The Chong Family - continuing the long tradition of family playing together in the same community cricket team
The ECA and the EGWC has a long and proud tradition of siblings playing together in the same cricket team. Ocassionally we see siblings plus a parent in the same club team. Mulit-generational participation is one of the many great things about community cricket. The Chong family; Steph, Tracey and Julie plus mum Winnie Ho, have continued the tradition with their Club Hawthorn Boroondara in the Senior EGWC grade. Although Winnie, who was a regular fill-in in the early days for the team, is now happy staying on the sidelines quietly cheering on the team every Sunday.
When you watch the three sisters in action - they all bowl seriously quickly, and can bat, its hard to believe these gifted crickerts had only played just a litte bit of cricket together at secondary school. They reconnected with the game when they were well into their twenties. According to Steph, 'we had just come out of Covid and we were looking for a summer sport to play to compliment Hockey which we played in the Winter.' As a side note, Winnie is also an excellent Hockey plaaer and the four played in the same hockey team before cricket. And dad, Wison Chong, adds to the great family sporting genes - he is a handy badminton player and golfer.
Hockey skills are well known to be transferrable to cricket. However the real kicker is that the three siblings are also accomplished Ultimate Frisbee competiorsl. They represented Australia's Under 24 team at the Ulitmate Frisbee World Championships which were held in Germany. And they are still playing the sport. This author knows little about Ultimate Frisbee, but its a fair assumption that having excellent hand-eye skills is a pre-requisite to get to the national level in that sport.
Their decision to choose cricket has been a boon for the club and the EGWC competition overall. Hawthorn Boroondara have had a dominant team for the past few seasons.
The EGWC semi-finals start tommorw. Top-placed East Box Hill will take on Nunawding at the Howard Wilson Oval (Whitehorse Reserve) while Hawthorn Boroondara will play Richmod City at Rathmines Road Reserve.
Good luck to all players and umpires.
