Sport
16 May, 2021
Local cricketer wins rookie title
At just 15-years-old, local cricketer Jorja Charles has outshone women of all ages in the recent South West Indigenous Network’s (SWIN) Western Rivers Cup, being named the Rookie of the Carnival.
Competing for the Bulloo Suns, Jorja showcased her skills as an all rounder against teams from across the western river system.
The Oakey student has a strong junior cricket foundation, playing for the Oakey Junior Cricket Club for several years.
Not only was Jorja named Rookie of the Carnival, the Bulloo Suns team won the 2021 Women’s Western Rivers Cup, after a close final against the McIntyre
Storm.
Western Rivers Cup Coordinator, Kieren Gibbs said Jorja showed great courage in her first open cricket carnival.
“Rookie of the Carnival is a big honour,” he said.
“People who have won the award in the past have gone on to play first grade cricket and represent Queensland in the Indigenous league.
“Jorja is a very talented cricketer and played well over the weekend.
“She also clearly loves the sport, is well natured and showed good sportsmanship in the carnival.”
Mr Gibbs said it was not an easy run for Jorja’s team to claim the cup.
“The McIntyre Storm have won the women’s cup every year we have held it,” he said.
“In the end there was only eight to ten runs in it.”
The Western Rivers Cup was held at Captain Cook Fields, Toowoomba last month.
The concept was established in 2013 with the goal of promoting the game of cricket as well as recognising the cultural significance of the river systems to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the region.
