Cricket campaign a hit

Chelsea. Photo: Joe Mastroianni

By Jessica Micallef

Chelsea’s dream to play cricket has come true.

After a visit from Macedon Ranges mayor Janet Pearce at St Mary’s Primary School Lancefield, Chelsea, 10, was inspired to speak up about her dream to have a girls cricket team at the Romsey Cricket Club.

“We were learning government at school,” Chelsea said. “The local mayor came to school. She asked for ideas and she said she would be happy for the ideas to be emailed.”

Chelsea did just that. With help from her father, she sent an email to Ms Pearce in July, asking to get a girls’ cricket program up and running.

Chelsea also plays netball at the Romsey Football Netball Club.

“We wanted to do a girls’ cricket team in Romsey because there were so many girls in our netball team that would be interested in playing cricket,” she said.

“I’ve always wanted to play cricket but I haven’t wanted to play with the boys.”

Macedon Ranges council allocated $1500 during its August meeting to implement a girls’ cricket program at the club.

Chelsea’s father Tim McCarthy said he was proud of his daughter for getting the ball rolling.

“Good on her for doing that,” he said.

“At the cricket club here in Romsey, within five years we’d like to have a really full-blown junior girls program that is as strong as the boys.”

Cr Pearce congratulated Chelsea on her efforts.

“I’d like to say thanks to Chelsea from St Mary’s Primary School in Lancefield who, with her father, put in the submission grant for consideration,” she said.