The Bear Essentials

Fast bowler Tim Brookes on the road from Kalgoorlie, 300 First Grade wickets, bowling Michael Hussey in a grand final, proposing at the awards night and life as Chairman of Selectors.

Gary "GI" Ireland, the club's leading run-scorer, on arriving from Collie in 1977, captaining Bayswater Morley to its first First Grade flag in 1985-86 and a decade in the WA state squad.

Bob Massie, the club's first Test cricketer, on filling in as scorer and ending up in fourth grade, the plan behind his 16 wickets on debut at Lord's, and a long career behind the ABC microphone.

Former Australian and WA keeper-batter Ryan Campbell on premierships at Bayswater Morley, playing behind Adam Gilchrist, an accidental international coaching career and surviving a cardiac arrest in 2022.

Life member Mel O'Neil, who turned 100 in May, looks back on 11 years as First Grade captain, 20 years as Secretary and WACA delegate, and how he kept Bassendean Bayswater alive through its toughest years.