11 minute read
Robbie O’Donnell Auckland Cricketer of the Year
Robbie O'Donnell
– Fostering a winning culture
By Heather Barker Vermeer
Allowing people the freedom to be themselves, while enabling them to feel they belong is a priority for Robbie O’Donnell, on and off the field. The Auckland Aces captain and 2021/22 Auckland Cricket Association Cricketer of the Year has grown ever more conscious of creating a culture that works for the collective and enables individuals to shine, since his Covid-era crossover from cricket into business. The prolific run scorer is hoping to bring this ‘real world’ knowledge to the field and trophies to Auckland Cricket’s cabinet this season.
Born in Kimberley, South Africa, Robert O’Donnell and his brother, William, were rarely far from a cricket field in their early Robbie and Brother Will after a days fishing off Takapuna. years. Their dad Mark, a West Coast Kiwi, was a cricket coach based at the revered ‘Bullring’ Wanderers Stadium test ground after meeting his wife-to-be Riana, whilst touring South Africa as a player and coach. Robbie says, “We found ourselves in some pretty fortunate positions as kids; getting to hang around the changing rooms, driving the drink cart around the outfield, hitting balls around and meeting some of the top players, all while getting to spend time with Dad.” When Mark got a job as Head Coach at Auckland Cricket in 2000, Robbie was seven years old and his brother Will, four. The family moved to Browns Bay then Torbay, the boys going to Murrays Bay Primary and Intermediate, before Westlake Boys, where both shone in the school’s 1st XI. The family made Takapuna District Cricket Club their local. Robbie says the club has been an important part of their lives, beyond cricket. “Takapuna Cricket Club, and Takapuna in general, has a big community of people that all get behind each other. The club welcomes everyone from all walks of life and some of my best mates play there. There’s a real community. Some of the older, former players play golf together now. I think that’s great.” Five of the current Auckland Aces contracted players are TDCC players, Robbie is pleased to report. “That’s a pretty impressive testament to the club.” Moving through the premier side at Takapuna into the Auckland Aces, Robbie has established himself as one of Auckland’s most accomplished batsmen. Last season he achieved career-best figures across all formats and led the Auckland Aces to victory in the Plunket Shield, personally scoring 539 runs across the competition, including two centuries. In September, the top order right-hander stepped up to international honours, representing New Zealand A on a tour of India and co-captaining the side.
Robbie O'Donnell in action for the Auckland Aces. Robbie O'Donnell batting for Takapuna in Auckland club cricket.
“That was an unbelievable experience,” he beams. “Usually, preseason, we’d be in the nets here in Auckland, but there we were in Chennai and Bangalore. It was unreal. It felt so good to get back on the park after winter, especially in these amazing places.”
Successful cricketing careers are hard earned over many years but, on top of the recent India tour, there are several standout moments along the way. Many of Robbie’s are of shared success.
“I was batting with Will when he scored his first-class 100 in the Plunket Shield. Being out in the middle for that was pretty special,” he smiles. “And I’d scored a century the day before. Another highlight was being captain on Will’s Auckland debut. Before the game, Dad presented us with our caps. That was quite a moment for us all.”
Siblings navigating sport side-by-side has been less the cause of friction, more a fuel for their fires, Robbie feels. “We’re both super competitive,” he says. “That can make for diamonds or razor blades!
“We’ve definitely helped each other and challenged one another to get better along the way. Every time one of us succeeds, it’s a time for us to celebrate that as a family. That success then pushes us to improve as individuals and challenges us to rise to the next level.
“We hold each other to very high standards and I think that’s one of the reasons we do what we do.”
What else Robbie also does now is work in recruitment. He joined Infinitas during the upheavals of Covid lockdowns, putting to use the business degree he gained through part-time study with Massey University over a period of six years.
“It’s all a bit more ‘real world’, that’s for sure! Catching a bus to work and being in an office is totally different to driving to training at Eden Park,” he says.
“For me, the ‘real world’ has been living and breathing cricket for years. And while I want to continue doing that as long as I can, a playing career usually only lasts until your mid-to-late 30s, maybe 40. I felt it was important for me to have some other ‘real-world’ experience behind me.”
In the office, as on the field, Robbie likes to foster an enjoyable and supportive team culture. “Whether it’s bringing apples into the office, to encourage everyone to do a healthy eating day or heading out with the team for a Friday after-work drink, I think it’s important to bring people together. It’s important to celebrate people’s success and the success of the team.
“All the time I’ve spent in sport has put me in a pretty good space to embrace that team culture in business. I want to help others as much as possible, but also learn as much as I can too.”
Robbie O'Donnell, Auckland cricketer of the year for 2021/22.
Robbie and his partner of six years, Lucy, bought their first home in 2020. Choosing to stay on the Shore, the pair are enjoying living in Glenfield with their 40kg+ rescue dog, Barney.
“Yep, we’ve got our own house and a dog now,” he smiles. “So, we’ve managed to tick off a couple life goals for sure.”
Focus now turns to the field for Robbie, who leads Auckland Aces into a Plunket Shield pairing with Otago Volts in mid-October. Embarking on his preferred longer format of the game is the ideal start to the summer for Auckland’s reigning Cricketer of the Year.
“The excitement’s building,” he says, every inch of his face echoing his words. “Physically and mentally, I’m ready. Everything is fitting into place. I’m super pumped!”
With one eye on the season’s silverware, Robbie is also mindful of adopting the perspective of a wider lens. “We’re chomping at the bit to get out there and chase down a couple more trophies this season. The biggest thing is to try to put ourselves in scenarios where we can keep winning games.
