Mooroolbark Cricket Club
David HODGETT (Croydon) (13:00): With cricket season approaching finals, I want to speak on the success of one of my local clubs, the Mooroolbark Cricket Club, also known as the Barkers. Co-presidents for the 2024–25 season Shane Osborn and Briony Polkinghorne are passionate about the success and growth of the club, working hard for a positive culture and embracing the inclusivity of the club. The women’s cricket program they offer has gone from strength to strength, with the club introducing an all-female leadership group this season. Participation in the women’s teams has also grown for the season, so much so that the club is considering adding a third women’s side for the 2025–26 season. The primary challenge the cricket club faces is outdated small clubrooms and facilities that are insufficient to meet the demands of the club’s growth. In partnership with the Mooroolbark Football Club, they have been working hard fighting for funding for the long-overdue upgrades to the clubrooms that are desperately needed. I cannot emphasise enough the importance of this level of sport and how investment in local sport benefits the whole local community.
The federal member for Casey Aaron Violi and I have been strong advocates for the upgrades to the Mooroolbark Heights clubrooms and in our support for these local clubs. It was terrific news recently to hear Aaron’s announcement that an elected Liberal federal government would provide $4 million towards an upgraded pavilion at the Mooroolbark Heights Reserve, supporting growth in grassroots sports. This investment would ensure an inclusive space which supports the growth of both cricket and football clubs for years to come and would be a true asset for the local community. I congratulate Aaron Violi on this announcement and the cricket and football clubs on their ongoing work and efforts.