Cricket club gets uni, TAFE on side

By Marc McGowan
CASEY-SOUTH Melbourne Cricket Club’s entry into local ranks is set to hit full steam with new relationships established with Mon-ash University and Chisholm Institute of TAFE.
Casey councillor Rob Wilson, who was instrumental in bringing Victorian Premier Cricket to the region, played the intermediary role between the parties on 23 January.
“We are trying to create a pathway for kids in Casey to get the chance to play for a Premier club, who can then move on to Victoria and then the baggy green,” Cr Wilson said.
Casey deputy mayor Kevin Bradford is delighted with the burgeoning allian-ces and said the venture had the council’s full support.
“It’s a tremendous initiative. Anything we can do to improve opportunities for our young people to further their careers is something I highly support and the council is right behind it,” Cr Bradford said.
The discussions included Casey-South Melbourne administration manager Merrilynne Hayes and vice-president Mick Taylor.
Monash University director of sport Martin Doulton and Chisholm Institute of TAFE director for business and management Robyn Campbell represented their respective institutions.
The result of the meeting is an information night that will be held at the Lindsay Hassett Pavilion at the Casey Fields complex on 27 February at 7:30pm.
The presentation will be aimed at encouraging the club’s players to further their education while playing sport at an elite level.
The Monash Elite Student Athlete Support Program has been running at the university for three years and has boasted the likes of swimmer Brenton Rickard and AFL star Luke Ball among its students.
Mr Doulton is excited about the landmark unions and is looking forward to developing them further in the future.
“I don’t think TAFE and university have gotten together before; it is a credit to Casey-South Melbourne and the City of Casey,” he said.
The relationships will potentially foster greater communication between the players and the education organisations.
“One of the things we identified is that players that want to study weren’t necessarily aware of their options,” Mr Doulton said.
“It is about creating an opportunity for that information to be disseminated and for them to have more informed choices on education pathways.”
The affiliations will also help Casey-South Melbourne appeal to country recruits, with educational ties secured and accommodation at the university available to them.
Ms Hayes was keen to underline the importance of education for Casey-South Melbourne’s cricketers and point out the limited opportunities within elite sport.
“Education is important to everyone; it’s important for their own well-being and the quality of life they have,” she said.
“It’s about encouraging them to stay in the education system and get as many qualifications as they can for their life, because only one per cent might play sport professionally and make a living out of it.”
Mr Taylor, a former Victorian cricketer, is able to provide a viewpoint from the players’ perspective.
“It’s always good to have a career to go back to. If they end up having a 10-year state career, it’s crazy not to get some qualifications behind them,” he said.
Chisholm Institute of TAFE does not have a specific support program for elite athletes, but Mrs Campbell believes establishing stronger links between the players and her school is the key.
“It’s just important that we work as a community group and provide people with opportunity,” she said.
“Hopefully they’ll move through not only their sporting career but a learning process that will allow them to get a professional career as well.”