To say that Belinda Vakarewa has enjoyed a meteoric rise through the pathways of cricket would be an understatement.
The winner of this year’s Elite Sportsperson of the Year honour at the Wests Sports Council awards, Vakarewa went from playing for the Magpies Cricket Club to bowling for the Southern Stars, Australia’s popular women’s team.
Now 20 years of age, Vakarewa was just 14 when she made her way into the Cricket NSW Pathways program.
Ghosts Cricket invited her to join the Brewer Shield under 17 side in Premier Grade Cricket and by her 17th birthday Vakarewa was playing first grade.
Here’s a snapshot of her career trajectory:
- NSW U/15 and U/18 – winning team in the 2014/15 national championships.
- NSW Breakers Senior Cricket NSW squad.
- Sydney Thunder T20 Squad.
- Southern Stars Australian World Cup squad – ODI debut against Sri Lanka on June 29, 2017 in England at the Women’s World Cup.
It was cricket to the fore again when the Wests Sports Council Elite Sports Team of the Year award was announced.
But not many people would have been surprised it went to the Macarthur Raptors.
The Macarthur Raptors Premier League side, who compete in the National Indoor Cricket League (NICL) run by Cricket Australia, swept all before them in the past season.
After finishing the Sydney Metro competition as joint minor premiers, the Raptors went on to win the grand final and the title.
The Raptors achieved more success when they remained undefeated at the Indoor Cricket state titles in Newcastle to be crowned best indoor cricket side in NSW.
At the NICL national finals in Melbourne the Raptors finished third, narrowly missing out on a semi-final spot.
However six Raptors players won selection in the NSW opens indoor cricket team, and one player selected in the Australian over 35 team.
The winners in the other 2018 Wests Sports Council annual awards categories were:
- Junior Sportsperson of the Year winner – Reuben Bennett from Ambarvale Little Athletics
Runner-up – Billy Zavetsanos from Macarthur Triathlon Club
- Youth Sportsperson of the Year winner – Keiran Brook from Wests Hockey Club
Runner-up – Ella Wooldridge from Macarthur Triathlon Club
- Senior Sportsperson of the Year winner – Wayne Stanton from Tennis Macarthur
Runner-up – Paul Eden from Western Suburbs Rugby League Referees Association
- Sports Team of the Year winner – Graduate B Macarthur Flames Netball Club
Runner-up – Under 15 Division 1 from Magpies Cricket Club
- Spirit of Sports Club Person of the Year winner – Debbie Stewart from Magpies Cricket Club.
Runner-up Lyn Deveney from Macquarie Fields Swimming Club
The 2018 Wests Sports Council annual awards dinner was held earlier this month.
There were more 600 people in attendance at Wests Leumeah in a wonderful celebration of local sporting champions.
Local rugby league legends Brett Hodgson, John Skandalis and David Nofoaluma were the guests of honour on the night.
