by
Players for Cowichan - 2006 onwards.
On November 9th 1979 a fond 'mum' gave birth to a blonde-haired baby, a boy, one of two in her family and one of three children all told. The parents named him Steven but one suspects it wasn't long before his admirers were saying, "Owya doing Stevie boy?" and not so much later when 'Steve' was the preference of most. Having had the pleasure of his acquaintance some twenty-six years and a lot of days later I have no difficulty in imagining him as a cheerful baby and one possessed of a very serious curiosity too. However such characteristics probably apply to fifty percent of most babies born. What is certain is that his Dad did not immediately see him as a future Don or Dennis, for cricket was hardly ever on his mind. No, not he, for car-racing was his passion. As for his Mum, well, best left, I think, to the female of the species to decide what exactly was her reaction. But, as is the way of the best (and worst) of parents, pride, pleasure and a certain prejudice are the predominant responses.
However, and this an edit, Steve's Mum has a contribution to make. I am delighted and grateful for her input. She was a cricket fan in her teens, listening to games on the radio when 17 and going to matches in which Rod Marsh played. How about that? So when Steve began playing, for her to go and watch was "dead easy". And wouldn't young Steve be so aware of her presence? And aren't these words of his significant? "So in regards to how I got into the game I, pretty much at the age of 6, had decided it was something I wanted to do and went for it. I came home and told them I'd signed up for cricket. So every Saturday for the next 14 years (summers) my parents got me to and from the games - they were my biggest supporters."
During these first years of Steve's life, years which established that this child was to be tall and a little gawky perhaps, seven of those years were spent absorbed in and by - you guessed it - cricket. The name of his first club "Woy Woy". The Aborigines are to be thanked for that delightful name and I read that it has the meanings "deep" or "plentiful water". Apt, I think, that this was his first club's name, for on greater acquaintance Steve himself possesses some of the qualities of deep water. He can be hard to fathom even when he appears to be transparent. He found himself playing cricket with lads somewhat older than himself. A pattern which was to be repeated throughout his youth as his evident skills became honed and his frame filled out.
Clearly by the age of thirteen (the time when the family migrated to the Sunshine Coast) Steve had cricketing talent aplenty. So much so that his Dad - remember, not a fan of the game in the beginning - became one and remains one apparently. The next two years were to prove prophetic, though, with the passion of youth and growing strength, it is possible that Steve wasn't quite able to see too far ahead in terms of caution.
There were more moves, more clubs, more opportunities falling his way. For the Umina Club he played in the Under 11's, 12's, 13's and 14's. At the Caloundra Club it was the Under 14's and 17's. He has now turned fifteen - his promise is highly visible. His training is relentless and expected of him. Two games a day are not uncommon. He plays for the Caloundra 3rd Colts. And at fifteen Steve experienced stress fractures in the back. A CAT scan revealed three such. He was advised to rest. Rest he did - for a week. What followed was a whirlwind of cricketing activity. I am going let more of Steve's own words help me with it.
"I then went on to represent Caloundra in the 1st Division at 15. In the following year was asked to play in the OCA Competition for the Sunshine Coast Scorchers, 2nd Grade. This is where I learned my trade. My (then) good form was appreciated and I was invited to play in the 1st Grade the following year (at 18). Moved out of home at 20."
The Queensland Country XI, the Queensland Under 19's (and Under 21's) follow. There is something about this progress which has the feel of the runaway train in it - in the listening to Steve telling of it I felt that. Three years pass. Perhaps, for Steve these were critical years. Perhaps he was beginning to look more keenly at what the future might hold for him. About what he might wish it to hold. But what happens is decisive.
The Cowichan Cricket & Sports Club, in the winter of 1998/99, was searching for players from overseas. Contact was made with Rodney Gibbs and Steven Jesperson and it was agreed that these two would join the Club for the 1999 season. But as far as the latter was concerned it was not to be - at least not then!
He was chosen for the State XI (Queensland) Under 19's and finally was offered (and accepted) a 6 month Scholarship from the AIS (Australian Institute of Sports) �(Steve again), "(fast bowlers program) I didn't tour with the Australian under 19's - missed that tour with back injury - I made the squad after a successful Q'ld Under 19's campaign for which I also was given the scholarship with the Australian Institute of Sport". The names of the cricket coaches then associated with this organisation are legendary. This was the threshold of a career as a professional cricketer.
He was still working. He was still playing intense cricket and all that entailed. He didn't tell me he had been exhausted. He didn't have to. On a sheet of paper, and in his hand-writing, are two words. They follow a list he made for me of the teams he played for - he was trying to help this older man who was visibly confused. He wrote "Back gone". Those two words summed-up the painful but growing realisation of his (then) present - and a future he was no longer sure he wanted. What did he do? Steve took the shaping of his future into his own hands. Above all he wanted to enjoy his cricket again. And he has. Beenleigh and Runaway Bay are two clubs he mentioned. At some point he was in Gosford and played there - how great it is to go 'home' - briefly!
He made it to Canada and the Cowichan C. & S.C. He and his lady and love, Stephanie. Their Australian home they own today but they seem equally at home here at Elford Road in Shawnigan Lake. Steve has said something to me on several different occasions, and I want to add it here, I quote him, "Just happy I can help these guys over here win a few games". And we, Steve, are delighted to have you, Stephanie and your friend, Luke, here with us.
He still loves cricket and, as the match showed (which prompted my writing this - I couldn't have done it without his inherent kindliness and generosity), he can still be a match-winner. But these days he makes that decision. And in cricketing-terms who can know what his future may hold.
Summary