Sport
6 October, 2025
Esk Cricket Club bats for community in new season
AS the cricket season approaches, the tight-knit Esk & District Cricket Club stands proud, continuing its tradition of nurturing young cricket enthusiasts in the local community.
Esk Cricket Club’s Karly McInnes said the “small club” is “very proud” of itself and places community above all else.
“Most of the kids have been doing it for many, many years, so we’re proud of all of them in the club,” she said.
“We’re not in there to make money. We’re just there so the boys and girls have cricket to play.
“It’s to give the kids some sort of opportunity, because it’s a small, rural town and there’s not a lot of opportunities for sport.”
With only one Under 10 and one Under 13 team for the season, the club faces unique challenges due to its rural setting.
“We were a bit worried about not having a team this year for the U13, but luckily, we did get a team,” Karly explained.
For Karly, what sets Esk Cricket Club apart from other clubs is the community aspect of it.
“We all cheer on each other, our kids, like each other’s kids,” she said.
However, the club struggles to expand due to the lack of permanent facilities.
“It’s really tough for us because we don’t actually have a club, so we are on our local primary school grounds, so it’s really hard to get grants,” she explained.
“We don’t get grants because they’re not benefiting us, so it is hard to see our club grow any bigger than it already is.
“The U13 won their championship last year, and we don’t have anywhere to put our trophies, because we don’t have a clubhouse, which is a shame.”
Despite the hurdles, the atmosphere remains positive, with the U10 and U13 competitions scheduled to kick off from October 11.
“We had two boys from our Cricket Club who made it to the school boys Cricket Club, and they’ve been at Bundaberg last week for a week of cricket. That’s pretty good achievement for our boys to be able to make it to that sort of level,” Karly said.
Looking ahead, the club is eager for growth, looking for more numbers to keep the club running.
As clubs in the region adapt and evolve, Esk Cricket Club may one day merge with other teams or pursue creative solutions, but community spirit will undoubtedly remain at the club’s heart.
For now, the club’s looking ahead for a fun season, with a clear commitment: providing the youth of Esk and surrounds with opportunities to play, grow, and make lifelong memories.
For those interested in joining or supporting the Esk Cricket Club, new members are always welcome.
