Photo Credit: Western Australia Cricket Association
WA Cricket congratulates Toby Morrell on his Medal (OAM) of the Order of Australia in the General Division for service to cricket
Morrell was included in the King’s Birthday Honours List for his outstanding contribution to Western Australian blind cricket and his involvement at community level.
Morrell has been coach of the WA Blind Cricket Team since 2019 and was previously a committee member of Blind Sports Western Australia.
The 45-year-old is also a passionate volunteer at the local level, with a 15-year relationship with Quinns Rocks Junior Cricket Club where he held the Director of Coaching position until 2022.
Morrell is a life member of Quinns Rocks Junior Cricket Club and was instrumental in building girls cricket and inclusion programs at the Club and was named WA Cricket Male Volunteer of the Year in 2019.
He is currently Head of Female Cricket at Wanneroo District Cricket Club.
Morrell hopes his honour reminds volunteers that the work they do is worthwhile.
“I had to read the email twice when I first got the nomination, I’m still wrapping my head around it!” Morrell said.
“I have been fortunate enough to be nominated, but there are a lot of people out there who give as much time and don’t receive that recognition.
“It’s not so much about the recognition, it’s more about giving back to the community and giving people a place to feel safe and enjoy their sport.”
Morrell said his passion for girls and inclusion cricket came from wanting everyone to feel a sense of belonging.
“We had a few girls playing junior cricket but they had nowhere to go from there so I said why can’t we create a girls program,” he said.
“We did a lot of work and managed to get the program up and Quinns Rocks has been a driving force for female cricket since then, especially in the northern suburbs.
“Then a few years ago, I saw a Cricket Australia ad that said sport for all, so I spent two years researching how to run a program for disabilities and then we were able to get it up and running.
“I love seeing the kids get an opportunity to have a sense of belonging, and parents having the opportunity to see their kids play a game and be involved in a sporting club.”
