STAFF WRITERS
CRICKET
MIRBOO North Cricket Club was one of 128 clubs and indoor centres across Victoria to recently benefit from grants totalling $378,000 to provide enhanced cricket experiences to encourage further participation during round one of the 2021/22 Grassroots Cricket Fund (GCF).
The GCF is a joint initiative between Cricket Australia and the Australian Cricketers’ Association that will provide up to $30 million to grassroots cricket across Australia over the life of the fund.
The funds will ensure clubs and centres maintain their position as pillars of local communities by providing equipment and using grants to fund the development of coaches and volunteers and the adoption of marketing and recruitment initiatives to attract new participants.
One successful Victorian applicant, Carnegie Cricket Club, received funding to purchase a defibrillator via the Community Heart Program.
Carnegie Cricket Club committee member Nicole Irwin said the addition would be potentially life saving.
“We felt it was important to purchase and have access to a defibrillator to equip ourselves in any emergency. We want to keep people involved in sport and ensuring everyone feels safe is one way to do this. It’s fantastic to have the support of the GCF which allows clubs to make these types of purchases,” she said.
In total, 432 clubs and centres nationally successfully applied for first round grants and will share $1.3 million in funding – part of the total $2.5 million available in GCF grants this season.
A second round of grant applications opened on Monday for a three-week period, allowing clubs and centres that did not receive a grant in the first round to access funding that can be used to purchase products through GCF partners such as defibrillators via the Community Heart Program, portable 2G Flicx pitches from Flicx UK and Kookaburra training packs.
Australian cricketer Usman Khawaja launched the second round of grant applications.
“Clubs and indoor centres across Australia have done an amazing job in creating great experiences for their members despite the impact of COVID-19. The players are proud to be able to support these efforts,” he said.
“We hope these grants will help clubs and indoor centres best provide a great and inclusive environment in which to play and enjoy our game.”
For more information and grant applications visit grassrootscricketfund.com.au
Collegians Cricket Club in the Sale-Maffra Cricket Association was the other Gippsland-based club to benefit.
