WITH seven life memberships, Albury's Joe Wooding left a huge imprint on the Border before he passed away on Thursday night.
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Wooding, who died after a short battle with cancer aged 82, had strong links with many organisations with cricket his No.1 passion.
The Order of Australia Medal recipient was a life member of the East Albury Cricket Club, Albury and Border Cricket Association, Cricket Albury-Wodonga, Murray Border Cricket Umpires Association and Murray Cricket Council.
He was also honoured by the Jindera Football Club and Albury-Wodonga and District Orchid Club.
Long-time cricket opponent, teammate and confidante Garry Purtell said Wooding was his rock during their many Melbourne Country Week and O'Farrell Cup campaigns together as captain and manager.
"Joe was my mentor as far as rep cricket went," Purtell said.
"He taught me virtually everything I know.
"Joe was always very switched on, a step ahead of most and understood the finer points of the game."
Wooding played in the Albury and Border Cricket Association for 29 years, was a selector for 20 years, umpire for 26 years and Albury Sportsground curator for 12 years.
Two moments stood out.
Wooding's playing career was highlighted by captaining East Albury to a first grade premiership in 1974-75 with a team that included six under-17s.
As manager, he oversaw the association's representative team which won the provincial grand final at the MCG in 1990.
The win completed a hat-trick of titles
Wooding was also manager when Albury and Border equaled Cootamundra's O'Farrell Cup record of 26 straight victories.
Purtell admitted Wooding's patience was tested by many Albury and Border cricketers during his 20 years as manager.
"He was a pretty hard task master who took his cricket very seriously," Purtell said.
"It probably got up our nose on occasions but we always respected him for it.
"Joe wasn't a drinker and we had blokes like Barton (Rod), Steve Wilson and myself in the group which made things interesting from time to time.
"On one occasion he said: 'how good could you blokes be if you didn't drink."
Mr Wooding's other greats interests were orchids and local history.
He was vice-president of the Albury-Wodonga Historical Society and penned his most recent column to The Border Mail on the Billson family only a fortnight ago.
Wooding spent hundreds of hours compiling a book, 150 Not Out 1858-2007 Cricket in Albury-Wodonga, which was launched by former Test cricketer Steve Rixon.
"Joe was committed, passionate and believed in doing things properly," society president Greg Ryan said.
"He had a great love of history, particularly local history.
"His contributions to the researching and recording of that history will always be part of his legacy."
