Peter Burke became a Life Member of Burnside West Christchurch University Cricket Club at the 2012 Annual General Meeting. Peter is only the 26th life member in the club’s 108-year history. Peter began with the club in the 1993/94 season when he enrolled his young sons William and Freddie. Within a week of joining, he had not only become a coach but a committee member.
In 1995/96 Peter became convenor of Burnside Junior Cricket. In 1996/97 with pressure being placed on grounds for over 50 junior teams and the need for coaching for young members, Peter saw an opportunity for the club to initiate Friday night cricket. After a positive response to the idea, the first season of Friday night cricket was carried out in 1997/98 with over 230 players participating. Friday night cricket turned into a real social event with cricket being played accompanied by BBQ’s and drinks, a great community
spirit prevailed.
Peter also helped lead the introduction of a 15 overs a-side modified version of cricket to be played on Monday nights. This modified version was played with short boundaries and an indoor cricket ball and can be seen as a big influence in the change to modified junior cricket in Christchurch.1997-1999 Peter was a Canterbury Junior Cricket Association Junior selector. Until 1998 the junior club committee took no active role in the decision-making or finances of the overall club. For the club to move forward both areas had to be united so that all stakeholders in the club could take an active role on the committee. The vote
for change was carried. Peter’s two main areas of responsibility became Junior Convenor and club funding.
2000/01 saw the introduction of Have a Go cricket which Peter was heavily involved in. The club was the second in the country to undertake the programme. In 2000-2005 Peter was the Christchurch Red South Island Primary School team manager and in 2001/02 he coached the Burnside West Christchurch University Cricket Club Junior Premier team.
From 2002 to 2005 Peter was President of Christchurch Junior Cricket. However he still took anactive role in the club, coaching and organising the year 6, 7 and 8 Western Zonal tournament teams, who played before and after Christmas at Burnside Oval.
In 2003/04, with the lack of grounds and unfavourable cricket wickets, Peter saw the need for junior cricket to be played on artificial wickets and was a key factor in the transition from turf. Peter took a six month break from cricket in 2005 due to family reasons but was back on the 1st October coaching Friday night cricket once more. Since 2006, Peter has once again been Junior Cricket Convenor. In 2008 Peter re-joined the club committee to look after junior cricket and club funding.
In 2010/11 Peter introduced coloured clothing for junior cricketers. In 2011/12 Tom Latham became the first Friday night cricketer to make the BLACKCAPS.
Peter Burke – cricket administration career summary to date:
- New Zealand Cricket Sir Jack Newman award winner 2015-16
- Coached at Burnside West Christchurch University Cricket Club from 1993-2002 and from 2005 to the present day
- Served on Burnside West Christchurch University Cricket Club committee 1993-2002 and from 2008 to the present day
- Convenor of Burnside Junior Cricket from 1995-2005 and from 2006 to present day
- Pioneer of Friday night Cricket and Monday night modified cricket from 1997
- Canterbury Junior Cricket Association Junior selector from 1997-1999
- Held the responsibility of club funding from 1998-2005 and from 2008 to the present day
- Pioneer of Have-A-Go Cricket from 2000
- Christchurch Red South Island Primary School team manager from 2000-2005
- President of Christchurch Junior Cricket Association from 2002-2005
- Key factor in 2003/2004 for the Burnside West Christchurch University Cricket Club Junior sides transitioning to artificial cricket pitches
- Burnside West Christchurch University Cricket Club
Life Member - At the end of 2017 Peter and Dianne moved across the ditch to live in Brisbane to be with their son’s bringing to an end a commitment to volunteering to our club unlikely to be matched.