Jamie Cotter also was voted life member for 23 years with the prems but the bloke known to fellow club mates as "God" was not returning phone calls although the nowadays senior player did make it for the photograph.
"It [life membership] is a very new prize and a great honour so it's something Jamie and I will look up to when we wear the badges on club days as it's a very proud moment for both of us," says Sutherland.
A two handicapper in amateur golf, he is committed to the Hawke's Bay team for the Masters Interprovincials in New Plymouth next month.
While the body and mind are still willing, he intends to keep his involvement with cricket.
He started with Taradale club at a social competitive level in 1988 but filled in for two seasons for the prems. By the 1990s he had worked his way up to becoming a fulltime top level, which was "seniors" in those days.
"I'm fairly competitive person so I do my best no matter what sport I take up."
Sutherland was also an opportunist so when they were desperate for a wicketkeeper after injury to the incumbent at the contemporary senior grade level he "got my foot in the door".
It helped that he was a football goalkeeper so the bowler gave way to a gloveman. "You get involved more that way so that you're always part of the game."
Building on the simple proviso of a hard-work ethic, he went on to serve as club administrator for more than a decade.
For a bloke who was "gear custodian", Sutherland gradually worked his way to secretary/treasurer.
He also was the cricket club representative to the Taradale Sports Association that operates as a watchdog to ensure the clubrooms run smoothly with the Harriers and the Greendale tennis.
"During that time I was the dog's body behind the bar," he says, relishing the platform such roles provided for social interaction.
The man who served as Taradale club representative at Hawke's Bay Cricket Association gatherings for four years is looking forward to this summer.
"I went to the [Taradale] AGM several weeks ago and I was impressed with the enthusiasm," he says, noting player/coach Sean Davies, a former Zimbabwe international and carrying a UK licence to mentor, was making the right noises for the Maroons who have struggled with numbers in the past few summers.
It heartens Sutherland to see the young blood injected over the previous seasons is in a good space to show their mettle.
He takes a momentary trip down memory lane in the 1980s when the likes of former Black Cap internationals such as Martin Crowe, Mark Greatbatch and Ian Smith, as well as adroit first-class players such as Scott Briasco added zest to premier cricket.
"From the early-to-mid-1990s the bowling was as strong as it'll ever be," says Sutherland, rattling off names such as Ali Alcock, David Blake, Lance Hamilton, Andrew Penn and Mike Pawson.
"It was really hard facing first-class calibre of bowlers when I was an opening batsman so it was really challenging."
"The more shoulder bowler" Alcock had mastered the art of bounce but Pawson's additional control created more havoc.
"The level has come down in recent years. I don't know whether it's because it's not the same quality of wicket or because of a choice of lifestyle for the guys as it's tougher on Saturdays nowadays," he says, alluding to the demands of work and family life.
However, there's a lot of excitement and promise this summer with the young from yesteryear more bat and bowl savvy while clubs also have a crop of seasoned campaigners returning to give Hawke's Bay coach Colin Schaw and his selectors something to chew on.
Cornwall have home-grown Michael Taiaroa, Jacob Smith, Jerome Groot and Liam Dudding returning after a few seasons away and they also have former import Alex Roberts returning as captain/coach.
Cornwall club captain Graeme Hodges says they will dedicate the season in memory of former inspirational coach Mike Shrimpton, who lost his battle with a brain tumour this year.
Havelock North coach Derek Stirling is delighted Kurt Richards is returning to help build on last season's young guns.
NOBM welcome back Ollie Sutton from Auckland but Daniel Whyte says they still want to pick up male or female players of all standards.
CHB have player co-coach GC Pretorious from South Africa while NTOB welcome back Jurgen Anderson from his Melbourne stint.
2015-16 SQUADS
CENTRAL HAWKE'S BAY CC: Angus Schaw (capt, RHB, RA offspin), Henry Hunter (RHB, LA spin), Scott Schaw (RHB, wkt), Kruger van Wyk (RHB, wkt), James Mackie (LHB, RA spin), GC Pretorious (RHB, RA legspin), Blair Tickner (RHB, RA fast/med), George McPherson (RHB, RA med/fast), Driaan Lubbe (RHB, RA fast/med), Jack White (LA med, RHB), Rob McConville (RHB, RA offspin), Rupert Young (RHB,wkt), Jack Wakling (RA med, RHB), George Larsen (RHB, RA offspin), George Cranswick (RHB, wkt), Dominic Thompson (RHBt, wkt), Charlie Robson (RA med/fast, RHB), Will Harker (RHB, RA offspin), Ben Smith (RHB, wkt), Jackson Foggerty (RA med/fast, RHB).
Gains: GC Pretorious (Sth Africa), Rupert Young (Taranaki), Henry Hunter (returning from England), Driaan Lubbe (university) George Cranswick (Lindisfarne), Jackson Foggerty (CHB College).
Losses: Nil.
Co-coach/manager: Mike Lewis.
Co-coach/trainer: Pretorious
Overseas player: Pretorious.
Sponsors: Ruahine Motors Ford.
CORNWALL CC: Alex Roberts (capt, RA med/fast, RHB), Charley Crasborn (vc, RHB, RA med), Jacob Smith (LHB, LA med), Michael Taiaroa (RHB), Jono Hall (RA offpsin, RHB), Liam Dudding (RA fast, RHB), Jayden Wiggins (RA slow, RHB), Jerome Groot (RHB, RA med), Jarod Hughes (RA med, RHB), Ben Wilson (wkt, RHB), Alex Withington (RHB, RA offspin), Bryce Green (RA med/fast, RHB), Bailey Wiggins (wkt, RHB), Nathan Worsley (RHB), Nathan Waites (RHB), Eamon Corbett (RA med, RHB), Graeme Hodges (RA slow, RHB), Barney Howard (RHB), Aaron Hagan (RHB, RA med), Phoenix Porter-Samuels (RA med, RHB), Nick Matheson (RA slow, RHB), Simon Kale (LHB, LA legspin).
