Profile on Bill Crisp.



Bill was born in Cairns and moved to Brisbane in 1948. He was trained as a telegraphist that year and worked in various parts of the Post Office/Telecom until he retired in the late 80's. Bill was a top sportsman in Cairns and excelled at cricket and tennis before moving to Brisbane.

Bill joined the Boomerang Squash Club in 1962/63 and was an active member of the Gabba Club until he lost the sight of an eye in an accident in 1983. He then became a social member.

Bill, through his sporting contacts, knew Sam Trimble and Brian Gaskell were lessees of the squash courts that had been built under the Sir Leslie Wilson Pavilion at the Brisbane Cricket Ground. President Col Brandon and Bill approached Sam & Brian about moving the Boomerang Club to their courts and as the saying goes the rest is history thus the Gabba Squash Club was formed, which meant most of the Ex Boomerang members could stay together.

Bill's Record at the Boomerang/Gabba Squash Club.


1964. Runner-up to Ken Fraser in division 1 of the Club Championships

1975. Winner plate event in senior division of the Club Championships

1978. Runner-up to John Green in division 3 of the Club Championships

1982. Winner plate event in division 3 of the Club Championships

1976 Winter Season. Member of B2 team that won the Team Incentive Points Trophy with Robin Bennett, Russell McConnell, Trevor Hardwick & Doug White

Crispo, as Bill was known, was awarded the Bob Turner Memorial Trophy in 1974, this award was the President's Award to the best club member. Bill was the organiser of the meat tray raffles that the club members sold on Friday nights for a while and then changed to the Sunday lunch session, firstly at the Coronation Hotel and then at the Terminus Hotel. Members of Crispo's helpers were Joe Williams, Peter Creevey, Peter Land, Don Chilcott, Alf Hogan, Bob Turner, Ray Smith, Vince Grisaffi and many others over the years. Bill's efforts were rewarded with Life Membership in 1982.

Before and during his time at the squash club, Bill was a well known cricketer for North's Cricket Club in Brisbane. He was a member of their A Grade Teams of 1952 to 1966, winning the Premiership in 1955/56. Bill played 156 matches in this grade and took 324 wickets at a cost of 16.06 per wicket.

When Bill retired from the A grade he continued to play in Reserve Grade where he took another 337 wickets. This meant in both grades he took 661 wickets for the club. Bill was captain of the winning Premiership Reserve Grade Team of 1970/71.

Crispo at one stage was in the Queensland Cricket Squad but never officially played a game for Queensland. He did appear a few times as a substitute fieldsman for Queensland when more than one player was injured during a match and the 12th man was already on the field..

Bill also played Rugby League, Tennis, Squash and Cricket for Queensland Postal Institute for over 20 years and in that time made several trips to all the capital cities in Australia, most of them more than once.

I am sure all of us that knew Crispo would agree that Bill was a top all round sportsman and an outstanding member of the Boomerang/Gabba Squash Club. He thoroughly deserved the Life Membership that was awarded to him.

Bill passed away in 1999.