Jenna Fowlie’s passion for cricket has been recognised with Cricket Victoria’s female coach of the year award for 2016-17.
The award, announced last week, is reward for Fowlie’s work with the Bacchus Marsh Cricket Club’s Milo Cricket program to get more participants and volunteers involved.
Fowlie said she was shocked to receive the honour. She had already been named the Central Highlands female coach of the year.
“It’s pretty good to be recognised,” she said. “I got an email about a month and a half ago saying I was a finalist, but I forgot about it.
“It’s reassuring that I’m heading in the right direction with what I’m doing.”
Fowlie started running the Bulls’ Milo Cricket program after a request from her father, Bacchus Marsh club president Darran Fowlie.
Having played at the club as a junior, she was happy to give back.
“I’ve been involved for 10 to 12 years,” she said.
“I had done some Milo Cricket sessions in schools through Central Highlands. Dad asked if I could run the program.”
While her efforts with Bacchus Marsh are what won her the award, Fowlie’s work isn’t limited to the Bulls.
She was instrumental in setting up the Ballarat Cricket Association’s junior girls program last season and has been the Central Highlands under-14 girls’ coach for a number of years.
Fowlie said she was quite content continuing to coach the younger girls.
“You’re getting them into the sport and program at under-14 level,” she said.
“I feel like I’m more useful at this level and trying to get them started.”
Coaching is part of Fowlie’s passion for getting more females into the sport.
“I did some research last year into the barriers of adolescent female participation,” she said.
“I know I loved it growing up and enjoyed playing. Getting girls into cricket is a big passion of mine.”
Fowlie, who has been playing for Napoleons/Sebastopol Cricket Club, said that one day she would love to set up a Bacchus Marsh women’s side.
Caroline Springs’ Shelley Charlie was a finalist in the female coach of the year.
Having never coached before, Charlie took charge of the club’s girls team that won the first Molly Strano Cup.
