Ex-Dandenong president to run for Cricket Victoria board
Former Panthers president Ross Hepburn has thrown his hat into the ring for election to the CV board, joining Amanda Bond, Simon Tobin and Penelope Cleghorn in the race to replace Paul Jackson and Claudia Fatone.
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A fourth candidate has emerged for the two vacancies on the Cricket Victoria board, with former Dandenong president Ross Hepburn last night flinging his hat into the ring.
Hepburn said this morning he had been encouraged by various people to run for the board and would so with the nomination of Prahran and Frankton Peninsula.
Monday is the cut-off for nominations.
The CV annual general meeting will be held on August 31.
Replacements are needed for retiring pair Claudia Fatone and Paul Jackson, and Hepburn has joined Essendon president Simon Tobin, Northcote nomination and KPMG partner Amanda Bond, and chair of the women’s Victorian Premier Cricket panel and Box Hill player Penelope Cleghorn as candidates.
One of the vacancies must be filled by a female.
In a letter to clubs, Hepburn said he was passionate about Victorian cricket and was keen to offer his time and expertise “at this time of heightened anxieties and financial difficulties caused by the COVID-19 pandemic’’.
He said it was vital the CV board and its member clubs and organisations “work harmoniously together to guide all aspects of our sport calmly and strategically through this storm’’.
“Cricket Victoria has already experienced a wave of disruption this year,’’ he said.
“Downsizing to restore financial sustainability is welcome even if a difficult pill to swallow.
“Like me I’m sure you all want to see a vibrant return to cricket.’’
He said he would work towards:
• new partnerships with sponsors, governments and local councils to “ensure win-win outcomes work for all’’.
• sustainable business strategies ensuring CV supported cricket at all levels.
• elite, Premier, Sub-District, country and club cricket growing the sport and supporting cricketers to achieve their full potential.
• the growth of women’s cricket “with a reinspired focus at all club levels and Premier Thirds, continuing the strong VWCA legacy’’.
• multiple and diverse pathways for cricketers to rise through the ranks to state and international level reopening.
• strong community engagement, and diversity and equity in cricket, with all abilities, ethnic groups, school cricket and regions supported.
Hepburn has been involved in cricket administration since 1980.
He was president of Dandenong District Cricket Association (DDCA) club Coomoora for 10 years and president of the DDCA for three years.
He became president of Dandenong Cricket Club in 1995 and served in the role until 2005.
Hepburn, a life member of Cricket Victoria, worked in marketing and management positions in government and private industry.
It has been a tumultuous time for Cricket Victoria, with a financial squeeze leading to large job losses, particularly at community-cricket level, in May.
There were also some high-profile casualties, including legendary fast bowler Cathryn Fitzpatrick.
CV has also yet to come to an agreement with Cricket Australia over its annual distribution.
Cleghorn has been a member of the Women’s Premier Cricket panel since 2014 and chair since 2018, overseeing the strategy for 2019-2022.
She played more than 200 First XI games for Box Hill, including four one-day premierships.
A life member of the club, Cleghorn served as director of women’s cricket and was vice-president.
She is the assistant principal of Kew High School.
Bond has been an audit partner of KPMG Australia since July, 2015 and is involved in a string of not-for-profit organisations, including the National Heart Foundation and Netball.
Since 2018 she has been on CV’s audit and risk committee.
Tobin, Essendon’s president for 12 years, said this morning that Cricket Victoria was in for a challenging period and it was vital that clubs and associates had a strong voice at board level.
“There are some hard decisions that have been made in recent times and there are going to be some difficult discussions and more important decisions made in the next year or two,’’ he said.
“We need capable people with robust personalities who can ensure members of the Victorian cricket community are heard at the board table. It’s not just a popularity contest. It’s really important we get the right people.’’
Paul Barker (chairman), David Maddocks, Theresa Best, Lydia Dowse, Phil Hyde, Jane Nathan and Peter Williams will remain on the board.
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