In the heart of Gungahlin’s north, the Yerrabi Cricket Club is making significant strides towards becoming a premier cricket institution. Founded with a modest beginning, the club has seen exponential growth in just five years. “We had a young committee at that time, not a lot of people who had any experience whatsoever in cricket, so we just started from scratch,” explained club president Sumeet Panesar.
Today, the junior club has expanded from two teams to nearly 200 players, with aspirations to become Canberra’s first new Premier Cricket club in decades. This remarkable growth has been fueled by the dedication of parents and volunteers, as well as strategic community engagement.
Community Roots and Volunteer Spirit
Brooke Bligh, the club’s secretary, joined Yerrabi two years ago when her daughter became a member. “Both of our children now play for Yerrabi. We find it really well managed and we’re enjoying being part of it and helping it grow,” she stated. The club’s presence in the local Gungahlin community, including areas like Amaroo, Taylor, and Ngunnawal, has been a key factor in its success.
This season, Yerrabi boasts 16 teams, including two girls’ teams, two male Colts teams, and for the first time, a side in the 6th grade of the men’s Premier Cricket competition. “We’ve been doing a lot of Bunnings barbecues and putting the word out there, posting in a lot of Facebook groups,” Panesar noted, highlighting the grassroots efforts that have driven the club’s expansion.
Strategic Partnerships and Growth
Yerrabi has also forged strategic relationships with other local sports clubs, such as Gungahlin Aussie Rules and netball clubs. “It’s just all volunteer work that all of these people are doing; it’s a selfless job. We’re just doing it for the kids,” Panesar emphasized. This community-driven approach has cultivated a supportive environment for young athletes.
Bligh added, “The kids really enjoy the environment of the club. They’re feeling supported, they tell their friends — it’s growing in that respect.” The club’s reputation for fostering a positive atmosphere has been instrumental in its rapid growth.
Aiming for Premier Cricket Status
Looking ahead, Yerrabi has ambitious plans to expand further, with a focus on increasing the number of girls’ teams and establishing a senior side. The ultimate goal is to secure a place in Canberra’s Premier Cricket Club competition, a significant move in a region that has maintained the same eight clubs for decades.
However, challenges remain. North Canberra-Gungahlin already competes in Premier Cricket, and additional turf pitches would be necessary to accommodate more teams. “We’ve been talking to Cricket ACT regarding having a senior club, and there’s been a little bit of chat about putting a business case up, but you know it’s still the early stages for that,” Panesar explained.
He suggested that there could be room for both clubs in Gungahlin, stating, “North Canberra Gungahlin is itself an established club and they’ve been in Gungahlin here for quite a while now. Even having North Gungahlin, we at Yerrabi still have a lot of teams now, so you can see the amount of numbers that we’ve got at the moment and the future looks bright for us.”
“I still get a lot of inquiries and my team still gets a lot of emails having their kids want to play and some of the seniors who want to come and join as well,” Panesar remarked, underscoring the club’s growing popularity.
The Road Ahead
As Yerrabi Cricket Club eyes a future in Premier Cricket, the journey will undoubtedly require continued dedication and strategic planning. The club’s success thus far is a testament to the power of community involvement and the passion of its members. With the right support and infrastructure, Yerrabi could soon join the ranks of Canberra’s elite cricket clubs, bringing new opportunities and excitement to the region.
