The Ballardong Cricket Academy have started planning their 2018/19 season officially electing their new president Mark “Junior” Davis on 20 June at their annual general meeting.
Junior has stepped in to fill the shoes of his namesake, his late father Mark ‘Shadow’ Davis who started up the academy in 2006.
Following the annual general meeting committee members met with sponsors, the Shire of Northam president, the Department of Sport and Recreation, school staff and members of the public to celebrate their recent national award.
The program won the Community Cricket Initiative of the Year award as part of the Cricket Australia Sport For All Cricket Awards in Melbourne in May attended by Junior and brother Jermaine ‘Bomber’ Davis.
Speaking to the community after the AGM Junior said it is a privilege to stand in the position of President for the academy and that he believes he has big shoes to fill.
“The Academy is not just about Northam,” Junior said.
“We are looking to expand to other regions. We want to represent Ballardong as a whole.”
The group met in the Marlee Building at Avonvale Primary School, where the Academy meet on weekends to feed their members before games during the season.
It has newly been re-named by the school as the Mark ‘Shadow’ Davis building.
“His name continues on,” Junior said.
Gain an insight into the Ballardong Cricket Academy through a video produced by the Perth Scorchers, following a day in the life of the program.
The committee said they are hoping to build a partnership with the already well-established Northam Clontaf Academy based at Northam Senior High School.
Committee member Andrew Vallance said the programs aim is to make all-rounders for life.
“We are about mixing the community. This isn’t about just playing with cousins – trust me, all these kids are related,” Mr Valance said.
Mr Vallance, who was a chaplain at the WACA for 9 years said his involvement in the Academy was a coincidence.
“I started at the school in 2006, the same year Shadow got permission from the WACA to start an Aboriginal academy,” he said.
“We then received funding from the WACA for gear and breakfast for the kids.
“We are proud that the program is Aboriginal lead and managed.
“Shadow kept it going with his passion and drive.
“My involvement has caused me to think about my own preconceptions about the way Aboriginals run business.
“We still have misunderstandings about culture but it’s about learning from each other.”
Jermaine Davis said his aim as a committee member is to build a strong Ballardong through respect and discipline.
“Boys are taught to understanding their role in the community with the help of culture and language,” he said.
“But this isn’t confined to Aboriginal kids. We are for everyone”
Moving forward the Ballardong Cricket Academy has plans to hold cricket carnivals and T20 matches with other local towns.
They are already been in talks with Quairading and Bindoon about the prospect.
The program is also hoping to gain more local sponsorships to see the longevity of the initiative and provide the same development opportunities to the kids that those in Perth receive.
In the 2017/18 season the program has five team; two under 13s teams, one under 16s, a development team in adult competition and two girls teams.
There were a total of 81 players with 17 of those female.
The academy is currently helped by 19 volunteers.
Moving forward outcomes the Ballardong Cricket Academy want to achieve are increasing the number of girls playing, increase participation frequency of non-registered players and increase the number of non-Aboriginal players.
