IT was a monumental celebration for a monumental man in Red Cliffs cricket.
Brendan “Dinga” Bell is a certified legend of the Red Cliffs Cricket Association and Nursery Ridge Cricket Club threw him a well-deserved 80th birthday bash on Saturday.
Little did he know his best surprise present would come when he realised Ridge’s entire B Grade was made up of his grandchildren.
A huge 13 of Bell’s 14 grandchildren snuck back home from across the country to play for the club he loves against South West at the home turf of the ‘Onion Patch’ at Quandong Park.
While South West didn’t stick to the script by claiming a six-wicket win, the feel-good atmosphere could not be quelled in celebration of the life-member of both Ridge and the RCCA.
Bell is a significant name in the history of the RCCA. He is a long-time former president, the B Grade best and fairest award bears his name and in 2021, he was celebrated by Cricket Victoria for 50 years of service to the game.
Bell’s son Jason said it isn’t often his dad is “lost for words”, but he enjoyed the celebration.
“It was an idea we had probably at the end of footy season and it just kind of all snowballed from there,” he said.
“The grandkids are all fairly well spread across the country but aside from the one in Perth who couldn’t make it back, everyone was on board straight away.
“It’s not too often the old boy is lost for words. He was very quiet to start with but you just saw this big smile come across his face.
“We just spent the day down at the Ridge rooms and dad did what he loves most which was watching cricket, and being surrounded by the grandkids.”
Nursery Ridge president Craig Parker said it was a “no-brainer” to get on board with the idea.
“It was a top weekend,” he said, “‘Dinga’ knew about the day but wasn’t aware that the grandkids would be playing and he was rapt.
“The weather played its part it was a great atmosphere and good for him to see plenty of people he hadn’t seen for a while.”
RCCA secretary Geoff Christensen said it was a great celebration for the well-respected Bell.
“It was a feelgood moment, the place was packed out and it was a tremendous atmosphere in celebration of a great man,” he said.
“I had to organise the teams with Jason as there were a few things that had to be shuffled around, but in all it ended up being a very competitive game that was still played for points.
“A big thank you as well to South West who played the game in great spirit.”