Gains: Jacob Smith, Jerome Groot, Alex Roberts, Michael Taiaroa, Liam Dudding (all returning after seasons off); Bryce Green (HBHS, after Xmas).
Losses: KP Binesh (Akld).
Overseas player: Roberts.
Coach: Alex Roberts.
Manager: TBC.
Scorer: Bev Baker.
Sponsors: Heretaunga Building Society.
HAVELOCK NORTH CC: Graeme Tryon (capt, RHB, RA offspin), Jared Priest RHB, RA med), James Field (LHB, LA spin), Ruan Markram (RHB, RA med-fast), Ben Fair (LHB), Josh Clarkson RHB, RA fast), Mitch Van Schaik (RHB, wkt), Koman Rameka (LHB, RA med), Sam Prescott (RHB, RA med), Jeremy Ketel (LHB, RA med), Todd Astill (RHB, RA legspin), Sahil Bogal (RHB, RA med-fast), Harry Gregory (RHB, RA med-fast), Mitch Hammond (RHB, RA med), Kurt Richards (RHB, RA fast), Peter Marffy (RHB, RA med), Charlie Devonshire (RHB), Jarrod McLeod (RHB, RA med), Mickey Stirling (RHB, RA med-fast), Kyle Burlace (RHB).
Gains: Kurt Richards from semi-retirement, Josh Clarkson from Nelson and NZ U19 World Cup squad member, James Field from HBHS 1st Xl and CD U19s, Peter Marffy from Lindisfarne College 1st XI, Charlie Devonshire (from Lindisfarne College 1st XI after Xmas), Jarrod McLeod (HBHS 1st Xl after Xmas), Mickey Stirling (Hastings BHS 1st Xl after Xmas), Kyle Burlace (KHS 1st XI).
Losses: Stu McVeigh to 3rd grade, Rokon Al Sahariar retired.
Coach: Derek Stirling.
Manager: Aaron Brittin.
Sponsors: Bayleys Real Estate.
NAPIER OLD BOYS' MARIST CC: Damien Scott (RHB, RA med/fast), Brendan Quinn (RHB, RA med), Mathew Sinclair (RHB, RA med), Adam Pearse (RHB, RA spin), Jesse Singh (capt, RHB), Anoop Prasad (RA med/fast, RHB), Ollie Sutton (RA med/fast, RHB), Mason Baker (RHB, RA med), Casey Rangi (RA med, RHB), Harry Ghodke (RHB), Daniel Drepaul (RHB), Sunil Kumar (RH med, RHB), Andrew Mathieson (RA fast, RHB).
Gains: Ollie Sutton.
Losses: Bevan Pollock semi-retired.
Overseas player: TBC.
Wkt: TBC.
Coach: Llorne Howell.
Manager: Rob Quinn.
Sponsors: The Station.
NAPIER TECHNICAL OLD BOYS CC: Liam Rukuwai (capt, RA med, LHB), Greg Hay (RHB, RA offspin), Christian Leopard (RA med/fast, RHB), Indika Senerathne (RHB, RA orthodox/offspin), JK Whyte (wkt, LHB), Josh Paerau (LHB), Jurgen Anderson (RA med/fast, RHB), Iziah Lange (RA med, RHB), Kurtis Weekes (RHB, wkt res), Stevie Smidt (RA fast/med, RHB), Bronson Meehan (RHB, RA offspin), Jeremy Kuru (RA fast, RHB), Matt Edmondson (RHB, wkt res), Jadyn Lennox (LHB, LA orthodox), George Diack (RA med, RHB).
Overseas player: Indika Senerathne.
Gains: Jurgen Anderson returning after playing in Melbourne, Iziah Lange NBHS 1st Xl.
Losses: Nil.
Coach/manager: Dale Smidt.
Sponsors: Complete Flooring.
TARADALE CC: Ben Stoyanoff (RA med/fast) Callum Hewetson (LHB), Luke Kenworthy (RHB/wkt), Ajaz Patel ( LA orthodox), Matt Nelson (RHB/RA med), Connor Underhill (RHB), Sam Galbraith (RHB/wkt res), Jeremy Stoyanoff (RA med), Angus McKnight (RA med), Steven Phillips (RHB), Sam Broome (RA med), Josh Jones (RHB), Vance Morris (RHB), Ben Richards (RA med), Tim Gruitjers (capt, RHB, RA offspin), Corey Hamilton (RA med), Thomas Lindsay (RA med, RHB), Seb Burrow (RHB), Ross McFadgen (RHB), Harrison Woolley (RHB), Jack Roberts (RHB, RA offspin).
Losses: Tushar Sharma (Palmerston North), Tafadzwa Mpofu (Palmerston North), Robert Wheatley (work commitments), Luke Wright (work in Abu Dhabi).
Gains: Gruitjers, Corey Hamilton, Thomas Lindsay, Seb Burrow, Ross McFadgen.
Coach: Sean Davies (Ex-Zimbabawe international/ UK pro mentor).
Ast coach: Gruitjers.
Manager: Jeff Pinfold.
Overseas player: Tim Gruitjers, from The Hague, ex-Dutch international.
Sponsors: United Travel Taradale.
