Norths Tigers cricket team gets behind Pink Stumps Day campaign

Norths Tigers captain Kylie Nufer will lead her team in a Pink Stumps Day match to honor her late father and support the fight against cancer. With a deep personal connection, she shares her story and the team’s fundraising mission. Read on to learn more.

Kylie Nufer with her dad Ray, who lost his cancer battle in 2017.

Kylie Nufer could be forgiven for being a little teary-eyed when she strides onto the Rockhampton Cricket Ground for the Pink Stumps Day game on Saturday.

She will captain Norths Tigers in their clash with Hospitabulls in Round 7 of Rockhampton Cricket’s senior women’s competition, a game which will also serve as a fundraiser for the McGrath Foundation.

Kylie signed the team up for the annual event, joining the call to arms in the battle against cancer, the disease that took her father Ray and has rocked the life of a close friend.

“Cancer can affect anybody, it doesn’t discriminate,” she said.

Kylie Nufer with her dad Ray, who lost his cancer battle in 2017.

“You can be healthy one day and be diagnosed the next.

“My dad died in 2017 after a short battle with lung cancer, my close friend is battling brain cancer at the moment and my daughter’s best friend fought off childhood cancer.”

Kylie was motivated to get behind the Pink Stumps Day initiative after hearing Glenn McGrath speak about the foundation’s incredible work during the Pink Test in Sydney in January.

She said it was opportune that Saturday’s game would pit her Tigers against a team made up of Rockhampton Hospital staff.

The McGrath Foundation has supplied two sets of pink stumps, caps for both teams and pink zinc, which the players will happily wear even though it’s a night game.

Glenn McGrath addresses the media before the Pink Test between Australia and India at the Sydney Cricket Ground.Photo: Tom Parrish

The Tigers have raised $869 of their original $1000 fundraising target but are now looking to double that through donations and ticket sales for a multi-prize raffle made possible by generous local businesses.

Kylie is a stalwart of the North Rockhampton Cricket Club, just as her dad was.

They were awarded life membership 12 months apart for their selfless service.

Kylie remembers how, as a child, she would tag along with Ray as he spent countless hours maintaining the club’s home ground of Juds Park.

“He used to be in trouble with mum because he spent so much time down there,” she joked.

As well as his tireless work as groundsman, Ray served as treasurer, a position Kylie also held for more than a decade.

The Norths Tigers women's cricket team will take part in the Pink Stumps Day on Saturday.

Kylie still feels his loss intensely.

“I just miss him and of course, I’ll be thinking of him on Saturday,” she said.

Kylie has played all her cricket with Norths and jumped at the chance to be involved when the club launched the women’s team, which is one of eight involved in this year’s competition.

“A few of us have played before but we’ve got a lot of newbies in the team,” she said.

“It’s all about getting women playing cricket, and it’s a great social outing for them as well.

“To see the smiles on their faces, whether they win or lose, is just priceless.”

Kylie is encouraging people to turn out for Saturday’s game, which starts at 6pm.