Women's Cricket Comes to the Gordon DCC - Part 2

Gordon District Cricket Club | January 13, 2026

For that first 1982-83 season the club was able to field three teams – two in First Grade and the other in Second Grade. The two First Grade teams finished fourth and fifth and the Second Grade a creditable second. Jo Fitzsimmons was the club’s first President but only remained in that position for the first season. From 1983 until around 1991 the strength and drive in the club were Marilyn Brown, Erica Sainsbury and Karen Price as President, Deputy President and Treasurer respectively. From this time the ‘younger’ members including Denise Annetts, Alex Mueller and Angela Burroughs stepped up to fill these roles. It was also at that time that Jessica Henry began her long-term commitment to the club.

Whilst the men’s team took a few years to be established the women’s team took all before them winning the First and, as it was known then, the Reserve Grade premierships in 1983-84. Included were quality players such as a young Denise Annetts, who the previous season played for New South Wales, and an experienced Karen Price, an Australian player. During the season Denise Annetts became the first player to score 1000 runs for the club and both Sally Moffat and Virginia Eastman reached 50 wickets.

It was during the season that the women became formally affiliated with the Gordon DCC, being known as the Women’s Division. There were training and practice sessions with the men at Chatswood Oval that were obviously beneficial. The women were unbelievably successful in the ensuing 10 seasons, winning the First Grade premiership on four occasions and second three times. Not to be outdone the Second Grade side won two premierships and on three occasions were runners-up. The strength of women’s cricket was reflected in three Club Championships in that decade fielding three or four teams. Established teams in the Sydney Women’s Cricket Association and selectors were certainly sitting up and taking notice.

During the 1985-86 season in a game against Balmain, Gordon scored 4-340. Denise Annetts and Anna Gillespie had a third-wicket partnership of 125 (Annetts scored 91 of the 125) and then Denise Annetts and Karen Hill had a fourth wicket partnership of 171 – Annetts finished with 152*, 15 fours. Price with 120, with 13 fours and five sixes in the tally. 2 Additionally, Cathie Small, playing for Third Grade in her first ever game of cricket, took 8 for 17 against St George.

Photo - Denise Annetts, a player of immense talent and ability

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