Gai Brodtmann (Canberra, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Defence) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I rise today to congratulate a Canberra cricketer who, on the weekend, smashed through another glass ceiling—go sister! Kira Churchland has become the first woman to play in the Cricket ACT first-grade competition after yesterday's Gallop Cup semifinal. Kira is a bowler who plays for Weston Creek Molonglo in my electorate, as well as for the ACT Meteors. She was given the call-up on Saturday and yesterday became the first woman in the ACT Cricket Association's 87-year history to play in the first-grade competition. Not only is Kira the first woman to play in the ACT's first-grade competition but she is the first Australian woman to play in any first-grade competition in a capital city. This is a huge achievement for Kira, and I am proud that this milestone has happened here in Canberra, our national capital.

Congratulations, Kira. I hope you enjoy many more games in Cricket ACT's first-grade competition and even teach the boys a thing or two! I am sure your performance over the weekend will inspire many other female cricketers in Canberra and, in fact, around Australia to know that they can mix it with the best and that they can get out there and play first-grade cricket. Well done and congratulations, Kira.

Jane Prentice (Ryan, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Member for Canberra, and well done, Kira.