ICCC Women's T20 World Cup fever swept into Bendigo on Wednesday, as the tournament trophy made an appearance in Bendigo.
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In the lead-up to the February 21 to March 8 tournament, the World Cup trophy will tour Australia for 44 days.
Bendigo was stop number 20 for the Holy Grail of women's international T20 cricket.
There to welcome the cup at Rosalind Park were City of Greater Bendigo mayor Margaret O'Rourke, Member for Bendigo East Jacinta Allan, and Kangaroo Flat woman Judith Kidman, who will fill one of 400 volunteer roles in Melbourne during the 17-day tournament.
Kidman, who is responsible for establishing and running an English program for refugees in Bendigo, said she was nervously counting down the days to the start of the tournament.
"I've said to a few people that it's 30 more sleeps (to the start of the World Cup) - it's been a long time since I've counted how many sleeps it is to something," the retired teacher and passionate cricket fan said.
Kidman, a Rotary Club of Kangaroo Flat member and City of Bendigo volunteer, said her volunteerism was a huge source of personal pride.
"In the early days when I was in a small Mallee town, it all involved around kids and sporting clubs, and perhaps a bit of CWA," she said.
"I came to Bendigo about 30 years ago and the volunteering really picked up.
"Since I've retired, I don't know how many sausages I've cooked, but that means (Rotary) can give money to so many worthy causes and run community meals at our clubhouse."
The avid Big Bash and Melbourne Renegades follower rates herself as a 9.9 out of 10 as a cricket fan and is looking forward to seeing Bendigo's own Tayla Vlaeminck in action during the World Cup.
"I've watched her career develop - she's had a lot of injuries, perhaps because she is putting too much stress on a young body," she said.
"But she seems to have mastered all those and is going really well, it's fabulous to watch her."
Her well-wishes were echoed by Bendigo's elected leaders.
"It's a great personal achievement for (Tayla) - she's young and she's fast and she's someone for Bendigo to get behind," Jacinta Allan said.
"We've always liked seeing one of our home-grown talents on the international stage. It also demonstrates that as a young girl, you can grow up here in Bendigo, compete and go on and represent your country at the elite level.
"She is a great role model for women's sport and an inspiration to girls in our community."
The final of T20 World Cup will be played in Melbourne on Sunday, march 8, coinciding with International Women's Day.
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