By Callum Ludwig
The Yarra Junction Cricket Club’s Pinks Stumps High Tea is returning after a year’s hiatus in support of the McGrath Foundation’s Pink Stumps Day.
The McGrath Foundation was established in 2005 by legendary Australian cricketer Glenn McGrath and his wife Jane McGrath, who was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1997 at the age of 31. Jane McGrath later suffered from metastasis (when cancer formed in one part of the body moves to another) in her bones and brain before she died in 2008 aged 42.
Tamna Bomford is organising YJCC’s Pink stumps event and said the last event they were able to hold in 2021 made $1500 for the cause.
“We’ve been doing it for many years, and for our little club, it has been really well supported and makes for a great day. It keeps getting better and better so we hope we can kick it up a gear and raise even more money,” she said.
“It’s also a chance to invite and recognise the ladies, though everyone is welcome. We’ve got a fantastic women’s team now that has started in the last few years and they are doing really well,” she said.
Adult and children’s tickets are available for YJCC’s High tea: $20 for high tea and complimentary champagne for adults and $10 for party food and a complimentary soft drink for kids. Tickets can be bought here: www.trybooking.com/events/landing?eid=998274&fbclid=IwAR2b00pChmxfPqxEDt5irRgfKFDE6RWv2cx3e5VkfNLiOob-mX1xD_v13EQ.
Ms Bomford said she doesn’t think there’s anyone involved in cricket or any sport that hasn’t been touched at some point by breast cancer.
“Whether they know someone or have had it themselves, we are all affected. The aim is to fund 250 nurses by 2025, and we’re pretty happy to be a part of that goal,” she said.
“We have had quite a few people come that aren’t involved with the club but are either breast cancer survivors or it’s a cause close to their heart, and they’re happy to come along and support in any way they can.”
The Pink Stumps Day effort is aiming to help ensure breast cancer patients can be cared for by McGrath Breast Care Nurses, who have expert knowledge, personal care and compassion and offer it free and without a referral from diagnosis right through treatment.
The YJCC Pink Stumps High Tea will be held on Saturday 4 February at the Yarra Junction Recreation Reserve from 1pm to 4pm, while the 1st XI game is on. Pink stumps will be used on the ground, players will wear pink hats and the ground and clubrooms will be decorated for the event.
