By BRIDGET COOK
THE City of Casey is looking to add to its affiliations with elite sporting clubs by joining forcing with the Melbourne Stars.
At Tuesday night’s council meeting councillors agreed unanimously to provide in-principal endorsement of a community partnership with the Melbourne Stars Twenty20 cricket team.
The City of Casey already has a 30-year partnership with the Melbourne Football Club.
The council will now negotiate a draft a three-year agreement with the Melbourne Stars that will be presented at a future council meeting for sign off.
The partnership has come about after the two organisations partnered to host the Melbourne Stars Casey Family Fun Day at Casey Fields in December last year.
The cricket club approached the council to deliver the family day as a community driver for the Big Bash league as it entered its second year.
The event drew a huge crowd and featured a number of cricket legends including Shane Warne, Sri Lankan Lasith Malinga, David Hussey, Cameron White and Brad Hodge, Casey local Clive Rose and Sir Vivian Richards.
The focal point of the partnership would be an annual free family fun day like last year’s.
The council said additionally, the Melbourne Stars would also utilise their status and expertise to support promotion and development of cricket within Casey.
City of Casey Mayor Amanda Stapledon said the partnership would help drive further opportunities like the successful family day for the city in the future.
“There was 5000 plus people there and celebrities we couldn’t have dreamt of ever visiting our city,” she said.
“There were also some local stars there so it celebrated the fact we have some home-grown talent now playing in the big league.
“The families loved the event.”
