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Both the Collingwood and Clifton Hill clubs have a very proud and successful history, existing as two of the oldest surviving clubs in the VWCA, Collingwood having been formed in 1929 and Clifton Hill in 1930. Collingwood was formed in 1929 at a meeting at the home of the Anderson’s, in Ramsden Street - Clifton Hill. There were several girls from the Collingwood - Clifton Hill area, who had been playing for Preston, so it was decided to start their own team. The club colours were green and gold as Brunswick had the traditional black and white. Their first home ground was in Fairfield Park (near where the 1980s teams later played). Mr Charles Horton was President, Mrs Lily James, Secretary Mr W. James umpire and general handyman and Jean Anderson was the club’s first Captain.
Collingwood won their first premiership in the 1930-1931 season. The great Nell McLarty had joined the team from Clarendon. Outstanding players in the early years were Jean Anderson, Jean Sutton, and Peggy Antonio, and also a very good 10 year old named Betty Wilson who is widely acknowledged as the greatest ever female cricketer. 
Collingwood Premiers 1930-1931 The Club was successful for many years, retaining position in Pennant Grade until the 1976/77 season. During this 46 year period, the Collingwood Ladies made 37 Finals appearances, being Semi-finalists on 15 occasions, Runners-up on 8 occasions and Premiers 14 times. This level of dominance is undoubtedly unparalleled in the history of Victorian club cricket. The Collingwood Club provided Australia with many international players over the years, including Nell McLarty, Myrtle Edwards, Eileen and Nell Massey, Peggy Antonio, Betty Wilson, Dawn Rae, Lynn Denholm and Raelee Thompson. The Club also provided more than 20 players who represented Victoria, one of the best being Jean Frith, widely acknowledged as one of the finest all-rounders the game has ever seen, and who undoubtedly could have gone on to represent Australia had she sought this honour. Rita Catmull, legendary coach, captain and player of the club, played in six finals and coached the club to six others between 1940 -1968. 
Club Legends - Rita Catmull and Jean Frith From the 1976/77 season, Collingwood was only able to field a side in Pennant Reserve and only made the semi-finals on two occasions. The Clifton Hill Ladies Cricket Club was formed in 1930, their home ground being Mayors Park. During the Depression years of the 1930’s, thousands of spectators would watch games at Mayor’s Park … and even placed bets on results!
The Clifton Hill Club can also boast a number of successes, with the first Premiership coming in the 1932/33 season. They went on to win 5 A Grade Premierships and were Runners-up in Pennant Grade in the 1981/82 season, also appearing in the Pennant Grade Semi-finals 1982/83. 
Clifton Hill 1930 Australian representatives include Val Farrell and Shirley Banfield. A number of players from the Club have represented Victoria over the years at junior and senior levels, including Gladys Moreshead (Boyd), Val Farrell, Shirley Banfield, Colleen Rickard, Chris Burton, Margaret Bell, and Kay Donnelly. The Clifton Hill and Collingwood clubs amalgamated in the 1986/1987 season to form Clifton Hill, Collingwood Women’s Cricket Club (CHCWCC for short!) Since 1990, CHCWCC's home ground has been McDonell Park, located on the corner of Wilmoth and Clifton Streets in Northcote, Melbourne. Prior to that time, the teams played at a number of locations including Yarra Bend Park (Fairfield Park - behind the old Fairlea Women’s Prison, where players were occasional witnesses to escaped felons scaling the walls!) as well as Sir Arthur Rylah Reserve.
The Club won the 1990/1991 Pennant Reserve Final and the 1993/1994 A West Final. The 1992/93 season saw all three teams playing in the Semi-finals, with the A Grade team playing off in the Final, being defeated on first innings by Box Hill (by1 run). Most recently, the club were runners up in last season’s 2004/2005 B Grade Final.
State representatives at both junior and senior levels have included Fiona Barnett, Kerry Challenger, Dione Warwick, Rose Collins and Jodie Dean. The club proudly celebrated our 75th year in 2005. |
