Photo Credit: Queensland Cricket
Queensland Cricket will embark on a State-wide investment strategy to strengthen and grow the game in 2021 and beyond.
Tonight’s Annual General Meeting heard that the Board of Queensland Cricket had approved the introduction of three major initiatives for 2021-22.
Delegates were informed that QC had returned a $4.4 million surplus for 2020-21, with the Board approving significant reinvestment into the game as a result.
There were three significant initiatives that will be introduced this season:
1) A Queensland Cricket Future Fund will be created, with an initial investment of $3.5 million. The Fund’s aim will be to grow QC’s asset base and resource its cricket aspirations, with future returns split 50-50 between reinvestment and allocations to grants and infrastructure.
2) The establishment of a $400,000 QC Grassroots Fund that will offer 10 grants of $10,000 each on an annual basis over four years with a goal of growing participation.
3) A boosted investment in facilities with a $100,000 QC Infrastructure Fund to complement the annual $300,000 QC commitment to the Australian Cricket Infrastructure Fund.
The AGM also heard that Queensland Cricket had reached an agreement with Cricket Australia earlier in the year to reduce Queensland’s funding by 12.5% instead of the originally proposed figure of 25% following a review of funding arrangements by CA due to uncertainty stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Tonight’s meeting welcomed the announcement that former Director and long-time cricket supporter Peter Evans had been conferred Life Membership.
Evans’ influence extends deeply through business and sport in Queensland. He played first grade rugby and cricket in Brisbane and excelled in the business world, where he was a founding member of Australia’s largest stockbroking firm Morgans, filling various executive positions for more than 38 years.
Evans was a stalwart of the Eastern Suburbs club that recently celebrated 25 years since it moved from its original inner-city base to Wellington Point where it now operates as Redlands Tigers.
A first-grade player with Easts from 1969-70 through to 1984-85, he captained the club to the 1979-80 premiership against Valley. He also represented Queensland Colts, playing two games as an opener, one against Queensland Country and a Syd Gregory Cup clash against NSW where a young Lenny Pascoe took the new ball against him.
Evans joined the Queensland Cricket Board in 2002-03 and served with distinction as a Director for more than a decade.
He has been a passionate and long-serving member of the Lord’s Taverners (Qld) and is currently their chairman. He is also a founding member of the Peter Burge XI.
He becomes the second member of the Evans family to receive Life Membership of Queensland Cricket. His grandfather, William Evans, who played 30 first class games for Queensland as well as representing Australia in rugby union and later became Chairman of the Queensland Cricket Association, was made a Life Member in 1911.
Queensland Cricket Chairman Chris Simpson congratulated Evans on his honour.
“Peter ‘Bench’ Evans is widely known and admired for his contribution to cricket. He continues to be a passionate advocate for our game and supports many causes through his ongoing involvement with the Lord’s Taverners (Qld) which supports Indigenous and All-Abilities cricket,’’ he said.
“He provided sound financial and cricketing guidance during his time as a director and continues to be a generous and distinguished servant of Queensland Cricket,’’ Simpson said.
Tonight’s meeting saw incumbent directors Barry Jansen and Ian Healy returned to the Board for a further three-years after both were unopposed.
Simpson told the meeting that Queensland Cricket was indebted to the outstanding performance of the State’s volunteer body to deliver so much cricket amidst the uncertainly of the global pandemic.
“The Board of Directors and I recognise the enormous commitment to keeping the game vibrant during the past year, much of which has come through the steadfast efforts of volunteers in the heartland,’’ he said.
Tonight’s meeting also heard that the Allan Border Field redevelopment, which is the final stage of the National Cricket Campus project, was progressing ahead of schedule with civil works underway.
Other announcements revealed to the Delegate body included the relaunch of the Queensland Cricket Foundation, with an aspiration to fundraise and invest into cricket initiatives that create positive differences in Queensland communities.
The Foundation will support four key philanthropic pillars:
1) Indigenous health and well-being
2) Female and all-inclusive programs and initiatives
3) Infrastructure and facilities
4) Supporting experiences for disadvantaged youth
