Pooraka Cricket Club

Ms BEDFORD (Florey) (15:30): It may not be well known, but cricket is one of the sports I most admire, in that I know a little of how difficult it is to play it or any other sport well. Modestly, I must admit being reminded only on Tuesday night of the day Bedford and Redford opened the batting for the Parliamentary XI in 1998. Unfortunately for all, the cricket bag, which is only opened once a year, no longer holds the ancient record of such great moments. It is gone for all time—lost. No longer are we able to look back at the past glories of the Parliamentary XI.

Not so, though, the amazing history of the Pooraka Cricket Club. Along with Makin MP, Tony Zappia, and Tea Tree Gully councillor Paul Barbaro—himself a highly decorated player at Pooraka—I attended the annual Pooraka Cricket Club presentation dinner on Friday 13 April at the Para Hills Community Club. Keith Whales and Bill Kirkwood along with the legendary club treasurer, Jan Jarrett, made us welcome. Pooraka has a legendary history, having this past year seen its cricket team win a third consecutive senior grand final in the Adelaide Turf Cricket Association's A1 division.

I believe it was also the association's team of the year, with Jye Bailey and Mark Hanson mentioned in dispatches. I also noted on my notes from that night that Mark, who is known as 'Don' around the club, won the A1 batting trophy for the fourth year, with in excess of 3,000 runs to his name. In 2018, Pooraka celebrates its golden year, its 50^th anniversary. Many players will celebrate by marking their 300^th, 350^th, 400^th or 450^th game for the club, an outstanding achievement.

Pooraka Cricket Club has an enviable record. The senior side has lost only one game in the past three seasons and won four of the past six grand finals. The amazing bond between players, committee and supporters is evident, many having been with the club as families from their earliest playing days. I imagine, though, it is the leadership at all levels that underpins the ethos of success and always doing your very best for the club. Last year, Pooraka also took out the A, B and C senior grade premierships and other individual association-wide awards. With the club's commitment to junior cricket, this fine tradition looks set to stay the course and is well placed to continue in the same vein for many years to come.

The annual presentation dinner is part of the club's tradition, too. One of its featured highlights is Kel's poems. They are always amazing and pretty well cover the whole year in the life of the club. This year, there was also a heartfelt tribute to Kenny the scorer, a man who is always there rain, hail or shine. Believe me, there is a great deal at stake in accurately recording the amazing data Kenny gathers every week, rain, hail or shine. The club cricketer of the year was Mark Hanson.

The club's success can also be attributed to the leadership provided by the office bearers: then chairman, Bill Kirkwood; Sam Kelly; treasurer, Jan Jarrett; senior coach, Craig Pocock, a 25-year veteran; and club captain, Matt Rogers. This leadership has been well supported by a loyal playing group, a hardy band of supporters and a loyal group of sponsors. This year saw a special effort by the club to maintain its financial viability. I know they are grateful to their sponsors of the past and look forward to strong relationships with their sponsors of the future.

The year 2018-19 will be a challenging time for the club, with challenges on the horizon. Despite that, in the upcoming season the club will field senior teams in the Adelaide Turf Cricket Association's A1, A2, B3 and C2 divisions and is likely to field seven junior teams, ranging from the Milo T20 Blast through to the under 15s. In recognising the success of the Pooraka Cricket Club, it would be remiss of me not to mention that I am now involved with them because of the radical changes of the boundaries of state seats, which came into effect at the recent state election.

It presents me with a great dilemma, in that I have been a proud supporter of the Modbury Cricket Club for many years, am now a proud supporter of the Pooraka Cricket Club and will foster a relationship with the Ingle Farm District Cricket Club, now also in Florey. If I can successfully support my constituents who support either the Crows or Port Power, then I know I can successfully support three cricket clubs in Florey, and I look forward to seeing women's cricket thrive in our area as well in the year to come.