Batting above average

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Wednesday, 8 February 2023

Cricketer Kristen Elder became motivated to create a pathway for girls after her daughter was born.

Last year, she won the Knox Women in Sport Leadership Award for her role at St John’s Tecoma Cricket Club.

The Council award recognises female volunteers who have made a significant contribution to their club in a position of leadership, such as president, coach or official.

Kristen first started playing cricket in her early 20s for St John’s Tecoma, returning after many years.

“St John’s Tecoma restarted their women’s team three years ago,” she says. “I had played in my 20s to early 30s and then started playing again when the team was reformed. My youngest child, Lily, was really wanting to play as well. She started off playing cricket with boys and she wanted to play with all of her friends, so that’s how I got the idea to get some girls’ teams going.”

Kristen became the junior coordinator and is now the girls’ coordinator. She has also served on the Ferntree Gully and District Cricket Association committee. Lily, now 14, plays on the under 15 girls’, under 14 boys’ and women’s teams.

“Lily’s awesome at cricket,” Kristen says. “The reason I’m still playing is because I get to play with her in the team. We’ve built such a good program in our club, bringing those girls through. Now we’ve got our ladies' team, we have a really good pathway for those girls to continue their cricket. St John’s Tecoma has always been a pioneer in women’s cricket in the area.”

Nominations are now open for the Knox Sport and Leisure Awards, celebrating volunteers in our local sports and leisure clubs.

Categories include Club of the Year, Best Club Initiated Program, Women in Sport Leadership, Junior or Adult Club Person of the Year and Years of Service Recognition.

Nominations close 27 March and winners are announced on 28 June.

Find out more at knox.vic.gov.au/sportawards

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