Julie Savage and Claudia Fatone receive VWCA Life Membership
Two greats of the Victorian Women's Cricket Association (VWCA) were honoured with Life Membership at VWCA Presentation Night on Friday evening.
Vice President Julie Savage took to the stage first; delivering an outstanding speech outlining former President Claudia Fatone’s outstanding contribution to the VWCA, a contribution which dates back to the mid-1990s.
After beginning as a volunteer of the VWCA, Fatone was appointed to the Club Administrator role in 1997, a position she held for four years before becoming the VWCA Executive Officer in 2001.
Fatone became a member of the VWCA Board in 2006, and in 2007 she took on the role of VWCA President.
Her involvement with the VWCA was during a period of time where running a minority sector of a large sport came with enormous challenges.
Recognising changes were needed to see the sport continue to grow, Fatone was instrumental in delivering the first phases of integration with Cricket Victoria.
Fatone resigned from the VWCA Board in 2011 after becoming the first female to be elected to the Cricket Victoria Board.
Her contribution to the VWCA and the wider female cricket community has been outstanding over a long period of time and fittingly a standing ovation was given as fellow Life Member Sue Woolcock presented the badge.
Fatone was humbled to receive Life Membership saying “it’s a great honour.”
“I’ve got a lot of respect for the other life members so to be recognised with them is humbling.
“I’ve stayed involved in cricket because of the wonderful people. I’ve made some lifelong friends and a lot of them are in the room.”
After delivering a wonderful speech honouring Fatone’s contribution, unaware of what was to follow, Julie Savage was next to receive recognition for outstanding service.
A Board Member since 1990, the same year she became the 164th player to represent Victoria, 23 years on Savage continues to hold a place on the VWCA Board as Vice President.
Remarkably Savage was able to combine a position on the VWCA Board with a state playing career from 1990 to 1999, which culminated in her being named Victorian captain in 1998-99.
So far in her 23-year involvement in female cricket, Savage has filled positions such as President, Vice President, Victorian junior and senior state selector and like Fatone, has played a vital role in seeing through the integration process with Cricket Victoria from 2002 to the current day.
Upon receiving her badge from fellow Life Member Julie Jones, Savage’s passion for cricket was evident.
“You get so much more out of cricket than what you put in,” Savage said.
“Cricket is a tremendous sport that teaches you great life lessons.”
Her message to the room displaying her selfless contribution, “you’re the role models for the younger generation and that’s the important thing to make sure cricket keeps going.”
Life Membership is awarded for special services to the VWCA and the long list of names in the esteemed group reflect that.
Fittingly, both Fatone and Savage now join this prestigious group.
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