Following Saturday’s AGM, I’m delighted to share that I’ve been voted in as Club Chair for the 2026 season. For those I haven’t yet had the pleasure of meeting, I’m Bill Bates — Fiancé to Gina, who, despite being Scottish, is a keen back-garden cricketer and dad to Brian, a Golden Retriever who struggles with the task of retrieving.

I’ve been part of the Tavs family since 2021 after a random walk around the Minley Estate lead me to a net session and from then on have never looked back. You will still find me volunteering much of my time to our own slice of heaven at the MCG — where I happen to be sitting right now, on the veranda, watching the world go by.

As some of you know, I wear my heart on my sleeve, and what you see is what you get and for this I absolutely will not apologise. I feel hugely privileged to be stepping into this role with such an incredible team behind me, and I hope you all share in the excitement for the season ahead, both on and off the field.

The committee I have the immense privilege to head up are undoubtedly some of the most dedicated people I’ve seen when it comes to our club. The time they take to ensure that our members, parents, spectators, and opposition all enjoy their time at our club is monumental. However, the running of this club doesn’t just happen. We rely on a small group of tireless volunteers to keep our club open, warm, and safe for everyone to enjoy, and my sincere thanks go out to each of them.

My hope for this season is that we all come together, in whatever capacity, to continue improving our club. If you’re able to support in any way, or even fancy a chat, the door is always open — please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

The goal is simple: to build on the strong, stable base we already have and grow our club into a beacon for local cricket, welcoming all abilities and backgrounds. To achieve this, I’ll need your support and assistance.

I’m really looking forward to catching up with you all at some point this season. Let’s make 2026 one to remember.

Up the Tavs
Bill