There was a buzz in the air at the T20 Bash on December 13 at Gilbert Gordon Oval between the Woodend Cricket Club against their rival club Macedon Cricket Club, with orange all around.
The Woodend Cricket Club participated in the global campaign for the 16 days of activism against gender-based violence, supporting the campaign to end the epidemic of deaths associated with partner-based violence. The colour associated with this campaign globally is orange.
The club hosted an information session run by Sport and Life Training on December 11 – which was sponsored by the Bendigo Community Bank, Trentham. The theme of the training session was Allies of Change – which is aimed at adult men.
“If our society is to experience a reduction in violence towards women, the change needs to be driven largely by men. This requires men to believe that the cause is vital and that our role as allies is the number one factor that will change the outcomes for women and girls. This session does not start from a position of blame. It is a positive course that educates, motivates and equips men to take responsibility, to hold each other accountable and to be proactive allies.”
Thirty-five members of the club attended the session, with different members reporting a better understanding of their role in combating this increasing issue in our community.
Woodend Cricket Club and their opposing team from Macedon embraced the theme of respect and the importance of recognising their position as role models in championing change through their sport and their individual club’s response to being leaders in this change.
WCC wore specially designed uniforms by their club, sponsored by the Zonta Club of Kyneton. The uniform blazoned the number 16 on their backs and each member of the team did not wear their name – but bore individual messages “Woodend Cricket Club supports the Elimination of Gender Based Violence”.
The Macedon Club joined the campaign by wearing orange caps with their club logo to further enhance the field of orange, which was encapsulated by signs around the clubhouse, the fences and the boundary markers around the field.
Both captains of the respective First XI teams put their support behind this event, the message and their ongoing support for events in the future.
Other sponsors of the event were the Macedon Ranges Family Law and the amazing members of both cricket clubs.
The cricket was exciting with Woodend winning both of their games convincingly with the encouragement of members of the club returning to celebrate the 30th anniversary reunion of the McIntyre Cup and B Grade premiership sides.
On the field, the cricket lived up to the occasion, with more than 100 spectators watching an entertaining display that included 72 fours and 19 sixes. Ollie Watt was named Second XI Player of the Match with 86 runs from 49 balls, while Josh Eastley produced a remarkable 140 from 61 deliveries to be named First XI Player of the match. Warren Else added to the excitement with a late hat-trick.
