Dear Members...

We trust that you are all well and coping with the lock-down and families. (Think Christmas day times 28!). In our last Quick Singles we talked about two of the key projects underway - the building of nets at St Paul’s College spearheaded by Dion Nash and the work that Kit Perera is doing with Avondale College. I spoke with Dion last week and the project is currently on hold. Their key funder is NZCT who are frozen at this point due to no income coming from pubs and clubs. They will proceed as soon as they can, and the QSCC will contribute up to $20,000. 
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I recently visited the Suburbs New Lynn indoor nets where Kit Perera is running after school coaching twice a week for Year 9 and 10 boys from Avondale College. He is looking to expand participation and grow the number of teams at the school. His philosophy extends to “whole of life” and becoming better people through cricket. I was really impressed with the turnout, enthusiasm and skills of the boys. The QSCC has given Kit a budget of $10,000 for this coaching. 

Best wishes, Brian Moss

Other Updates

​The Will Young Cricket Trust
Will has set up a trust to help youth cricket in Taranaki. As a contracted player of New Zealand Cricket he has decided to donate a portion of his retainer to the trust, and invite applications for grants. We see this as a fantastic project and have granted the trust an initial $5,000. In return Will has pledged to fully acknowledge the QSCC and promote the cause. 
 
Eastern Bay of Plenty Cricket Club
Having moved to Whakatane, Colin Rampling found there was no cricket being played in the Eastern Bay of Plenty, despite there being four clubs at one point. Colin and some others have incorporated the Eastern Bay of Plenty Cricket Club with an initial focus on low-decile youth cricket (what a great concept!).   
They have been getting great turnout to musters and are looking to repair two badly-damaged nets and purchase some equipment. We have agreed to cover the quoted cost of $9,150 and are greatly supportive of their initiative. 
 
Papatoetoe Cricket Club 
We have supported the club and the efforts of Garry Wood for a few years. They continue to do great work with over 25 schools in South Auckland. Before cricket was recently curtailed, Garry had an active programme of inter-school tournaments, coaching and musters at the club. We have granted the club $5,000 to pay for the coaching and game management, along with some gear for the schools. Thank you again to Players Sports who continue to donate a lot of shop-soiled and seconds gear.  

Christchurch Golf Day
We have a good field booked in for the annual Christchurch golf day to be held at the Shirley course on Friday 28th February. Anyone looking to still enter should contact Glenn Sulzberger at glenn.sulzberger@nzcpa.co.nz.

We thank our generous sponsors Lion, Triumph and Disaster, Off The Back, Quality NZ, Bessie Restaurant and The Elms Rhododendron Gardens who have generously donated product for consumption and prizes.
 

Dion Nash spearheads Cricket revival at St Pauls College
St Pauls is a small secondary school in Ponsonby with it’s role comprising around 80% Pasifica students. It is well known for its impressive Rugby and League alumni. Former students include Mark Graham, Stacey Jones, Dane O’Hara, Sam and Sione Lousi, Francis Meli, Joe and Nigel Vagana, Bernie Fraser and many others.
 
The school is going through a resurgence with its completed building programme and the appointment of former St Peters College principal, Kieran Fouhy.
 
New parent Dion Nash is keen to help improve the cricket offering and in the first instance is on a mission to get three nets installed. The overall plan is to lift the standard of cricket at the school and create a pathway for players. He is giving his time to coach bowling while Deputy Principal and former first class player Craig Borich will coach batting and manage the development team.
 
The aim is for the first XI to play in a higher grade and to have a strong development team coming through.
 
This is all of course music to the ears of the QSCC committee who voted unanimously to contribute $10,000 to the nets project and will follow with interest and enthusiasm.

Colin Rampling and team establish Eastern Bay of Plenty CC
With no junior cricket being played in the Eastern Bay of Plenty, Colin Rampling and friends have incorporated the EBOPCC, and are doing an amazing job in introducing the game to the low-decile district.  A six week school programme before Christmas resulted in 85 juniors registered on Cric HQ.
 
In a “where to start” situation, Colin has  a clear vision with short and long term goals. From an infrastructure perspective these include repairing four nets and installing an artificial wicket at Whakatane Intermediate for the use of the community. Also to gather gear and assist with registration and subs, and at some point work out what to do about a clubhouse!
 
The committee has approved request for net repairs, equipment, two gazebos and a promotional flag amounting to $9,150. We see this as a fantastic grassroots initiative and wish them well.