Noogal Toengorrt Tani Cricket Program
Program News
The Name
The Logo
Victorian Indigenous Cricket Advisory Committee
Program Description
Becoming Involved
Program News
Imparja Cup Success for Victoria
The Victorian Imparja Cup team produced some great cricket against quality opposition to maintain their position in the top division of the 2008 Imparja Cup, held in Alice Springs. The Vic's notched up victories against Northern Territory, South Australia, eventual finalist Tasmania and tournament powerhouse New South Wales. A narrow loss to the ACT by 3 runs cost the team a chance to play in the final.
Even contributions from all players was a requirment with seven games played in five days in 38 degree heat. There were some standout performances with Daniel Atkinson from Moe bowling his left arm off spin with great affectiveness on the slow wickets and Keith Stevens from Shepparton hitting some big shots in the limited overs format.
Nakia Firebrace from Northern Socials CC was the pick of the quick bowlers and hit some vital runs in the middle order with Brett Pevitt from Heywood also contributing with the bat. Malcolm Dow from Morwell was rewarded for a consistent carnival by being named in the Imparja Development Squad with represenatives from other states to attend Cricket Australia's Centre of Excellence in Brisbane. Malcolm is a young talented sportsman with the experience at the CoE expected to further progress his cricket career.
The Victorian team was presented before the Board of Cricket Victoria and community leaders at a Cap Presentation function held at the MCG prior to leaving for Alice Springs.
Cricket Victoria has an open invitation to all indigenous Victorian sportsmen and women to become involved in the Noogal Toengorrt Tani Cricket Program. For more information please contact Paul Mullarvey on (03) 9653-1186.
Victorian Imparja Cup Team Announced
After an intensive selection process including seven trial sessions at venues in Bairsndale, Hamilton, Shepparton and Melbourne (including the MCG), the Victorian Imparja Cup Team has been selected. Congratulations to the following players:
David Nelson - Leadership Group
Barry Firebrace - Leadership Group
Rohan Best - Leadership Group
Daniel Atkinson
Jaryd Atkinson
Jamie Coltman
Nigel Currie
Malcolm Dow
Nakia Firebrace
David Giliam
Alex Kerr
Brett Pevitt
Keith Stevens
Players unlucky to miss out on selection included Geoffrey West, Nigel Wilkes and Ryan Holtenharding. Other players including Tyrone Bean and Joel Liddle were unavailable for selection due to other commitments. All of the players mentioned would have easily made it into past teams - showing the depth that is now starting to develop in indigenous cricket.
Selected players will attend a cap presentation function to be held in the Cricket Victoria Dining Room at the MCG during the VB Bushrangers v Queensland Ford Ranger Cup game on Wednesday 6 February. The team then travels to Alice Springs on Sunday 10 February to compete against other states for the Imparja Cup.
Program Naming Ceremony
Aunty Joy Murphy, respected elder of the Wurundjeri people joined with Cricket Victoria President Mr Bob Merriman to announce the traditional Koori name given to the Victorian Indigenous Cricket Program.
Aunty Joy unveiled the name of the program as the Noogal Toengorrt Tani Cricket Program in front of a gathering of key stakeholders on the hallowed turf of the MCG. Aunty Joy has based the name on the Woirwurrung words for ‘belong' (Noogal) and ‘success/win' (Toengorrt Tani) to represent ‘Indigenous Cricket Program'.
Cricket Victoria CEO Mr Tony Dodemaide said with the Wurundjeri people being the traditional land owners of Melbourne, the MCG was an appropriate place for Aunty Joy Murphy to name the Victorian Indigenous Cricket Program. "We are delighted that a person of such standing as Aunty Joy Murphy has accepted the invitation to be involved with cricket," said Dodemaide.
Community Programs Manager Paul Mullarvey believed the Indigenous Cricket Program would help develop cricket among Victoria's indigenous population. "The naming of the Victorian Indigenous Cricket Program is a significant step in fostering relationships with indigenous communities to create further opportunities for everybody to be involved in cricket," explained Mullarvey.
The Name
Cricket Victoria invited respected Wurundjeri elder Aunty Joy Murphy to name the Indigenous cricket program. Aunty Joy has based the name on the Woirwurrung words for ‘belong' (Noogal) and ‘success/win' (Toengorrt Tani) to represent ‘Indigenous Cricket Program. It is pronounced Noo-gal Too-en-gort Tarn-e.
Given that the MCG is widely regarded as the home of Victorian cricket, it was appropriate to use the Woirwurrung language of the Wurundjeri people to name the program as they are the original owners of the land on which the MCG now sits.
The Logo
Indigenous artist Treahna Hamm designed the logo to represent Victorian Indigenous cricketers. The logo is worn by the Victorian Imparja Cup team and represents the Noogal Toengorrt Tani Cricket Program. The design has significant links to the members of 1868 Australian team, composed of aboriginal men from Western Victoria, which toured England.
Victorian Indigenous Cricket Advisory Committee (VICAC)
VICAC has been established to advise Cricket Victoria management on matters relating to the creation, establishment and/or maintenance of cricket participation opportunities, as part of the Noogal Toengorrt Tani Cricket Program, for indigenous Victorians. The eleven person committee attempts to be representative of various stakeholders of indigenous cricket and communities around Victoria. Representatives from VICAC have a place on the National Committee to advise Cricket Australia on policy matters.
The Noogal Toengorrt Tani Cricket Program
The program is working to establish two sections, a pathway for talented cricketers and initiatives to develop greater participation opportunities.
Victorian Indigenous State Team - Imparja Cup
The national Indigenous cricket carnival, the Imparja Cup, is held annually in Alice Springs. The Victorian team is selected through a process of training and trial sessions. These sessions take place from October to January and are open to all Indigenous Victorians. A final squad of 13 players is selected to travel to Alice Springs. The focus of the team is on promoting young players and providing them with an experience that they can use to progress their cricket careers through the Victorian pathway. A strong emphasis is put on coaching, with players being exposed to quality coaches and facilities.
Participation Opportunities
The Noogal Toengorrt Tani Cricket Program aims to develop a greater number of opportunities for Indigenous Victorians to play cricket. Establishing community programs, children's clinics, Imparja Cup player visits, greater access to club cricket and support for local initiatives are all part of developing participation opportunities.
Becoming Involved
If you would like to become involved - either as a player or a volunteer, please call Cricket Victoria on 9653-1100. Dates and venues for clinics, Imparja Cup team training sessions and other local initiatives vary each season.
