Cricket legend Gary Adams awarded OAM in Australia Day honours
LEGENDARY Leongatha and District Cricket Association player and administrator Gary Adams is the worthy winner of just about every accolade the game can award including a 50-year service awarded by Cricket Victoria a couple of years ago.
LEGENDARY Leongatha and District Cricket Association player and administrator Gary Adams is the worthy winner of just about every accolade the game can hand out, including a 50-year service awarded by Cricket Victoria a couple of years ago.
But in the Australia Day Honours List for 2026, which recognises and celebrates the contribution of 949 Australians, Gary was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in the General Division for service to sport, and to the community.
His contribution to the sport both locally and at representative level is immense, and not just to cricket, but also includes football, basketball and a wealth of junior sports - wherever he was needed.
And, he also had a decorated career in education.
“I’ve been a great believer in the importance of getting involved in your local community and when Sharon and I moved here, we made it our business to get involved, not just as a way to meet people and make friends but also to make a contribution.
“And sport especially, is a great way for kids to get involved in their community, with a lot of life lessons on the way, and believing that, we had to get into it ourselves.
“Actually, I was back at the weekend, to celebrate the 35-year reunion of the first OMK premiership, in 1990-91, and it gives you the opportunity to look around and reflect on the terrific contributions made by a lot of people to the community.
“I was lucky that a few people got together a few years ago, when we decided we’d move to Melbourne to be closer to the family and also spend more time in Queensland, and did the work on making an application and I respect them for that.
“But really, there are a lot of people who deserve recognition and it would be good if more people could take the trouble to nominate people they know are deserving of that sort of recognition.”
These days Gary and his wife Sharon share their time between Buderim on the Sunshine Coast and at a unit in the Melbourne Docklands but he’s still involved in both the administration of cricket and playing the great game.
“I got to see the T20 semi-finals on Sunday but had to rush back to Melbourne because I was organising an over 80s game at Elsternwick Park on Monday. I’m the Over 70s director for Vets Cricket Victoria, which is about right because I’m in that age group.
“But yes, very humbling to get an award like this and I’d really like to thank those who put in the work to nominate me. And thanks to all those who’ve reached out,” he said.
His contribution includes but is not limited to the following:
Outtrim Moyarra Kongwak Cricket Club
- Secretary, 29 years
- Committee Member, 33 years
- Club Scoreboard named in his honour
- A Grade Captain, seven years
- Former Coach, Under 16s, 14s and 12s
- Three Best Clubman Awards
- Life Member
- Three A Grade premierships
Leongatha and District Cricket Association
- Secretary, 2003-2020
- Umpire, current
- Former Coach, U13 and U15s Representative teams
- Former Team Manager, Senior Country Week teams
- Life Member. Korumburra Indoor Cricket
- Organiser, indoor cricket competitions, early-1990s, 2017-2020
- Volunteer, drafting grant applications, current
Korumburra-Bena Football Netball Club
- Member, 2001-2004, 2010-2011
- Coach, 2nds, 2002
- Coach, 4ths, 2000-2001
- Member, Merger Committee, 1999-2000
- Former Club Tribunal Player Representative.
- Premiership coach U17s and U16s
Bena Football Club
- Secretary, 1999-2000
- Committee Member, 1997-2000
- Coach, 5ths, 1998-1999
- Coach, 3rds, 1985-1987
- Former Runner, Umpire, and Auskick Administrator
- Premiership player 1985
Alberton Football League
- Football Operations Manager, 2013-2016
- Director, Special Events and Publicity, 2013
Korumburra Basketball Association
- Member, Recreation Centre Committee, 2016-2021
- Junior Coach, 1987-1998
- Former Umpire
Education
- Liaison Principal, Gippsland Regional Officer, 2010
- Principal, Bass Valley Primary School, 2007-2010
- Assistant Principal, Mirboo North Primary School, 2004-2007
- Teacher, various other schools, 1977-2004
Other
- Secretary and Player, South Gippsland Veterans Cricket Club (over 60s), since 2018.
- Secretary, Victoria Veterans Cricket, since 2021
- Gardener, Korumburra Primary School, 2014-2017
- Member, Korumburra APEX Club, 1989-1996
- Head Teacher, Outtrim Primary School, early 1980s.
