Eaton Beavers Cricket Club celebrates 20-year anniversary in 2021

Having formed in 2001, the Eaton Beavers will celebrate their milestone on August 28 at a celebratory evening of special awards and club history.

Eaton Cricket Club Secretary and Life Member Mick Rogers is one of the original members who helped start the Club and confessed it was a struggle in the beginning.

"At the time there was about three or four really strong clubs in Bunbury and they had all the players. We started from scratch and it took around three to four years to really get going," Rogers said.

Originally called the Leschenault Cricket Club, the name was changed in 2004 to the Eaton Beavers Cricket Club to help cement the club within the suburb of Eaton.

To date the club now has ten life members and four seniors men's teams, one women's adult team and three junior sides.

Rogers said notable moments for the club included when the Men's Third Grade 6/7 team won the 2007/8 Premiership, the Men's A Grade in 2016/17 and the Men's A Grade team winning the Premiership once again last year, 2021.

"Against all odds we took home the win last year. We defended 70, it was a ripper game. Everyone said it was one of the best grand finals that's ever been held down here."

Current Eaton Beavers Cricket Club President Travis Johnson has been part of the Club since 2007 and said the introduction of the Women's team three years ago was another defining moment in the club's history.

"It was really needed and it changed everything and made the club more inclusive. The attitude of the club changed also as it was a little bit more of a boy's club before," Johnson said.

"Now slowly as people have had kids and brought them along, our juniors teams are going well also. Women and kids coming in has definitely made the Club better."

Having moved to Bunbury in 2003 from the country, Johnson said joining the club helped him make friends and feel more included.

"I started playing cricket with the Eaton Beavers and never looked back. It's an excellent place. I'd recommend cricket to anyone for the great environment, the fitness and of course the mateship. We're always looking for new players, especially girls and women to help those teams."

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The Eaton Cricket Club are hoping to further celebrate their 20-year milestone by starting construction of new club rooms at their home on Pratt Road in Eaton.

With the new designs for the Club submitted to the Shire or Dardanup, Johnson hopes the new facilities will be completed within the next 12 to 24 months.

"We've been looking at new club rooms for the last 15 years, so it'll be a defining moment for us this year to have that go ahead," Johnson said.

The Eaton Beaves Cricket Club 20-year celebration will be held at the Highway Hotel's Bennetts Bar on August 28, 6pm to late.

Tickets are $30 per person and $50 per couple and can be purchased at the door.

"The awards will include the naming of the best, first grade team over the last 20-years and also recognising the work of the people who have put a lot of effort into the Club over the years," Rogers said

"People always have anniversaries and we just thought a 20-year celebration would be a nice way to get people who were here from the start, involved again."

RSVP by August 14 via the Eaton Cricket Club's Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/Eaton-Beavers-Cricket-Club-603034506743874/.