Women’s sport: Anger in Brighton as schoolgirls left to change in public due to lack of facilities

REVELATIONS that schoolgirl cricketers are changing in carparks, behind trees and in grotty public toilet blocks in Brighton have put pressure on the council — and called strict school uniform rules into question.

REVELATIONS that schoolgirl cricketers are changing in carparks, behind trees and
in grotty public toilet blocks in Brighton have put pressure on their schools and Bayside Council.

The girls — some in primary school — will have no choice but to change in public for at least another season.

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The council has plans in the pipeline to build new facilities at Elsternwick Park South and William Street Reserve but the start date for both projects is unclear.

Safety fears at Elsternwick Park South were also raised after it was revealed some girls had to walk several hundred metres without parental supervision to the closest public toilets so they could change.

Many of the girls attend schools in Melbourne’s inner south with strict uniform rules.

Several, including Firbank Grammar, don’t allow students to leave the campus grounds unless they are in full school uniform.

Many schoolgirl crickets are left to change in public toilets, behind trees, or in carparks. Picture: Penny Stephens

Firbank Grammar is one of the school’s whose strict uniform rules have been questioned. Picture: Valeriu Campan

Firbank Grammar confirmed this but no one was available to comment on whether the school would consider relaxing its policy.

Other sports such as football have facilities on or near school grounds so colleges “turn a blind eye” to students travelling short distances out of uniform.

However, cricketers who travel greater distances have no choice but to change when they arrive at training.

Cara Moulong and Remy Horrobin from the Cluden Cricket Club with girls co-ordinator Andrew Bath. Picture: Penny Stephens

The girls often change in rundown public toilets. Picture: Valeriu Campan

Cluden Cricket Club girls’ coach Matt Proctor said the privacy issue was a “roadblock” to retaining or attracting players.

“When putting on a thigh pad, the batter must pull their pants down to strap it on,” he said.

“To put on a chest guard, you must either lift up or take off your shirt to strap on the guard.

“For our female players, this is something they particularly don’t want to do in full view of the public.

“We have built a shower curtain to cover up the urinal wall but the girls avoid using the toilets at our ground at all costs.”

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