Jerrica catches cricket hero Adam Gilchrist out at Tiwi Ashes

JERRICA Heenan knows her way around the AFL field but it was her spectacular catch that caught Adam Gilchrist out in this year’s Tiwi Ashes that she’ll be remembered for.

Jerrica Heenan and Alex Guy take a break from the Tiwi Ashes to hang out with Matthew Hayden in a school garden, an initiative of the Hayden Reynolds Tiwi College Project

JERRICA Heenan knows her way around the AFL field but it was her spectacular catch that caught Adam Gilchrist out in this year’s Tiwi Ashes that she’ll be remembered for.

The 14-year-old Tiwi College student from Snake Bay said she couldn’t believe it when she nabbed the ball.

“I was really excited – I caught Gilly out!” she told the NT News.

“It’s been a fun day ... it’s inspiring to meet them.”

Gilchrist was joined at the Tiwi College on Pickertaramoor, Melville Island, by fellow cricketing greats Matthew Hayden, Glenn McGrath and Michael Kasprowicz, along with former rugby player Matt Waugh, for the fifth annual Tiwi Ashes.

But their connection to the school runs deeper than a cricket match.

About seven years ago former Australian opening batsmen Hayden made his first trip to the Tiwi Islands for a fishing trip. These days he’s practically a local.

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Through Hayden and Guy Reynold’s philanthropic project, the Hayden Reynolds Tiwi College Project, $2 million has been raised for the college since starting about six years ago.

Talking to the NT News from the dusty pitch at Tiwi College, Hayden explained why he wanted to get involved with the community.

“One of the key factors was that the Tiwis had a huge suicide rate, the highest in the world – for us that was a significant driving point in getting behind it,” he said. “We really bought into the Tiwi education board, we love what this place stands for and the philosophies behind it ... we started to talk about how we could really add value to the place.”

That value included a sprawling garden, complete with crops of fresh fruits and vegetables, an outdoor kitchen, chook pens, a man-made dam and the resident buffalo.

Hayden is quick to point out although the garden is up and running, the project remains far from finished: “Nobody deserves a pat on the back until these kids are in community growing produce or being part of Tiwi jobs.”

Despite Jerrica’s brilliant catch Gilchrist and his team came through to claim this year’s Tiwi Ashes glory by 10 runs over Hayden’s team.

Jerrica has not ruled out a return in next year’s Ashes.