Vera Esther Burt MBE (née Robinson; 14 January 1927 – 21 September 2017) was a New Zealand cricketer and field hockey player, representing her country in both sports.[1] She went on to be hockey umpire, coach, and administrator.

Vera Burt
Born
Vera Esther Robinson

(1927-01-14)14 January 1927
Patea, New Zealand
Died21 September 2017(2017-09-21) (aged 90)
Takapuna, New Zealand
SpouseHalstead Burt
Children3
Cricket information
BattingRight-handed
BowlingSlow left-arm orthodox
RoleAll-rounder
International information
National side
Test debut (cap 13)20 March 1948 v Australia
Last Test15 February 1969 v England
Domestic team information
YearsTeam
1944/45–1960/61Auckland
1965/66–1970/71North Shore
Career statistics
Competition WTest WFC
Matches 3 44
Runs scored 40 1,871
Batting average 8.00 31.18
100s/50s 0/0 0/13
Top score 15 84
Balls bowled 42 955
Wickets 0 31
Bowling average 17.51
5 wickets in innings 0 0
10 wickets in match 0 0
Best bowling 3/5
Catches/stumpings 0/– 7/–
Source: CricketArchive, 28 November 2021

Early life and family

edit

Burt was born in Patea on 14 January 1927, and educated at Epsom Girls' Grammar School in Auckland.[2] She studied at Auckland Teachers' Training College from 1944 to 1945, and then at Dunedin Teachers' College in 1946, becoming a physical education teacher.[2] In 1952, she married Halstead Burt, and the couple went on to have three children.[2]

Sporting career

edit

Cricket

edit

Burt played as an all-rounder, batting right-handed and bowling slow left-arm orthodox. She played in three Test matches for New Zealand between 1948 and 1969. She played domestic cricket for Auckland and North Shore.[3][4]

Hockey

edit

Beginning her hockey career in Auckland in the mid-1940s, Burt then represented Otago briefly. She subsequently returned to Auckland and represented that province from 1947 to 1958. She gained national honours, playing for New Zealand against Australia in 1960.[5]

Burt went on to be an umpire for 34 years, and was an A-grade international umpire during the 1970s. During the 1980s she served on the New Zealand Hockey Umpires' Council. She was also a successful coach, taking the North Shore women's hockey team to the K Cup title in 1978.[5]

As an administrator, Burt served on the executive of the Auckland Women's Hockey Association for 21 years, and was instrumental in the establishment of the North Shore Women's Hockey Association in 1972.

Honours and awards

edit

Burt was made a life member of Auckland Hockey in 1983, the New Zealand Women's Hockey Association in 1985, the New Zealand Umpires' Federation in 1988, and the North Shore Women's Hockey Association, also in 1988.[5]

In the 1990 New Year Honours, Burt was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire, for services to sport, especially women's hockey, and the community.[6]

In 2009, Burt was an inaugural inductee into Harbour Sport's hall of fame.[5][7]

Death

edit

Burt died at Takapuna on 21 September 2017.[8][9]

References

edit
  1. ^ "In Memoriam 2017". International Cricket Council. Retrieved 2 January 2018.
  2. ^ a b c Taylor, Alister; Coddington, Deborah (1994). Honoured by the Queen – New Zealand. Auckland: New Zealand Who's Who Aotearoa. p. 85. ISBN 0-908578-34-2.
  3. ^ "Vera Burt". Cricket Archive. Retrieved 8 June 2016.
  4. ^ "Vera Burt". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 12 April 2014.
  5. ^ a b c d "Life member Vera Burt passes away". Hockey New Zealand. 23 September 2017. Retrieved 26 September 2017.
  6. ^ "No. 51982". The London Gazette (2nd supplement). 29 December 1989. p. 30.
  7. ^ "Sports icons honoured". North Shore Times. 31 January 2009. Retrieved 26 September 2017.
  8. ^ "Obituary: Vera Burt". New Zealand Cricket Museum. Retrieved 26 September 2017.
  9. ^ "Vera Esther Burt death notice". The New Zealand Herald. 23 September 2017. Retrieved 26 September 2017.
edit