SYCUCC Vice President provides great opportunity for young women and disabled persons

A local cricket club’s Vice President and his aspirations has brought the introduction of cricket teams and competitions for those not as fortunate to have an opportunity to play sport.

Tony Giblin, Vice President of the Shepparton Youth Club United Cricket Club (SYCUCC), assisted with the establishment of women’s and all-abilities (disabled) cricket teams and competitions in Shepparton, Victoria.

“I think Tony is a local hero,” said SYCUCC Life Member and Senior Committee Member Steven Nash. “It reflects a great vision in Tony.”

It was difficult to establish such opportunities with factors such as interest and timeslots having a heavy influence on how the teams and competitions came about, according to Mr Giblin.

In the inaugural seasons, the all-abilities competition was held between SYCUCC and ConnectGV (a disability service) due to the lack of interest. However, this changed rapidly, according to Mr Giblin.

 “Getting enough interest in the all-abilities was hard,” said Mr Giblin. “ConnectGV came straight on board. The other providers weren’t quite as keen.”

In the recent edition, there were seven teams and 80 players playing from all over the districts. “It’s fantastic – ripper day out,” Mr Giblin said.

Finding a timeslot for the competition was also a struggle due to not being able to fund disability carers for working on a weekend, according to Mr Giblin.

“It would be better all-round if it could be held on a Saturday after a senior game, but that is not going to happen at this stage,” Mr Giblin said.

The introduction of a women’s team also occurred this season with Mr Giblin’s help, after SYCUCC provided training facilities for Cricket Shepparton’s underage girls’ representative team.

“We tried for a year,” Mr Giblin said. “We could only get six or seven players, we could not get anything off the ground.”

“There was no other club willing to put up a girls team to play against,” said Mr Giblin, “so we went into hibernation.”

This current season, SYCUCC again gave females an opportunity, versing other rural sporting teams beyond the district.

“We scrambled the first week, and the second week we were away and running,” Mr Giblin said. “The women’s team I think is terrific.”

Having been involved at the club since the early 1990s in numerous leadership roles, Mr Giblin has always had, “the community and the club in his heart,” Mr Nash said.

“The all-abilities and women’s sets our club apart from others,” Mr Nash said. “He has greatly assisted in their establishment and competitive ability.”