By GEOFF NEWLING

GROUP 4 chairman Terry Psarakis completed a family double when  awarded an Order Of Australia Medal on the King’s Birthday weekend.

The 66-year-old accountant followed in the footsteps of his late father, Jim Psarakis.

“Yeah, dad received an OAM too,” Terry said.

“It is great to have two in the family.”

Jim Psarakis was awarded his OAM for services to the community while Terry received his honour for services to sport and the community.

Sport has played a huge role in Terry’s life – both as a player and in administration.

Sport has taken him around the world, such as a Tamworth cricket tour to England and a historic and unique Tamworth (Australia) versus Tamworth (England) match.

“It’s been a huge part of my life,” he said.

Born in Sydney in 1956 he moved with his family to Gunnedah in 1961 and then to Tamworth.

He attended East Tamworth Public School (primary) and then Oxley High School where he completed his HSC in 1974.

He then started an accounting course at TAFE before beginning his accountancy career with Trinder Scott & Davis in 1976.

He stayed there until 2002 when he started his own accountancy firm.

His sporting career was in football (soccer) with the East Tamworth, Police Boys Hotspurs, RSL and North Companions.

In cricket he started with East Tamworth as a 10-year-old and moved up to Police Boys.

“I played on Saturday mornings and afternoons – under 14 and 16,” he said of a junior career that also included a first grade match.

While playing for Police Boys he knew, however, he was never going to play first grade as a left-arm spinner with the renowned Bob Hickson the incumbent spinner.

“South Tamworth was advertising for players so Bruce Collier and I both went across,” he said.

It started a long affiliation with Souths for Terry that brought premierships, great memories and life membership.

“I started in 1975, John Kilborn came in ’76 and then the Browne’s, Harry and the boys.

“We won four or five premierships and I captained the team that won in 81-82.”

His administration roles with Souths included treasurer, vice-president and president.

Terry’s chairmanship also extended to Central North Zone where he is a long-serving chairman (16 years) and also still serving on the NSW Country Cricket Board (14 years).

“It’s all been great, totally,” he said of all his roles as well as reflecting on the great changes in sport.

“You start off thinking you can make great changes but then work out that it’s all about working with people and making sure the game is in a good state.

“I’ve had some great mentors. It’s been a great ride and I have made some great friends – sport in general is great for friendships,” he said.

To order photos from this page click here