Like many people in Victoria, Milinda Dasanayaka is mad about cricket.
The Berwick Strikers Cricket Club president and player was one of the club’s founders and is still heavily involved in the club to this day.
Recently, Mr Dasanayaka was crowned Berwick’s local champion after he was nominated by the club’s committee.
“It’s a really good feeling because we have done so many good things in the last 10 years,” Mr Dasanayaka said.
“I’m so proud to get the award.”
Nominees received a wooden shield with the words ‘Berwick Community Award Local Champion’ engraved on the back.
The shields presented to the local champions were made by Berwick woodworker Chris Drysdale.
The overall champion also received an official shield with the winner’s name engraved.
Mr Dasanayaka said the award was a bigger reflection of the club and the work they do in the community.
“I had so many people helping us out in our committee and our club members and everyone to do these things,” Mr Dasanayaka said.
The club has grown to have 15 teams in 2022 since its inception in 2010.
“At first we only had one or two senior teams, and at the moment we have ten senior teams and five junior teams including girls’ cricket,” Mr Dasanayaka said.
He said he was keen to become involved in the community in Berwick.
“In Sri Lanka I played in the first XI at my school. After coming back to Australia when I finished my studies, we all came and settled and wanted to engage with the community and see what we can do sporting wise,” Mr Dasanayaka said.
Mr Dasanayaka said the readily available facilities have been great to help get the club off the ground and build strong foundations for the future.
“I was amazed at the sort of facilities we have. It can be sports grounds or equipment and it can be the support from the council and Cricket Australia,” Mr Dasanayaka said.
“We use these facilities to build these types of community cricket clubs and I think it helps the community.”
Mr Dasanayaka’s dedication to the club is a testament to his love for the game.
Mr Dasanayaka says putting all his extra time into the club is worth it.
“I’m an IT professional and my wife is in accounting so along with three kids it gets pretty busy but we spare our time for the club and doing something for the community when we can,” Mr Dasanayaka said.
There are plenty reasons why people are drawn to the Berwick Strikers Cricket Club.
“We are trying to do a bit more than other clubs which is why we think our club is growing a bit faster,” Mr Dasanayaka said.
“We give kids more coaching opportunities, we’re growing girls’ cricket.”
Mr Dasanayaka said anyone is welcome to come down to the Berwick Strikers and have a go if they would like to.
The club has a diverse playing group who all have one thing in common: they love to play cricket.
“We want every community to come and enjoy the space of cricket and we want everyone to come and enjoy the game,” Mr Dasanayaka said.
Mr Dasanayaka said he and the club have a big vision for where the club will be in the future.
The local community champion says he hopes to see the club continue to grow, and he also hopes the club can have one of the biggest girls’ cricket community in the south-east.
“We want to be the biggest girls cricket community in the south eastern suburbs,” Mr Dasanayaka said.
