Oliver Thomas: Gunnedah fast bowler has entered a rewarding new phase of his young life

And if that happens, he would carry with him what he regards as his most valuable life lesson: "Don't be a dickhead."

It was a lesson instilled him while growing up among people who live by the same mantra.

People like the 17-year-old's grandfather, Raymond Scott.

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On Wandobah Road, Scott has a cattle farm adjacent the cattle farm Thomas lives on with his mother, Janelle Scott, and stepfather, Brett Grey. Scott operates the farms as a combined entity.

"Pop has always been a good bloke," Thomas said. "He's worked in mines, he's now working on the farm. He's retired, but he still works."

Thomas was bitten by the travel bug while touring New Zealand in 2018 in a junior cricket squad assembled through Sean Brown's Cricket Coaching. He described the experience - and a subsequent Brown tour of New Zealand in 2019 - as his greatest achievements in life, along with landing a boilermaker apprenticeship.

The 2018 tour was the first time he had been overseas - the "bloody awesome" experience enhanced by the presence of a special travelling companion.

"My mother and stepdad stayed in Australia, and Pop came with me to New Zealand," he said, adding that his stepfather accompanied him on the 2019 tour.

By combining farming with travel, Thomas hopes to add to his travel diary, which includes a month-long stint playing fourth grade for Western Suburbs in Sydney in 2019.

"I was born and raised on a farm in Gunnedah," he said. "I wanna go up north [Queensland] and see how it is up that way. I wanna go to Western Australia."

Thomas has entered a rewarding new phase in life. He is concluding the first year of his apprenticeship, having left Gunnedah High and left behind his childhood dream of becoming a firefighter like his grandfather.

This year the teen began a new cricket experience. Following two seasons of first grade at Kookaburras, he joined Mornington.

The right-arm quick debuted for Mornington against Court House at Wolseley Oval on November 20. Displaying good zip and a good short ball, he took 1-16 off five overs opening the bowling.

"I wanted to see what it is like at another club," he said of joining Mornington.

If Thomas fulfils his desire to travel more, he might do so protected by the fearless of youth. Because at the moment he does not "really have a greatest fear".

"But many will come," he added.

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