How tragedy impaired the life of a giant: Vale Allen Summerfield

THE saddest thing about Cobra’s passing isn’t that he will no longer be with us.

And certainly, Allen Summerfield will be sorely missed by his two families, the Summerfields and the Korumburra Cricket Club, and beyond them, the whole community.

In fact, fellow ‘Cobra’s Legend’ Darren Scott posted this on Facebook this week to advise local cricketers of Allen’s passing:

“To all the Cobra Family, it is with a heavy heart that I bring to you the sad news of the passing of our club Legend Allen Summerfield overnight. Allen’s contribution to our club will be irreplaceable, but most importantly he was a great person, and will be sadly missed around the rooms. The chats about cricket, footy or watching a race on a Saturday will never be the same again. Rest in Peace Cobra.”

And the club has already had an initial get-together on Wednesday night to share its grief and provide support.

No, the saddest thing about Allen Summerfield’s death last Tuesday night, and we can say it now because he’s no longer with us, is the tragedy of his life, what he missed out on and what we didn't get to enjoy with him.

Here was a bloke, a loveable local larrikin and highly talented sportsman, cut down at the absolute top of his game by a freak accident, on his way to play representative cricket, in which he suffered an injury to the C4-5 section of his spinal cord, confining him to a wheelchair for the rest of his life.

It was the worst possible outcome for a bloke like that who absolutely lived to compete and to play with his mates, on the back of a season when he won just about everything there was to win in the Leongatha and District Cricket Association, including cricketer of the year.

In fact, he was on his way to repeating the dose when the accident happened.

There had already been two A Grade Premierships, the most recent in the 1983-84 season, and with Cobra one of several leading lights of the local competition in the team, more flags would certainly have flown Korumburra’s way.

But like Allen, the club had suffered a severe setback.

Even at 60 years of age, he might still have been playing, especially if he thought he could impart some knowledge, be an example to a young group, or maybe to help an inexperienced team.

It was a long time before Cobra could re-emerge after the tragedy of that incident, to put his life back into some sort of order after battling through the aftermath and the mental scars, but re-emerge he did, to devote his life to the Korumburra Cricket Club, and them to him.

It’s what sustained him, what he lived for, and he’s left an enormous legacy, which is there for all to see, not just in the improved facilities at the Korumburra Rec, including a superb turf wicket, but also in the standing of the club, restored as one of the leading organisations in the LDCA and country cricket.

There’ll be a lot more said about the great Allen ‘Cobra’ Summerfield, what a terrific bloke he was, what a great cricketer he had been, and what a fiercely principled administrator he was right up until his death and about his selfless contribution to the club, the association, the sport and the community at large.

But suffice to say that despite his affliction, and his battles with it, he leaves this place all the better for his own efforts and you can ask no more than that from anyone.

Editor's note: We were asked to correct the spelling of Cobra's name from Allan to Allen.

Funeral arrangements

The Funeral Service for Allen Victor Summerfield will be held at the Korumburra Cricket Club, Richard Street Reserve, Korumburra on Tuesday, December 12, commencing at 11am.

At the conclusion of the service, the funeral will leave for the Korumburra Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Korumburra Cricket Club would be appreciated.