OUR
History
The origins of The Taverners was the brainchild of a group of cricket-loving thespians who habitually watched cricket from the Tavern at Lord’s Cricket Ground in London. In 1950 this club was named The Lord’s Taverners and registered as a charity dedicated to the promotion of cricket among young people who were disadvantaged or disabled.
The Lord’s Taverners Australia was founded in 1982 by John Darling (a direct descendant of Australia’s 10th Test captain, Joe Darling). After some discussion, it was agreed that the new organisation would be separate from the parent body with the only official link being a common 12th man – HRH Prince Phillip (dec.).
Victorian Branch formed
Taverners Victoria was the second branch formed after NSW, also in 1982. We are one of 11 Branches operating across Australia.
Each has its own Executive and Committee, acts within broad national guidelines but is free to implement its own programs to support locally defined objectives. We also contribute towards major National programs along with all the other Branches.
The inaugural Victorian Executive comprised of President Sir Bernard Callinan, Chairman John MacKinnon and Secretary Andrew Buckle. Committee members included Life Members Sheila Scotter AM MBE, Jim Thompson OAM and Keith Burnham, as well as Frank Tyson and Cdr Mike Parker CVO.
Numbers were allocated to members in the custom of the parent body and were jealously guarded; they could never be reallocated to other members.
The first Boxing Day Breakfast was in 1982 with guest speakers Henry Blofeld and Max Walker. About 70 were in attendance. England won the Test by three runs.
Other events included the famous indoor cricket match at the Regent Hotel, the inaugural cricket match against the MCC XXIX Club and various fund raising cocktail parties.
Funds raised were directed towards the Lord Mayor's Camp at Portsea (provision of cricket pitches and equipment) and also the Victorian School for Deaf Children.
n July 1984 Melbourne hosted the first National Council meeting at Gordon Place. Those present included John Darling (National Chairman), John Varley (Chief Executive and Secretary) and delegates from WA (2), QLD (2), NSW (2) and VIC (Messrs MacKinnon and Tyson).
At this meeting, it was agreed that a National Newsletter should be produced in the form of a magazine, to be edited by Frank Tyson. This annual publication, The Taverner, was maintained up until the mid 2010s and provides a valuable and vivid record of The Lord's Taverners activities post 1984.
Taverners Victoria heavily supported a State wide cricket carnival for All Abilities players at Casey Fields for many years, which was a precursor to the National Cricket Inclusion Championships.
Inaugural Ambassador
In 2016 we welcomed Rodney Hogg as our Inaugural Ambassador for the Victorian Taverners.
TAVERNERS
Australia
Taverners Australia are a federated, autonomous organisation with approximately 2,500 members. Since inception the Taverners have raised and disbursed more than $13.5 million in cash and kind, with current disbursements of cash alone in the order of $300,000 annually.
For over 40 years Taverners Australia have supported the deaf, blind, intellectually impaired, indigenous and young girls to play sport and in particular cricket. We “Give a Sporting Chance” by providing financial support directly to these groups to allow them to actively participate in cricket and other sports – generally at a grass roots level.
In 2017, Taverners Australia was proudly appointed as the Official Charity Partner of Cricket Australia.
In that same year we established The Tavs Foundation Ltd. with DGR status, which allows donations of $2 or more into the Fund to be tax deductible.
OUR
Vision
To be the premier cricket-based charity in Australia, supporting those less able in the community to improve their lives by sporting participation and inclusion.
OUR
Objectives
- To be recognised as “The” cricket charity of choice in Australia.
- To establish a celebrity ambassador program to generate continuous positive publicity.
- To develop a public relations and marketing program that optimises the image of Taverners Australia as the premier cricket charity.
- To generate funds of at least $1 million per annum for distribution to our beneficiaries
- To create an enjoyable fund-raising program of events and corporate partners through our branch network to achieve our financial objectives and provide our publicity and profile objectives.
- To enhance our profile nationally, construct national partnerships and enable the benefits to flow through to local branches.
- To establish new Branches in regional Australia to increase membership and fund-raising capacity.
- To construct a rationale that defines how we distribute donations.
- To maximise fund-raising activities during each Ashes series, recognising that our links with the UK are unique parts of our history.
