MERRIMAN, Robert Frederick AM, 'Bob' Merriman, cricket administrator, the son of F Merriman, ‘Bob’ first attended North Geelong State School before commencing at Geelong College in 1944, first as a day student, but later, as a boarder, in 1953. When he started at College his family were living at Bell Parade, Drumcondra.
'Bob' Merriman.
He was a distinguished sportsman at School, a member of the 1st Football and 1st Cricket Teams in 1952 and Captain of both in 1953 as well as being a member of the cricket, football and tennis committees of 1953. In 1952, he participated in the School Relay Team. His cricket skills were such that he was awarded the W H Hill Memorial Cricket Trophy in 1953. While he clearly excelled at cricket he also dominated the School Tennis Competition winning both the Boys Open Singles and Doubles Championships in 1951 and 1952 and holding the F W Rolland Cup. In 1953, he again won the Doubles Tennis Championship. He had previously won the Mrs T S Hawkes Trophy in 1948 and 1949 for the Under 15 Tennis Champion. A keen supporter of his School House, ‘Rob’ was Calvert House Captain in 1953 and, like most students of his era a member of the Cadet Unit, in his case, as Sergeant of No 1 Platoon.
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'Bob' Merriman.
He commenced his career in cricket administration in 1958 as a committeeman with the Newtown and Chilwell Clubs and by the time of his appointment as the Manager of the Australian Test Team to tour India in 1979 he had become the longest serving President of the Geelong Cricket Association - a position he had then held from 1964 to 1976. Since that time, he has continued to hold a number of senior cricket administration positions including that of Secretary and President of the Victorian Country Cricket League 1978-1992; Commissioner of the Australian Industrial Relations Commission; Director, Cricket Victoria from 1992; President of Cricket Victoria from 1997 to August, 2007; Director, Cricket Australia since 1992; President of Cricket Australia from 2001 to October, 2005; and Governor of the Bradman Memorial Fund.
'Bob’ is a life member of the Geelong Cricket Association; the Victorian Country Cricket League and Cricket Victoria. As an Industrial Relations Commissioner he participated in six national wage case hearings during the period 1980 to 2000.. He also chaired the Building Industry Consultative Committee and chaired the Building Disputes Panel during the Premiership of Steve Bracks.
He has been recognised with many awards including the Australian Sports Medal in 2000; the Centenary Medal 2001 and Membership of the Order of Australia in 2003 for ‘service to cricket, particularly as an administrator with the Australian Cricket Board, the Victorian Cricket Association and the Victorian Country Cricket League’. In 2008 he was elected councillor and Mayor of the Borough of Queensclff Council.
'Bob' was inducted into the Old Geelong Collegians' Association (OGCA) Notables Gallery at Geelong College in October 2014.
Sources: Ad Astra June 1985. Geelong Advertiser 5 Dec,2008 p11; Geelong Independent 27 Nov 2009 p15; Geelong Advertiser 26 May 2012 p46; Ad Astra July 2014 p51. OGC 1948.