By Faith Macale
One of the pioneers of women’s cricket in Australia, Raelee Thompson, was left “flabbergasted” when she learned she was appointed as a Member of the Order of Australia this year (AM).
The Hillside resident has been recognised for for her contributions on and off the field in the Australia Day honours.
Thompson said one way to look at being made a Member of the Order of Australia was as pay off for her hard work, but said she only played cricket because she’s passionate about it.
“I really loved playing cricket, and the administrative roles are ways I can return the favour,” she said.
Thompson was a cricketer for 20 years playing interstate and internationally, and was also an administrator.
She played 16 test matches and 23 one-day internationals as a part of the Australian women’s cricket team and captained the team to an Ashes win. Thompson, who was a right-arm medium fast bowler, became the oldest player to in test cricket to claim a maiden five wicket haul at the age of 39.
She was also a former coach, captain and a player for the Essendon and Maribyrnong Park Ladies Cricket Club.
Thompson was also just as busy off the field in the cricket world.
“I was a Victorian and Australian selector, a match referee at one stage, and I was on the Australian Women’s Cricket Council as a delegate for Victoria,” she said.
“In my later years, I just go and watch my old club (Essendon and Maribyrnong Park) play, and mentor young kids that play there.”
Thompson is in the Australian Cricket Hall of Fame, Shepparton Sports Hall of Fame, and the Victoria Police Sporting Hall of Fame. She spent 17 years in the police force.
She is also an honorary life member of the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) in London.
Despite her many accolades, she has two in particular that she is proud of.
“Captaining Australia to a 2-1 win over England in an Ashes series in 1984-85,” she said was the first one. “Australia hadn’t won a series against England for many years.
“Another is being admitted into the Australian Cricket Hall of Fame.
“There isn’t anything bigger or better than to be recognised by your own peers.”
Thompson said it didn’t matter where she was playing cricket, she loved the contest of the game.
“It was a game that I started playing in high school, and it just grabs you more than what the other sports did,” she said.
“This particular game is a mind game. A lot of people don’t recognise it, but it is.”
Thompson said she didn’t know who put her name in to be appointed as an AM, but she was thankful.
“It is a nice feeling that someone recognises the work that you’ve done even though I wasn’t doing it for that reason,” she said.
