Another wonderful Old Paradians’ Association luncheon was held at the RACV Club in August, with Old Paradian and former Australian Test and One-Day International cricketer Adam Dale (1986) joining us as our guest speaker.

Adam moved to Parade College from Cathedral College, the “Old Bluestone Pile”, in 1985. It quickly became apparent that the College had welcomed a very talented cricketer. Adam represented the Parade First XI while in Year 11 and, the following year, won both the batting and bowling averages, playing a key role in helping the College secure the ACC premiership.

During the luncheon, Adam reflected warmly on his time at Parade and shared many wonderful memories from his two years at the College. He spoke fondly of his school days and the people and experiences that helped shape his journey both on and off the cricket field.

In his mid-twenties, Adam moved to Queensland and joined the Queensland Bulls, where he quickly established himself as a highly respected right-arm swing and seam bowler, as well as a capable lower-order batsman. He became renowned for his accuracy, his ability to move the ball both through the air and off the pitch, and his consistency in building pressure on opposition batsmen.

Despite being characteristically modest when reflecting on his career, Adam’s performances for Queensland were outstanding and ultimately earned him international recognition. He made his Australian One-Day International debut against South Africa in 1997 and went on to represent Australia in 30 ODIs, taking 32 wickets.

The ultimate honour followed in March 1998, when Adam made his Test debut for Australia against India in Bangalore. In doing so, he became Parade College’s first Test cricketer of the post-World War II era. Adam went on to play two Test matches for Australia, with his second coming against the West Indies in 1999.

As if representing Australia wasn’t enough, Adam was also part of one of the nation’s great cricketing achievements, the 1999 Cricket World Cup-winning Australian team in England.

Adam’s international career spanned from 1997 to 2000. While injuries ultimately contributed to the end of his international career, his achievements remain remarkable: two Test matches, 30 One-Day Internationals and a place in a World Cup-winning Australian team.

Importantly, Adam has never lost his connection with Parade College or the Old Paradians’ community. He has continued to give back to the College, sharing his experiences with students and supporting the next generation of young sportspeople.

It was an absolute privilege for everyone who attended the luncheon to hear Adam speak so openly about his journey, his career and his enduring connection to Parade. His story is one of talent, perseverance, humility and achievement and one that the Parade community can be extremely proud of.