A new leadership team is hoping to ensure the women’s side at Gisborne Cricket Club continues to prosper.
Husband-and-wife team Jodie and Tim Bannan have taken over the running of the women’s side ahead of the CV Women’s Community Cricket season.
Jodie has taken on the role of women’s co-ordinator, while Tim will coach the side.
Jodie said that the while the side had continued to have success on field, much of its running had been left to the players.
The Dragons, the only women’s side in the Macedon Ranges and Sunbury area, made the grand final in both the T20 and one-day shield competitions last season.
“We saw an opportunity to put our hands up,” Jodie said. “We hope we can help them get back up and running to their full potential again.”
Jodie said they wanted to ensure the club was in a strong position as female participation in cricket grows.
While Jodie, who is also the club’s secretary, is reasonably new to the sport, Tim has been heavily involved. He has coached at Werribee and been involved with the Dragons’ juniors program as co-ordinator and coach.
Jodie said that with their own children coming through as players, they wanted to make sure there was somewhere for them to play in the future.
“We’re looking to rebuild,” said Jodie of the Gisborne senior women’s side.
“We’ve probably got about four girls coming back and four are out due to babies and injuries. There’s possibly someone from Bacchus Marsh and maybe one from Romsey coming to play.
In a boost for female cricket in the area, the Gisborne and District Cricket Association has received funding from Cricket Australia to introduce an all-girls junior competition for the upcoming season.
To be played on Thursday nights at Riddells Creek Recreation Reserve, the competition is for girls aged 10-14.
Teams will usually be selected on the night, while some club’s with greater number of girls will look to field their own teams in the T20 fixtures.
Anyone interested in getting involved at Gisborne, contact Jodie Bannan on 0422 268 002 or secretary@gisbornecc.com.
