Pride was in abundance at Wallington Cricket Club on Sunday February 18.
The club held its first Pride Cup event with both its women’s side playing against St Leonards in a double header at Wallington Recreation Reserve.
Pride Cup is all about transforming sporting culture to create safe, welcoming, and accepting spaces for the LGBTIQ+ community.
“Sporting clubs are an important way for people to find community, to have fun and have purpose,” club president Marc Occhipinti said.
“As Wallington CC continues to expand, we are seeing an increasingly diverse membership base. During this journey, we have learned some very sobering statistics around how unwelcomed and uncomfortable sections of our society feel within the sporting landscape.
“To think people miss out on community sport because of a real or perceived notion that they aren’t welcome isn’t good enough. People of all ages, abilities, colours, creeds, sexuality and gender identity should always be welcome in these instances.
“Ensuring people know they can be proud to be themselves, we can create clubs that thrive and succeed. We support what Pride Cup represents and we know that when we change sport, we change communities. Every step we take towards inclusivity is a positive one.”
The day was well attended and a huge success with plenty of volunteers making sure it all ran smoothly.
And for the record, Wallington won the C Grade encounter by 32 runs with captain Sarah Kelsall making a fine 79 not out and Ruby Wright taking two wickets and the Saints won the E Grade South clash by 81 runs with skipper Katrina Shimmin top scoring for the game with 33 retired.
