Page 4 - WPHCC 2023-2024 Cricket Season Yearbook

Volunteers
Each season I call out the important contribution of our Volunteers for good reason – without our Volunteers we don’t have a Club.
The contribution of our Club Executive Leadership Team is critical. When the volunteer effort of our Team Managers (Cricket Blast, Juniors Mixed & Girls), Team Captains (Seniors), scorers, umpires, gear stewards, Pink Stumps Day volunteers & BBQ support is included, we have close to 300 active volunteers who have all contributed to making this season a success.
A final thought
Every season has its challenges and our success to date has been how these have been used as opportunities. Next season, and beyond, is no different.
Active Kids
Last season, the NSW Govt. reduced the Active Kids Voucher (AKV) from $100 to $50. Next season AKV support will be Means Tested putting this financial incentive out of reach for most of our people. In an economic environment where cost of living is increasingly difficult this will impact registration numbers for next season. The unknown is the extent of this impact.
Grounds
Sydney has a housing supply shortage to support high immigration levels and this is getting tighter. The Cherrybrook and West Pennant Hills Metro precincts have been identified by the NSW Govt. as high rise areas that will increase population in our area and with it the potential to tap into this growth. The significant challenge though is the lack of sporting Infrastructure – grounds and training facilities – to satisfy demand.
Continued growth of our Club
As our Club grows with more playing Options (e.g.; Tuesday and Saturday Blast; multiple Associations e.g; HK&HDCA & NSJCA for the Girls and potentially twilight mid-week games for younger Junior’s age groups due to lack of grounds) this places even more pressure on our Volunteers.
This is a complex challenge that will form part of our next stage strategy that will be developed over the coming season.
Barry McDonald Chair
May 2024