Vale Joe Wooding | 1938-2020

NSWCUSA Principal Member and Cricket Albury Wodonga Hall of Fame member Joe Wooding has passed away, aged 82.

A figure of the local cricketing community in Albury since 1953, Mr. Wooding’s first involvement was as a player; representing Newmarket, Jindera and East Albury over the span of a 29-year career – 21 seasons of which were spent at East Albury, with ten years as captain.

After retiring in 1982-82, he moved into umpiring, serving as an active official until the end of the 2005 season – during 26 seasons as an umpire, he was appointed to eight A Grade Grand Finals.

In the 1991-92 season, Mr. Wooding became a NSWCUSA member and was upgraded to Principal Member in 2008, recognising his significant contribution to officiating, both on field and administratively.

When NSWCUSA introduced Zone Umpire Representatives, he spent six years serving umpiring in the Riverina, from 1999 to 2005.

He also served on the Executive of many of the region’s cricket associations, including as President of the Murray Cricket Council for 12 years, Vice President of the Albury & Border Cricket Association for 12 years and a tenure as Vice President of North East Zone 8.

His off-field contribution to cricket also included 12 years as the curator at Albury Sportsground.

Mr. Wooding was recognised as a Life Member of seven local associations, five of which are cricketing bodies; East Albury Cricket Club, Albury & Border Cricket Association, Cricket Albury Wodonga, Murray Border Cricket Umpires and the Murray Cricket Council.

In 2017, he was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia for services to cricket and the community.

Mr. Wooding passed away on Thursday 6 February, 2020.

A funeral service will be held to celebrate Mr. Wooding’s life at 1.30pm on Thursday 13 February at St Matthew’s Anglican Church, 516 Kiewa St, Albury.

Photo – Joe Wooding in front of Albury & Border’s Country Week Pennant (Credit: The Border Mail)