OAKLEIGH Cricket Club has earned a big victory before the first ball has been bowled in the Victorian Sub District Cricket Association season.
The Oaks have won approval from Monash council to add the name of 57-year volunteer Rowland Williams to the Wilkinson Stand at its Warrawee Park home ground.
It will be renamed the Wilkinson Williams stand early next year, coinciding with Williams' 80th birthday on January 28.
The Oaks submitted a highly detailed paper to the council listing Williams' long list of achievements at the club and in cricket umpiring, along with work at local baseball and junior cricket clubs.
The Oaks got support for the change from state MP Ann Barker, the Southern District and Churches Cricket League and TAC Cup club Oakleigh Chargers, which is based at Warrawee Park.
The Oaks also made it clear they did not want to diminish the standing of Bill Wilkinson, after whom the stand was originally named, but did want to acknowledge the long service of Williams, who is affectionately known as 'Roly'. The newly renamed stand is expected to be officially opened in late January.