The Start Of HEART

It is no secret that last season was a difficult one for the club.

During the off-season I was invited to share my thoughts on where we were at.

The club also reached out to people from different areas of the club to share their perspective.

Together we met for the first time on a cold Tuesday night to ask ourselves some deeper questions:

What does it mean to be a Bay person?

What role has the club played in the lives of people?

We knew we had to get close to the truth, even if the truth turned out to be uncomfortable.

A Little Bit About Me

Thirty years ago, I came to this club as an 11-year-old. 

This place is so much more than where my cricket journey began. It’s where I played for a decade with my brother. And where my closest friends became family. To tell you the truth, it’s home to many of the best memories and forever moments of my life.

From that first game under 11s in '97, through every grade, to representative cricket - this club shaped who I am. And now, standing here as your captain, I'm reminded that we're not just teammates. We're not seniors versus juniors, or first grade versus fifth grade. We're generations of families, decades of friendships, one history and one unbreakable bond.

The thing about this place is it teaches you what really matters - effort. Effort is free. Every time we cross that white line, we choose. Are we going to give absolutely everything for the club that gave us everything, or aren't we?

When I walk onto this field this season as First Grade Captain, I carry thirty years of memories, my family's legacy, my mates beside me. I might not know what the next ball will bring, but I know I'm giving 100% of everything I have - for all of you, for this place that's home.

That's our standard this season. We can't fail when we give everything for each other.

The Invincible Sam Loxton

“Eleven Loxtons would defeat the world – at anything.” - John Arlott, famous English cricket commentator.

“No one put more into cricket than Sam did, both on the field and off it, and no one took less out of it.” - Neil Harvey, Australian Test cricket legend and fellow Invincible.

Everything Sam Loxton did in life was at full throttle. As a fielder he hurtled himself across boundary ropes unconcerned for his safety. He cracked jokes around the Queen. In addition to being a Test cricketer, Sam played aussie rules football for St Kilda, became an Australian cricket selector and was later on a member of parliament in Victoria.

Sam believed there were things bigger than himself.

Sam’s heart, unique mindset and one-of-a-kind life helped guide us through this process.

To think about where we were going, we had to think about where we came from.

Introducing HEART 🧡💙 

“Let someone else praise your virtues’ - Unknown

“Collective character is vital to success. Focus on getting the culture right, the results will follow.” - Vince Lombardi, Superbowl-winning coach

We are proud to introduce Bay HEART — a set of guiding values and principles that will shape who we are as a club, both on and off the field.

These values are the foundation of our culture. They represent how we train, how we play, how we treat each other, and how we carry ourselves in the wider community.

We’ve built it on a bedrock of humility.

Humility doesn’t mean weakness, but its opposite.

Let us share what Bay HEART is all about:

H is for Humility

No matter how many runs we score or wickets we take, we play with humility. Cricket is a game that keeps you grounded — one ball can change everything. At Runaway Bay, we win with grace, and we lose with dignity.

E is for Enjoyment

We play cricket because we love it. From juniors just learning the game to seniors chasing one last flag, the joy of cricket should never fade. We want every person involved — players, families, supporters — to feel that spark, that fun, every weekend.

A is for Ambition

We dream big — and we’re not afraid to say it. Whether it’s pushing for a return to 1st Grade finals within three years, or becoming the best junior development program on the coast, we’re moving forward with intent.

R is for Respect

Respect is non-negotiable. We respect our history, teammates, coaches, umpires, opponents, board and committee members and the game itself. Cricket is built on fairness and integrity, and we honour those traditions proudly.

T is for Teamwork

Nobody wins alone. Whether you're batting, coaching, scoring, flipping snags, or driving kids to training , we do it together. Because this is more than a cricket club — it's a family.

Better People Make Better Bay Members

‘Our mission is to become the best and most respected family cricket club in the country.’

People say we lack the financial resources of the other clubs. Well they’re right.

But we have an unfair advantage over our them, we have thousands on our team.

The hardworking people who have helped build our club brick-by-brick since 1978.

The members, families, volunteers, community, fans and supporters: we care for each other, and together we are the Bay.

The Bay is all of us. It’s a promise that we will all strive to lift up those around us, to help us collectively stand taller — on and off the field.

Over the coming days we will be releasing a new Code Of Conduct.

Culture is not a set of ideas or values. It’s a set of behaviours and actions.

With this new direction comes a clear expectation: our values are to be lived, not just spoken.

It’s our fresh start and line in the sand moment.

Thanks,

Darran Greene

Club Captain