Chad was awarded Toronto’s Tin Cup – renamed the Robert Holland OAM Cup – for best player of the season, including representative cricket.

The all-rounder was also named joint winner of the club’s Players’ Player award – along with Ray Steadman.

It completes an impressive season for Chad who, with Wallsend's Nathan Price, was named joint winner of the Newcastle District Cricket Association’s player of the year. 

Club president Aaron Gray said the Kookaburras’ presentation night was a formal event in which the theme of overcoming adversity was prominent.

“We took the room on a journey through the season, starting with all the big challenges, such as the loss of Robert Holland and retirement of Paul Toole,” Gray said.  

“It was a big challenge for us to overcome such big changes and we started the season very slowly under all that pressure.”

Once the club settled, and regained its mojo, it was a different story, though.

“We finished with a flurry of wins, seven straight in first grade, including wins over two of the top four teams in Charlestown and Merewether,” Gray said. 

“As well, we went from ninth to second position between Christmas break and the end of the regular season in second grade.”

Gray said the surge proved to the players that they still had the talent, ability and structures in place to be competitive. The players were keen to carry that momentum into next season, he said.

The club announced that Paul Toole and Chris Dickson would be nominated for life membership at the AGM in June.

Tin Cup (renamed the Robert Holland OAM Cup): Adrian Chad

Club Person of the year: Marino Lea

Players Player: Ray Steadman and Adrian Chad.

Junior Player of the Year: Joshua Westwood.