A SPIKE in women's cricket participation in central Victoria has led one club to appoint a girls and women's co-ordinator.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
In what is believed to be a first for the region, Maiden Gully Marist Cricket Club has welcomed Mel Beames to the newly created role.
The appointment comes only a few months after the Lions completed their first season in the Northern Rivers senior women's cricket competition.
Seven clubs took part in the inaugural season of the competition, including one other in Bendigo - West Bendigo.
At least two other Bendigo-based clubs are believed to be keen on fielding sides next season.
Beames, a school teacher at St Peter's Primary School, is a perfect illustration of how women's cricket has evolved in recent years.
The fledgling cricketer had not picked up a bat or ball in an official cricket match until last October. Now she is her club's girls and women's co-ordinator and an integral part of the team.
"I came from (Bendigo) inline hockey, where I previously played for five years and finished up there and was looking for something different," she said.
"I wanted another team sport and wanted to get out and meet new people and try something new and then I saw an ad the club put out last year and thought 'that's for me'.
"From day one and the first 'come and try', the whole club, especially a lot of the senior male players, have come along and helped out by giving tips and getting on-board by supporting us at games.
"The support was overwhelming and that alone wants to keep you playing."
Beames said she was honoured to be the club's first girls and women's co-ordinator and had already thrown herself head first into her new role.
She sees nothing but a bright future for the sport in Bendigo and the wider region.
"All we are asking is for girls to come and try cricket, it's one of those sports that you won't know you like until you have a go at it," she said.
"We needed to field a team of 11 last season and we fielded 20 different girls across those five games.
"We had a lot of girls try it out and each of them raved about it."
While official pre-season is not scheduled until September, the Lions have organised regular net sessions over the last few weeks and are keen for new players to get in contact, as well as join their junior programs.
MGMCC president Neil Byers said the appointment of girls and women's co-ordinator demonstrated the club's commitment to being inclusive as possible.
"Our committee is already made up of half women and half men, which is probably unusual for a cricket club, but this appointment follows our commitment to field a team in the women's competition last season," he said.
"We also had a Masters Blasters Girls team entered on Friday nights, as well as a number of girls playing in the under-11 team.
"We want pathways for these girls so these girls can progress through the grades.
"We need someone to take care of it, so we thought it was the right time to appoint a co-ordinator and Mel has the right credentials."
As part of that pathway, Byers said it was likely some female cricketers would find their way into the Lions' C-grade team on Saturdays.
For MGMCC women's team inquiries contact Mel Beames on 0400 125 495, or email melbeames@gmail.com
READ MORE:
Have you signed up to the Bendigo Advertiser's daily newsletter and breaking news emails? You can register below and make sure you are up to date with everything that's happening in central Victoria.
