Katie Mack during the ACT Meteors women’s headshots session last year in Canberra. Photo: Supplied.
Canberra’s women’s cricket team, the Meteors, will be visiting the Far South Coast next weekend (September 7 & 8) and will play a practice match with local kids, take part in a Q and A evening and attend a public BBQ.
Dave Allen, of the Far South Coast Cricket Association, says he’s been trying to organise the tour for a few years and is absolutely stoked that it’s happening now, with the visit squeezed in right before the Meteor’s opening game of the upcoming Women’s National Cricket League (WNCL).
Dave is keen for all kids to meet these professional and semi-professional cricketers.
“I think it’s really important for kids to interact with elite players, especially in regional areas we don’t get the opportunity much,” he comments “I grew up in Cobargo and I remember how important that was to me as a kid. ”
For Dave, it’s especially important to get kids in front of strong, skilled female players.
“I’ve got a 15-year-old daughter and it’s really good for her to see how far women’s cricket has come in just a few years. Now female players can play in the one-day women’s league and if they play in the Big Bash as well, some of them can go pro now.”
But we’ve still got a long way to go towards equality in men’s and women’s cricket, Dave says.
Maitlan Brown(2nd from left) of ACT celebrates with teammates after getting the wicket of Corinne Hall of Tasmania during the Women’s National Cricket League (WNCL) One-Day match between Tasmania and the ACT at Allan Border Field in Brisbane, 2018. Photo: Glenn Hunt.
“Now, female players are getting some of the same opportunities as guys, they’re just not getting paid as much,” Dave says dryly.
He’s confident that equal pay will follow as women’s cricket takes off on television.
“Sport feeds on TV money, it’s a simple formula,” he says.
The Far South Coast Cricket Association is making the most of having all 15 of the Meteors star players around for two days, with a packed schedule:
The Meteors will play a practice match of 40 overs against a combined boys and girls Far South Coast team on Saturday, September 7 at George Griffin Oval, Bega from 10 am until approximately 3:30 pm.
On Saturday night, the Far South Coast Cricket Association will officially welcome the Meteors at a function at the Bermagui Beach Hotel from 6:30 pm, as well as launch its upcoming 2019/2020 season.
The ABC’s Claire Wheaton will host a ‘get to know the players’ session, with 3-4 players from the ACT Meteors participating in a Q&A session, as well as inviting questions from those attending.
On Sunday morning, from 10 am, at Kyla Park at Tuross Heads, the Meteor’s General Manager Olivia Thornton invites all local junior coaches to watch the team train for their first WNCL game against Victoria the week after and discuss training techniques used by the team’s coaches.
From 11 am on Sunday, the team will split into groups and hold an open session for all girls aged 8 and over who want to give cricket a go. The team will also be running a high-performance session for our local cricket stars, who are already involved in representative cricket.
There will be a BBQ lunch at 12:15, after which the Meteors will be farewelled and head back to Canberra.
“The training session will be invaluable in assisting our volunteer coaches as they get ready for another season with our aspiring young cricketers,” Dave says.
“After the Meteors leave, stick around for a 20/20 social game for all female cricketers which will be a good opportunity to play a game before the start of the season a few weeks later.”
The Meteors huddle before entering the field during the Women’s National Cricket League (WNCL) One-Day match between Tasmania and the ACT at Allan Border Field in Brisbane last year. Photo: Glenn Hunt.
Last year saw the first season of women’s cricket on the Far South Coast, with four teams competing and Dave reports that this year there will be six women’s teams.
Meeting the Meteors next weekend will hopefully inspire more girls and women to get on the field.
“I think it’s so important for kids to see that pathway from the local field to national success,” Dave says enthusiastically “that if they work hard and have a bit of luck, there are opportunities there to take it to the next level.”
Tickets for Saturday night’s event at The Bermagui Beach Hotel are $15 and are available through Eventbrite, they are FREE if you were a registered female player in the 2018/2019 season.
For more information, please visit the Far South Coast Cricket Association’s Facebook page.
Loading ...