“But you don’t want to be purely results orientated, though, because in doing that, you can really find yourself riding that harsh rollercoaster of sport and that can set you up to fail.”
In a rare show of personal ambition, Robbie admits to what he sees as the pinnacle of pleasure in the sport. Singling out Black Caps batsmen Devon Conway and Kane Williamson as his dream batting partners, besides his brother, he (low-key) mentions. “I would love to be able to pull on a black jersey. It’s got to be the most fun there is to be had in cricket, I reckon, playing for your country.”
Pulling the lens back to the present, he points at what’s most pressing ahead of the Aces’ season opener. “Cricket is a team sport. And that means it’s important to understand the people who are in your team.
“As a captain, it’s important to challenge people and push people, but also provide a place where they can feel safe and can play and be themselves. When they’re in that space, they’ll perform at their best and they’ll challenge each other to keep improving.”
Just like with brothers and business colleagues, then. Batters and bowlers have their specific roles to play but, key for Robbie is that they all ultimately share responsibility for enriching their team.
An artistic impression of Robbie and his cricketing brother Will. Robbie O'Donnell batting for New Zealand in a one dayer. Robbie O'Donnell batting for the New Zealand A side.
By Kevin O’Leary, General Manager, Business North Harbour
Positivity remains a challenge
Kevin O’Leary.
The opening of our borders and the removal of most restrictions relating to the pandemic have been a welcome relief for most people as we enjoy greater freedoms heading towards what we all hope will be an excellent summer. These positive changes, while signalling a return to pre-pandemic normality, are somewhat stifled by the ongoing struggles that many businesses and households are facing just to make ends meet.
The people controlling the purse strings, whether in a business or home, are having to restrict their spending on anything other than the absolute essentials, with any opportunities to enjoy some discretionary spending being very limited or non-existent.
The ‘cost of living crisis’ which we are all too aware of and which will be with us for quite some time, continues to worsen according to the latest figures released. Inflation remains high at 7.2% and food prices have risen by 8.3% compared to the same time last year, a 13year high! Added to this, the Reserve Bank has continued to raise the Official Cash Rate (OCR) significantly, resulting in higher interest rates for us all. Unfortunately, there are steeper increases predicted in the OCR in the short-term, as a result of the current level of inflation being much worse than predicted due to the measures used to bring inflation under control failing to have the desired effect.
Some businesses are still grappling with a serious shortage of people willing and able to fill vacancies, which along with the inability of the supply chain to keep up with the demand for goods, has resulted in many being unable to operate at economically effective levels across a number of different sectors. The harsh and frustrating reality for numerous businesses is that there is demand which they can’t fill or benefit from through no fault of their own.
Given these significant challenges which are likely to show little or no signs of improvement over the next six to 12 months, my question is, how much more can people take? There is of course no simple answer as people's individual circumstances will shape their ability to cope. What is certain, though, is that the cracks are beginning to show in a growing number of businesses and households.
Unfortunately for most of us, the issues I’ve highlighted remain to a large extent out of our control, which makes the situation even more frustrating. Ongoing financial prudence is going to be required to give many businesses and households their best chance of survival, as budgets continue to be squeezed ever harder. I sincerely hope that you can weather the storm and enjoy a happy and positive future as you navigate your way through these difficult times.
Finally, please continue to support your local businesses by buying local and utilising locally available services.
https://businessnh.org.nz/ Phone: 09 968 2222, Mobile: 027 479 9563, Email: kevin@businessnh.org.nz Devonport Community News for this month with Nigel Bioletti, Trust Manager, Devonport Peninsula Trust From the Peninsula
Nigel Bioletti.
A helicopter hovers overhead, as I write, filming the start of yet another ‘Coastal Classic’ yacht race to Russell. I trust that it was a safe but challenging event for all concerned.
Congratulations to: George Wood, Toni Van Tonder, Terence Harpur, Melissa Powell, Peter Allen, and Gavin Busch on their election to Devonport-Takapuna Local Board. The Trust team wishes them all well for their term in office, and looks forward to our continuing partnership supporting the peninsula community.
Starting soon – Our Raumati/Summer Fun Tamariki Play sessions – Tuesdays at Windsor Reserve, and Thursdays at the Belmont Rose Gardens – are a wonderful opportunity for parents and children to share play activities, and to meet others. Some coffee groups use these play sessions as their meet-up time. On fine summer mornings, these sessions are pretty special. There is no cost. Team up, come along.
Remembrance Day – Stephen Millham, Manager at the Devonport RSA, advises that there will be a Remembrance Day parade from the RSA to the Cenotaph on November 13th, starting at 10.45am, with a small ceremony from 11am outside the Devonport Library.
North Shore Croquet Club – Twilight Croquet starts 5th October at 5.45pm (then first and third Wednesday of each month over summertime).
This is an enjoyable opportunity, and a great game, for peninsula residents - a fun way to introduce yourself to croquet and it gives everyone the chance to play with different teams. It also allows new players to mix with others of different skill levels and just have FUN. Games are followed by a BBQ supper – $10 per non-member. For more information please visit www.northshorecroquet.co.nz
Appreciation – The Trust is grateful to Lorena O’Connor and Rory Diver, of PMGFunds, who have offered to sponsor the Devonport Senior Forum End of Year Luncheon. These small measures of support from people who live in the Peninsula Community help us considerably.
For information about the events and activities happening on the peninsula, don’t forget that you can go to www.devonportpeninsulatrust.nz, and view (and possibly subscribe to) our e-news.
Support for the work of the Trust – The Trust is keen to grow its support for peninsula initiatives. If you are able to offer support to enable the Trust to extend its work with this community, please email me – nigelbioletti@devonportpeninsulatrust.nz
