By Nick Creely
Heatherbrae Recreation Reserve in Officer is set to turn pink this Sunday for breast cancer, with the West Gippsland Cricket Association to host its Pink Stumps Festival.
In an aim to raise funds and awareness for the McGrath Foundation, there will be a festival of female cricket and family-friendly activities, which will kick start at 9.15am.
At 9.30am, there will be a super sixes competition, which will feature teams of six and made up of mum’s and daughters. All innings will be six overs and all clubs are invited to participate and submit a team.
At 11.30am, there will be a Pink Stumps skills session, at 1pm the senior women’s match between Officer and Tootgarook will kick off, with an Under 18 girls match between Silverton and Narre South also scheduled.
There will also be a raffle on the day, with major prizes such as a Shanikas Pakenham voucher, a McGrath Foundation polo shirt, a Glenn McGrath autographed bat and ball, and a Berwick Montuna Golf voucher.
Well renowned local sporting figure Jayne Porter knows all too well through personal experience the impacts of breast cancer, and will welcome the crowd at 9.15am with details of her journey and the importance of donating to the McGrath Foundation.
She told the Gazette that she was honoured to be asked to participate at her home club, where she has been involved for four generations.
“We first had a Pink Stumps Day around 2014, so we’ve been involved in the fundraising part for a few years now,” she said.
“But I was diagnosed with breast cancer myself in 2019, so I’ve got that personal connection to Pink Stumps as well.
“So when I was approached about speaking or contributing on Sunday, I didn’t hesitate, and I’m happy to do whatever.
“We’re really happy with how our girls cricket program has progressed as a club, and also as a league – I think it’s such a great opportunity to showcase our women’s cricket on Sunday, and to combine that with something as fantastic as Pink Stumps Day.”
Jayne spoke glowingly of the work being done by the McGrath Foundation, and urged people to dig deep, wear something pink and contribute in any way they can.
“A lot of people have heard of the McGrath Foundation, but are not exactly sure what they do, but know they raise money for breast cancer,” she said.
“The actual purpose is to provide funds for breast cancer nurses all around Australia, and I think when Jane McGrath was first diagnosed with breast cancer, there may have only been a handful of nurses in existence, and now there’s hundreds.
“So they’re aiming to provide every person that’s been diagnosed with breast cancer, male or female, with their own breast cancer nurse, whether its metropolitan or country.
“Certainly in the last few years, they’ve increased the breast cancer nurses – my breast cancer nurse’s name was Liz, and she’s situated at St John of God in Berwick, and from a patient perspective, these ladies are like your lifeline, really.
“They are what holds everything together, they’re such an important part of your support system, and a go between with all the medical professionals that you have to deal with when you’re going through breast cancer.
“I can’t speak highly enough of the Foundation and providing that support for everybody.”
For Jayne, she’s taking it one day at a time across her breast cancer journey.
“I’m going good, I’m 18 months down the track now, and finished active treatment almost 12 months ago,” she said.
“I’m back at work, and back into normal life – a lot of what people don’t realise about breast cancer is that even after you’ve had active treatment, there’s always something moving on, there’s lots of breast cancer prevention drugs which you need to be on for five to ten years, and some for life.
“Even though you’ve finished your active cancer fighting treatment, there’s ongoing management – I’m in that phase at the moment, and getting to the five-year mark is usually the gold standard for remission of breast cancer.
“I’m 18 months in, and have three and a half years to go until I reach that milestone.”
In addition to the festival of cricket, there is ample food and drinks that can be purchased on the day.To donate online, head to pinkstumpsday.com.au/fundraisers/WGCA-girls
For more information, contact Rob Hansen on 0412 080 592.
