Grand United Welcomes All

With support from the State Government through Cricket Victoria’s Harmony in Cricket projects, Grand United will facilitate the purchase of a defibrillator, which GUCC Junior Administrator Alan Hale says will greatly benefit the club.

“Defibrillators are fairly expensive, though we felt at the club it was important we have a piece of equipment on hand to be prepared in the best way possible in the event something does happen.

“At anytime anything could happen, it could perhaps be a player, parent or even a spectator.

“The Harmony in Cricket grant has a gone a long way in helping purchase the equipment.”

Based in the multicultural suburb of Sunshine, GUCC has initiated several projects to welcome new members in both the junior and senior programs with efforts to include the wider community being mutually beneficial.

“The Brimbank municipality is a low socioeconomic area, which means we have to fight to get kids to our club,” Hale said.

“I think our club goes further than most in welcoming new members, we go out of our way to give players an opportunity.

“We offer every junior players free membership and we also supply club hats and shirts free of charge.

“It’s how we give back to the community.

“We identified that the main barrier to participation in organised to sport was the associated costs so we removed that barrier to allow more kids to play.”

Located at Parsons Reserve, Hale says that the success from seniors is a reflection on the strong junior club system that GUCC has in place.

“We have five senior teams that play in the Williamstown and District Cricket Association while our two junior teams compete in the Western Region Junior Cricket Association and we also run a MILO in2CRICKET program,” Hale said.

“Our A Turf premiership winning team this season had seven players who began their cricket careers as juniors at the club.

“There is a pathway and a framework there to get the kids from the juniors through to the senior ranks.”

Hale said that the Harmony in Cricket philosophy, which celebrates the message that cricket is a game for everyone, aligns with the actions and endeavours of the club.

“The Harmony in Cricket message is a fantastic way to bring the community together and not just those from traditional cricketing backgrounds,” Hale said.

“We try to apply the philosophy in the club in whatever we do, to welcome anybody to our club, not just those in the local area but also those beyond.

“The Harmony in Cricket signage around the club and the wristbands we wear are a great reminder of what the club is about.

“Regardless of ability, race or gender cricket is a game for everyone.”

Hale said that the club’s make up is indicative of the efforts to promote inclusion and the welcoming of the wider community.

“We have over thirty different backgrounds represented at our club including Chile, Greece, Pakistan, India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka,” Hale said.

“Getting in touch with Brimbank Council connected us with the Asylum Seeker Alliance (A.S.A) cricket program, which runs training and games for people newly arrived in Australia.

“We’ve provided coaching and a cricket kit for them and they also share facilities with us.

“By welcoming more people to our club we get to share experiences and learn more about different cultures all through the game of cricket.”

“We also award the Ben Curran Encouragement Award every year.

“Ben played juniors at our club despite being wheelchair bound and he’s is still involved within the club and he presents the award every year.

Hale said the Grant United Cricket Club would like to thank the Brimbank Council, The Asylum Seeker Alliance, The Pancake Parlour (Highpoint) and Cricket Victoria’s Harmony in Cricket program for their help.