Inclusion, Innovation and Impact: WA Honoured at National Cricket Awards

Presented by Cricket Australia during National Volunteer Week and celebrated locally during a presentation evening at the WACA Ground on Monday, the awards celebrate the individuals, clubs and organisations helping grassroots cricket thrive across the country. 

WA was represented among the national winners through the achievements of Metropolitan Junior Community Cricket (MJCC), Rockingham Hornets Cricket Club, Kalamunda Cricket Club in partnership with Blind Sports WA, and the City of Rockingham for the Stan Twight Reserve redevelopment. 

The awards highlighted the breadth of innovation and leadership taking place across WA community cricket, from governance and inclusion initiatives through to technology, infrastructure and social impact programs. 

MJCC claimed the Community Cricket Association of the Year award after another season of significant growth and reform, with more than 10,000 junior participants involved in competitions across Perth and Peel. 

The association was recognised as the National winner for the second consecutive year for its continuing best practice governance and focus on development of the game which included improvements to stakeholder management plans, integrity processes, and a continuing commitment to diversity and inclusion across competitions. 

Initiatives included mandatory governance training for board nominees, revised child-friendly protest and dispute processes, support for families participating in Ramadan, and a stronger focus on volunteer engagement through streamlined stakeholder communication. 

MJCC also continued to lead nationally in live scoring participation and maintained a strong emphasis on Cricket Blast pathways, ensuring clubs remained focused on welcoming and retaining young players. 

Rockingham Hornets Cricket Club earned the Technology & Media Initiative of the Year award, driven by the outstanding work of 19-year-old volunteer Zoe Walker, who transformed the club’s digital presence. 

What began as a largely static Facebook page has evolved into a multi-platform community engagement hub spanning YouTube, TikTok, Instagram and live-streamed match coverage. Through the introduction of FrogBox technology, the club now streams six matches every weekend, reducing volunteer workload while allowing families and supporters to stay connected from anywhere in the world. 

Zoe also helped secure sponsorship to install TV screens throughout the clubrooms, enhancing the match-day experience for players, members and visitors while creating additional value for sponsors and partners. 

Kalamunda Cricket Club and Blind Sports WA were recognised with the Community Cricket Partnership of the Year award for NET24, a 24-hour cricket fundraising marathon that has become one of the state’s most ambitious community initiatives. 

The event brings together junior and senior players, volunteers, families, blind cricket athletes and local businesses in support of greater accessibility and inclusion in sport.  
 
This year’s partnership raised $17,000 to help fund a dedicated minibus to help people with vision impairment access training, competition and community sport opportunities across WA. 

NET24 has grown into a defining whole-of-club initiative, using cricket as a vehicle for leadership, connection and social impact while attracting widespread support from media, sponsors and the broader community. 

Meanwhile, the Stan Twight Reserve redevelopment in Rockingham was honoured as Community Facility Project of the Year. 

The project delivered a modern, inclusive and multi-purpose sporting facility supporting cricket, Australian Rules Football and broader community use. Key features include gender-equitable changerooms, dedicated umpire and first aid facilities, improved viewing and social spaces, upgraded lighting and expanded cricket infrastructure designed to support growing participation, particularly among women and juniors. 

The redevelopment was delivered through extensive collaboration between the City of Rockingham, local sporting clubs, WA Cricket and community stakeholders, creating a facility designed to support participation and connection for decades to come. 

WA was also strongly represented among the Highly Commended recipients, including: 

• Deanmore Primary School teacher Dan Rodgers in the Celebrating Cricket in Schools category; 

• Kalamunda Cricket Club in the Community Cricket Club of the Year category; 

• Allan Hobley from Nyabing Cricket Club in the Community Cricket Coach of the Year category; 

• Seamers Balcatta Indoor Sports Centre and Striker Leeming Indoor Sport Centre in the Indoor Facility of the Year category; 

• Phoenix Beeliar Junior Cricket Club in the Junior Initiative of the Year category; and 

•  Coolbinia West Perth Junior Cricket Club in the Women and Girls Initiative of the Year category.

The national recognition reflects the strength of community cricket across Western Australia and the volunteers, clubs and organisations continuing to grow the game in meaningful and innovative ways.