Cricketers at White Knights Baldivis Cricket Club are looking forward to using the new equipment

WHITE Knights Baldivis Cricket Club has been granted $40,000 worth of wickets through an economic stimulus package from the State Government.

The new turf training wickets will be located at Baldivis Secondary College, allowing the club, school students and community to access them.

The grant will also allow the club to buy relevant maintenance equipment, such as a mower.

White Knights president, Leigh McIntosh said the grant was a win-win.

“It’s not just about us but training up young kids from the college and creating a knowledge base of the game,” he said.

“It also allows us to stay competitive.”

Baldivis MLA Reece Whitby organised the grant for the club through the local projects, local jobs program.

“Baldivis Secondary College is a special cricket school and hopefully one day we’ll get a baggy green out of there,” he said.

“With around 400 members, there was a need for the club’s facilities to be upgraded and this is a way to do that.”

Sport and Recreation Minister Mick Murray said local sports clubs played an invaluable role within the community.

“It’s more about keeping kids out of trouble,” he said.

“With local sport, they learn about mateship and setting boundaries.”

“Around 70 per cent of kids that have gotten into trouble, they have never played organised sport.”

“Baldivis is very lucky to have a good local member who does listen; I think he has asked me about 30 times about the money for this.”