GRAND finals at any level of sport are emotional occasions, but for Nichols Point Gold’s Jessica de Tarczynski, Friday’s Sunraysia Cricket Association women’s decider holds a lot more significance.
Late last year de Tarczynskilost her mother Ivy to cancer and after Friday’s match against Mildura Settlers, win or lose, she will be shaving her head in her memory and to help raise much-needed funds for cancer research.
“It’s kind of ironic that mum died on a Thursday last year and we were playing Setts (Mildura Settlers) that week and I played the very next day,” de Tarczynski said.
“It’s still very fresh, still a bit emotional.”
The de Tarczynski name is well known in cricketing circles throughout Sunraysia.
Father Peter is a life member of the Mildura Settlers Cricket Club and has been a great ambassador for the game over a long period of time.
But on Friday his allegiances rest firmly with Nichols Point Gold.
Not only is his daughter vice captain, he is also the team’s coach, having taken on the role after the loss of his wife.
De Tarczynski said her father had been an influential part of her life and his support as a parent and now her cricket coach provided her with plenty of motivation to get the “job” done on Friday.
“I think it has been good for Dad,” she said.
“It’s helped him a lot and for me and the other girls it has been great having him around.
“It’s going to be a little bit strange playing against Setts – we both have so much history with the club.
“It is a bit of heart-beater because it is very reflective of my heritage of growing up playing cricket for Setts and obviously my heart is still there with Setts Cricket Club – my family have always been heavily involved in the cricket club environment.
“Yeah, it will be a bit strange playing against them, but also nice at the same time, if that makes sense.”
Friday’s match will be held at Alcheringa Oval and will get underway at 5.45pm.
