IN 1968 when West Indies travelled to Australia under the stewardship of Gary Sobers, a young Myles Neri was following the series on his radio. The flamboyance of the visitors made him instantly attracted to the West Indies style of cricket and he developed a lifelong passion for our regional cricket team.

Neri, who was born in Australia to Indian/English parents, saw a number of West Indians play, including DCC cricketers, Lance Gibbs and Clive Lloyd.
One of his special memories was seeing Gibbs break Fred Trueman’s record in the 1975-76 tour of Australia. In his wildest dreams, Neri never believed that he could have helped to play a part to produce a new crop of players from Gibbs’s long-time club; so when the opportunity came, he took it. A meeting between him and president of the DCC, Roger Harper, another renowned West Indies cricketer, spurred Neri and the International SOS into action.

The world’s largest medical and travel security services firm, which is set to deliver medical emergency services for ExonMobil, has agreed to support the Queenstown club, commonly known as the “Home of Legends”.
Prior to the DCC’s annual award ceremony on Wednesday evening, Harper and the International SOS officially announced their partnership. Unfortunately, Neri, who serves as the Global Medical Director of the company, could not make it, so Senior Manager of Projects, Mark Jackson spoke on his behalf and read a prepared speech.

The International Organisation will outfit both the first division and second division teams and supply equipment, while assisting in other ways, including through a bursary for cricketers who excel academically.
At the award ceremony, they made their first set of bursary presentations.

NECESSARY SUPPORT
According to the DCC president, the club can only maintain its status with support.
“For a club like ours to continue on the path of success, to continue on the path of producing legends, we need to build relationships with corporate society, we need the support and that is why these relationships are a big step in the right direction.”

Harper added that one of the spinoffs of this partnership would be a healthier club.
“There will be health outreaches held here (at DCC) from time-to-time, not just for the players, but also for their parents and family members. International SOS is also pushing and supporting education.”
Both Harper and the members of International SOS are hoping that the partnership can grow.