Late-night boredom 10 years ago led the North Otago vice-president to scroll the internet to see if he could establish when the association was actually formed.
Trudging through Papers Past, Cameron found a report in the Oamaru Mail and North Otago Times from the inaugural meeting in 1899.
Finally, the association knew how old it was — even if that did mean it missed celebrating the centenary.
But the association is not letting another milestone pass it by, and North Otago celebrates its 125th anniversary this season.
Cameron, who has long been known as a guru for deep diving into North Otago cricket’s history and statistics, is writing a book to celebrate the occasion.
The book, which he hopes will be published by Christmas, will look at the association’s history, key events, quirky statistics and everything in between.
"For a small district like ours, it’s quite remarkable in terms of how much has actually happened," Cameron said.
Among those stories is North Otago hosting international teams including Australia, England, Fiji and the West Indies in the 1800s and 1900s.
When they faced the West Indies in the 1950s, North Otago great John Reid was captain — and also happened to be New Zealand captain on the same tour.
North Otago helped "soften" the West Indies, who went on to beat New Zealand 4-1 in a test series, but that win was New Zealand’s first in test cricket.
Another North Otago great Carl Zimmerman whacked 117 runs in 49 minutes against a full-strength Australian side on the back field at Waitaki Boys’ in 1928.
Denis Blundell, who would go on to become Governor-General and New Zealand Cricket president, also represented North Otago against Australia.
North Otago has produced five Black Caps, including newly-contracted Nathan Smith, one White Fern, and 36 Otago Volts and Sparks representatives.
Then there are the more recent hidden facts.
Like when North Otago, who only play representative two-day Hawke Cup cricket, played the Otago Volts in their only T20 game about 20 years ago — and North Otago won.
"And we’re not available for a rematch," North Otago chairman Peter Cameron, Scott’s father, quipped.
It was those little stories that Scott Cameron wanted to share.
"I’ve spent 20-odd years doing the research and unless it’s written down properly, unless you’re as stats, and history, crazy as I am, it’s unlikely anyone will go back and do the same thing.
"At least with it being published and an actual book, all that information should be there."
All that work has not been overlooked.
North Otago held its annual meeting recently at the Star and Garter Restaurant — the same venue as the original meeting 125 years ago — where Scott Cameron was made a life member for his commitment to preserving their history.
It was a strange feeling to be acknowledged alongside other life members, he said.
"Considering there’s the likes of Russell Payne, Ted Tempero ... guys who, really, I consider absolute legends of cricket.
"It’s just odd to be joining them as life members."
Peter Cameron said it was an appropriate moment to recognise his son’s contributions.
"It’s recognition of what we need to have as far as history and statistics," he said.
"We’ve got a history, which if Scott hadn’t started doing this over 20 years ago, we still wouldn’t know it was 125 years."
North Otago recorded a profit of about $15,000 for the past year and numbers were strong across the region, as the Borton Cup gets under way on October 11.
It hosted a golf tournament recently at Lower Waitaki — which Smith returned home to play in — and the association will host a barbecue to celebrate 125 years at their first home Hawke Cup fixture on January 28.
