Be bowled over by women’s cricket history

THE fact that the first women’s cricket match – at least the first recorded one – to be played in Australia took place in Bendigo in 1874 may still be unknown to many.

But it did, and its 150th anniversary is being celebrated by the Frisky Matrons & Forward Spinsters exhibition at the Bendigo Historical Society’s History House Museum in Mackenzie Street until June 15.

It is also the society’s inaugural exhibition and marks the opening of its new museum space.

Curated by the City of Greater Bendigo’s heritage collections officer Simone Ewenson, the exhibition is open from 10am to 3pm every Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Admission is free.

Ms Ewenson gave a talk earlier this week with historical society collections manager Kay MacGregor about the extensive research that went in to putting the exhibition together. It will be followed by another at 2pm on June 1 with society volunteer and cricket “tragic” Dennis Johanson, about Bendigo’s rich cricketing history.

Ms Ewenson said the 1874 match was significant for several reasons, not the least of which was because Bendigo people at the time were cricket fanatics.

“Cricket was the biggest thing in this town. They were really cricket-mad.”

It came about because some local women wanted to raise money for charity during the Bendigo Easter Fair, but had to confront societal attitudes of the period where women playing cricket – and other sports – was frowned upon.

The exhibition title itself is taken from a negative newspaper report which described it as an “unfeminine trail of masculine skill” and an “unwomanly exhibition” designed to extort money from men’s pockets.

But they persisted, and their efforts are now highly celebrated.

Ms Ewenson said research into the match – which was followed by a second in 1875 – had not been easy because basically all that exists about the game now are newspaper articles.

Local families with links to the players have contributed, and teams from Bendigo and Ballarat played a commemorative game at the Queen Elizabeth Oval on Good Friday.

Photographs, items such as belt buckles, bats and balls – even babies’ teething toys in the shape of cricket bats – from both men’s and women’s cricket history are on display, having been sourced from both private and official collections.

The next talk is to be held at History House and tickets can be booked by emailing [email protected].