Diamond day for Cyclones

Redcliffe City Cyclones, one of Moreton Bay’s oldest junior cricket clubs, is celebrating “60 incredible years”.

The club will mark its diamond anniversary at Filmer Park on Saturday with a “special night” to honour the club’s history, players and community.

There will be children’s entertainment, live music and a bar from 5.30-10pm at the Woody Point cricket ground. Food has to be pre-ordered.

It will be another landmark for a club which, since its first meeting at Kippa-Ring State School in August 1965, has seen thousands of players pass through its ranks.

Barry Smith, who was president for 16 years, said numbers vary year-on-year but at one stage the club had two teams in all nine age grades from 8 to 16 years.

“It’s all about the kids - always has been,” Barry said, “seeing them playing cricket with smiles on faces.

“Both my boys went through the club and one is still playing cricket with his mates from 20 years ago. Don’t know too many clubs can boast that.”

On Barry’s watch, Redcliffe City Junior Cricket Club became Redcliffe City Cyclones, to follow naming trends and help marketing to young players

However, both club emblems have been retained to keep the historical links back to the organisation’s foundation.

Cyclones also introduced training shirts, started Super Six cricket on Friday nights and had youngsters playing on grass wickets at Filmer Park, rather than synthetic surfaces.

Regulations have also changed. Players must now wear helmets when batting and protective gear when fielding close to the batsman.

A number of famous players have also turned out for Cyclones including Nathan McSweeney, who is currently leading South Australia in the 2026 Sheffield Shield final.

The 27-year-old, tipped as a future Australian Test captain, played Father and Son cricket at Woody Point before going “over the bridge”.

Josh Brown, who stars in T20 cricket in Australia’s Big Bash League and for franchises in Canada, the US and India, also played for Cyclones.

Barry Stevenson, a Cyclones life member, said Brown, known for his big hitting, smashed a ball from the middle of Filmer Park into neighbouring Wharf St.

An emerging talent is bowler Phoebe Smith who has progressed from Cyclones and is now playing First Grade cricket with Sandgate-Redcliffe.

Barry Smith paid tribute to long-time secretary Darren Wheeler saying: “We just did everything to try and make it work here”.

“We were the most affordable club for fees in Brisbane North and I think that enabled a lot of families to have kids play soccer and cricket,” he said.

“I think the club is in good hands. Numbers may vary but it’s about playing sport.

“Kids may want to try something else, but as long as they come back to cricket, that’s good!”