentleman, he performed the ever-increasing duties of Honorary Secretary for 40 years, a club record for any official in a key administrative office. The timeframe of Ron’s reign covers the seasons – 1979/80 to 2020/21 – 1987/88 being the only season he wasn’t elected Secretary. Ron commenced his association with the Parramatta club in 1978/79 as Assistant Secretary - serving his apprenticeship prior to taking on the main role.
The term “Mr. Parramatta Cricket” applied well to Ron because there have been periods – especially in the late 1980’s and early 1990’s - when the club basically owed its continued existence to his energy, commitment and generosity. As proprietor of a Surgical Supply Company, Ron often used its resources to underpin the financial fortunes of the cricket club and continued to utilize them to facilitate the club’s admin and Cricket NSW compliance workloads.
What was amazing about Ron and his passion for the Parramatta Cricket Club is that he was never a cricketer, in his younger days in England he was a very keen Soccer goalkeeper, and it was only an involvement with his son’s junior cricket team that brought him to the game. Fortunately for Parramatta former first-grade captain Ross Shepherd was coach of that junior team and he recognised Ron’s potential as an administrator and lured him to the grade club.
Throughout the multitude of years of service that Ron gave to the club he demonstrated an amazing stamina and zeal for all aspects of the job. He rarely missed a Parramatta management meeting, attended all SCA delegates meetings, frequently attended local Junior Club presentations, he also attended affiliated club meetings (eg. Auburn Shires), was a key member of various fund-raising committees (eg. Sporting Luncheons, the Doug Walters Golf Classic), was ever-present on match days at Old Kings Oval and manned the canteen if needed, was always one of the first persons to arrive at mid-week practices, met with the Parramatta and Merrylands Park Trusts to cover issues with Old Kings and Merrylands Ovals, and maintained intra-club communications (eg. Website).
Ron was genuinely well-liked and appreciated by the members of the club, and the local wider cricket community, and his concern for the players’ welfare saw him provide valuable assistance and support to many needy individuals over his time as Secretary. To many of us he was an inspiration, who wouldn’t be inspired by a man of his advanced years ‘still rolling up his sleeves’ and ‘ploughing into the tasks’ of running his own company on a day-to-day basis and carrying out the operational duties of a NSW Premier Cricket Club secretary.
His outstanding service to the Parramatta District Cricket Club has been recognised and honoured by the receipt of the following prestigious awards:
· Life Membership of the Parramatta District Cricket Club.
· Life Membership of the New South Wales Cricket Association.
· Australian Sports Medal – awarded by the Federal Government in 2000.
· Order of Australia Medal (O.A.M.) in 2012.
Ron Wright, Greg Monaghan and Tom Wood enjoying Parramatta’s 2017/18 Belvidere Cup Win.
Ron’s ‘labour of love’ and his work ethic for the Parramatta District Cricket Club is epitomised in the old saying:
“No bruises no Crown”
Ron Wright was a great friend, and ‘One of the historic Parramatta District Cricket Club’s greatest-ever Clubmen.’
By Tom Wood – Parramatta District Cricket Club
