Speech
Wanderers vs. Governor-General's XI Cricket Match
May I begin by greeting everyone in the languages of the Realm of New Zealand, in English, Māori, Cook Island Māori, Niuean, Tokelauan and New Zealand Sign Language.
Greetings, Kia Ora, Kia Orana, Fakalofa Lahi Atu, Taloha Ni and as it is afternoon [sign].
May I specifically greet you: Trevor McMahon and Chris Taylor, Patron and President respectively of the Wanderers Cricket Club and fellow committee and life members; Mike Quigg, President of Cricket Wellington; Roger Moses and Murray Lucas, Headmasters of Wellington and Tawa Colleges respectively; Distinguished Guests otherwise; ladies and gentlemen.
It has been with pleasure that my wife Susan and I have accepted the invitation to be here to join in the luncheon during the annual Wanderer’s Cricket Club versus the Governor-General’s College XI fixture.
I want to take an opportunity to speak about the great game of cricket, my personal affinity with it, and specifically, its role in the development of New Zealand’s young people.
I am one who played cricket for both school and club teams with a great deal more enthusiasm than skill. But that early involvement has made cricket one of the New Zealand sporting codes I continue to follow devotedly, including these last days of the fevered ODI series against Pakistan in Dubai – won by Daniel Vettori and his colleagues in sterling fashion.
Cricket is a game which demands considerable skill and endurance of its players – particularly, dare I say it, when playing in the heat of an occasional good Wellington summer’s day. Cricket baffles those who don’t follow its intricacies. “Baffled” seems the correct word to describe the reaction of someone not used to cricket being made to realise for the first time that a “leg-break” is not a sinister manoeuvre designed to cripple an opponent or that a “square cut” is not a selection of prime beef or that a “bouncer” is not a muscular door attendant and a “googly” is not a sweet that you might buy in an Indian shop. Cricket remains a great pastime valuing and promoting, also, camaraderie, teamwork, and focus. These attributes can be applied in sport, but also in business and in the community generally.
One of my predecessors, as Governor-General, from nearly 50 years ago, was Viscount Cobham. He was a keen cricketer and sportsman and spoke about cricket on a number of occasions in his term. When speaking to a Sportsmen’s Luncheon in Wellington in 1961, he described well the importance of values learnt while participating in sport when he said the following:-
“There is a profound truth in ...the healing and strengthening effect of games, not only on the young but on every age. For sport is a great character-former. It teaches that self-control should always precede self-expression, and that gracious acceptance of defeat is the gold to victory’s silver.”
Although no one ever plays to lose, loss is a reality that one of the teams has to face at the culmination of the game itself – unless, of course, there is a draw. Accepting defeat and holding your head high is a virtue that will always be valuable; not only in sport, but in many other aspects of your life.
It is through our defeats, as much as our successes that we learn and develop our character. In doing so, we are much better equipped to face the challenges of life, family, business and careers.
Lord Cobham, once more, and speaking at another sports occasion, said as follows:
“Cricket at its best is played with opponents, not against them.”
Through my fondness for cricket, I am delighted to offer support for these annual matches between the Wanderers Cricket Club and some of Wellington’s finest college players who form the Governor-General’s XI. Normally these matches can be staged at the famous Basin Reserve. However given the upcoming Black Caps versus Pakistan test match being held on the Basin in just a few weeks time, relocation has been called for, just across the road, to the Wellington College grounds, also in their own right, a sanctuary for cricketers over the years.
I look forward to seeing you continue the game today. To the Wanderers, I congratulate you on putting up, as always, such a fine group for the Governor-General XI to compete against. To the Governor-General’s XI, I wish you all the best for your future, both on and off the cricket field.
Finally, and most importantly, I trust that you will not only play to win, but to play for your own enjoyment! Remember that while being victorious is the goal, having fun is the finest purpose of any good game.
On acknowledging the importance of getting most out of the game play, I will now close in our country’s first language, offering everyone greetings and wishing you all good health and fortitude in your endeavours.
No reira, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, kia ora, kia kaha, tēnā koutou katoa.