HAROLD STAPLETON 1915–2015 Eulogy
Harold Stapleton was Australia's oldest surviving first class cricketer, but was also a star tennis player and table tennis player, played representative rugby league, and played golf until he was 93.
Harold Vincent Stapleton was born in Kyogle on January 7, 1915, one of five children to Vincent Stapleton and his wife, Mary (nee Evans). He spent his boyhood on the family's dairy farm and, after winning a bursary, travelled into Lismore for high school, where his all round sporting talents began to blossom.
Stapleton played first grade cricket at 13, when he scored his first century. At 18 he scored a double century and represented the district at country week cricket in Sydney.
After leaving school, and before joining the Atlantic Oil Company, Stapleton was able to also display his rugby league skills when he represented Kyogle District. He was rated the number one fullback in Group 1, following the country week trials in 1933.
From 1935 to 1938, Stapleton was based in Lismore, where he had an outstanding career in cricket. He won both the club and inter district averages in both batting and bowling. In 1936 he played for Northern NSW against Gubby Allen's English touring team.
Stapleton was a tall left-handed allrounder. He was a punishing batsman with a fine array of shots on either side of the wicket. As a left arm medium paced bowler, maintaining accurate line and length, he could swing the ball both ways and was a classy fieldsman close to the wicket.
An injury during the 1936 season forced Stapleton's retirement from rugby league, so he took up tennis. In 1937 he won the Lismore District singles, doubles and mixed doubles titles.
When Stapleton transferred to Wollongong for work, he was able to travel to Sydney each weekend to play with the St George Club in the Sydney first grade cricket competition. He joined a powerful team that was captained by Bill O'Reilly and included Arthur Morris and Ray Lindwall. The captain rated it as one of the best teams ever to play in the Sydney competition and it won three seasons in a row.
Stapleton's strong grade performances attracted the attention of the NSW state selectors and he played a number of state second eleven matches before playing his only first class in Adelaide in 1941, where he was dismissed for a solitary run. However in the opinion of many good judges, he would have had more state opportunities if the war hadn't intervened.
In April 1941 Stapleton enlisted in the AIF and served in New Guinea. He represented the Army in an XI against Queensland and NSW.
In 1945, Stapleton married Bonnie Sheather. After the war, he returned to work for the oil company and resumed cricket in the Illawarra competition. At Keira club's 150th Anniversary dinner in 2011 Stapleton was named in the team of the club's first century.
Stapleton also found the time to continue his tennis career in Wollongong. From 1938 (with the exception of his years in New Guinea) he won district and south coast doubles titles each year until 1954 with Gordon Grant. He represented at country week until 1953 and was captain of the teams that won three titles in a row from 1951.
He was said to possess an awkward left hand and penetrating flat or kicking serve. His proficiency extended to table tennis, and he twice won Wollongong Doubles titles. In 1970 Stapleton became the first life member of the City Of Wollongong Tennis Club and earlier this year celebrated his 100th birthday at the club. He also played golf with the Wollongong Golf Club until he was 93.
The Stapletons did not have children but took a very loving and caring interest in the lives of their relatives, including many nieces and nephews. For most of his life, Stapleton maintained a strong and active interest in the Catholic church.
Stapleton's 100th birthday was acknowledged on the Test scoreboard during the New Year's Sydney test while he was watching the coverage in Wollongong.
Harold Stapleton is survived by his extended family. Bonnie died in 2009.
Written by Ron Johnston
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