Scotch College

CRICKET: McLeod Club

The Club was established to provide assistance for cricketers at Scotch and to strengthen links between the School, parents and Old Boys. Our name was derived from the four McLeod brothers: Bob, Charley, Dan and Harry, who all played cricket for the School - with Charley and Dan later playing for Australia at Test level.

Website: http://www.scotch.vic.edu.au/sport/cricket/cricket.htm link to 'Bowled Over'

Main activities

Our focus is to foster the sense of a cricketing community within the School and, wherever possible, to provide practical assistance in helping boys at all levels develop their skills.

In 2009, the McLeod Club will purchase practise equipment and contribute to the cost of specialist coaching with a particular emphasis on those boys in Years 7 to 9 and, through the parent group, also provide support to the coaching staff.

The McLeod Club also hosts or provides support for a number of events throughout the year including:

• Pre-season practice sessions available to boys at all year levels

• specialist training clinics

• A season launch function

• A Barbecue for Year 7 cricketers and their parents in early 2009

• A Tait Cup dinner/social event for parents and the 1st XI players from both Scotch College and Geelong Grammar. (The Tait Cup is played for each year and commemorates the first ever game of APS cricket played between the two schools in 1858)

• A trophy presentation night (to be held for the first time in 2009)

The Club has also developed a Cricket Manual which will be used by Year Group Co-ordinators in 2009 to communicate with parents and encourage or facilitate greater parental involvement in each game whether it be umpiring, scoring or organising the boys before each game. In 2008/09, all cricketers will also be able to receive Bowled Over which will contain weekly match reports and other cricket information and, via the McLeod Club, it will also be available to parents via email.

Fundraising

The McLeod Club will undertake a number of fund raising initiatives in 2008/09 including a major raffle and social event in February/March 2009 and is also keen to hear from any people (or businesses) who may wish to become inaugural sponsors of the Club.

Tours

The School conducts a number of tours for selected cricketers on an annual or bi-annual basis including:

• an England tour for a 1st XI development squad for boys in Years 10 and 11 (next tour, June 2010)

• the “Southern Skies Challenge” in Brisbane each year for Year 9/10 cricketers

• a Scots College, Sydney tour for the 1st XI squad (next Sydney tour in January 2010)

• an annual exchange program for three Year 9 boys King Edwards School, Birmingham (UK)

How to get involved

The McLeod Club is committed to providing as much support as possible to the broader Scotch

College cricket community. We are, therefore, particularly keen to hear from parents who would like to assist either at committee level or simply be a helper on a specific project.

Any interested parents are welcome to contact any of the committee members listed below:

President: Andrew Macmillan

Year Group Co-ordinators: Lawrie McMahon, Hugh Macfarlane, Malcolm Short, Andrew Whittle, David O’Beirne and Craig Douglas

Teacher-in-charge of Cricket: Ian Banks

OSCA: Tim Shearer

The committee meets monthly (October to March) and bi-monthly (April-September).