Hemsley Family
Graeme Hemsley’s involvement with the Woodside Cricket Club began in the early 2000s, initially through his children’s participation in junior cricket and later through his own playing and extensive volunteering. Alongside his wife Janette, and supported by their family, this involvement grew into a period of sustained commitment across coaching, administration and junior development that would leave a lasting impact on the club.
Graeme coached several underage sides, particularly at Under 10 and Under 12 level, and was deeply involved in junior development during a time when numbers were often stretched and volunteers were few. Off the field, he made a substantial administrative contribution, serving as Secretary from the 2003/04 to 2006/07 seasons and as Treasurer from 2002/03 through to 2009/10. He was recognised as Club Person of the Year across multiple seasons, and in acknowledgement of his service, was inducted as a Life Member of the Woodside Cricket Club in 2007/08.
One of Graeme’s most significant legacies was his role in establishing the first all-female cricket team at Woodside, at a time when girls’ cricket was still uncommon and viable pathways were limited. The idea emerged through involvement in indoor cricket and mixed junior teams, where several girls expressed a desire to play together. Recognising both the opportunity and the need, Graeme took on the responsibility of forming and coaching an all girls side, believed to have been during the early 2000s, competing primarily in the Under 13 age group over two seasons.
The establishment of an all-girls team occurred when there was no dedicated girls’ competition, no formal pathway and no development framework within the Hills. As a result, the team competed in the Under 13 mixed competition by necessity, often playing against boys and older, more experienced opposition simply because there was nowhere else for them to play. The initiative was not part of any structured program; it existed because a group of girls wanted to participate and Graeme was prepared to take responsibility and see it through. Week to week, the challenges were significant. Player numbers were tight, age groups were managed out of necessity, and the team regularly lined up in mixed competitions where expectations and attitudes were uncertain. Organisation, coaching and advocacy largely rested with Graeme, relying on persistence rather than established support. At times, opposition reactions exposed the cultural barriers that still existed, reinforcing just how unusual it was for girls not only to participate, but to compete confidently in those environments.
What sustained the team was Graeme’s firm belief that girls deserved the same opportunity
to play, learn and enjoy cricket as anyone else, regardless of the competition structure they were placed in. Success was never measured by results, but by
confidence, participation and the willingness of players to keep turning up.
Graeme’s coaching philosophy was simple and consistent: enjoy the game, support your teammates, and have the confidence to have a go. Those values shaped the team’s culture and helped players persist in a sport that, at the time, was still navigating significant cultural change. While wins and losses were secondary, the importance of participation and belonging was paramount. A defining moment from those early seasons highlighted both the progress being made and the attitudes that still existed — including a match against Birdwood where a boy, dismissed by a girl, became so embarrassed he locked himself in his mother’s car. While confronting, moments like this underscored just how important it was that girls were visible, capable and supported as cricketers.
That early commitment to girls’ cricket also created meaningful pathways. Graeme’s daughter, Rosie, progressed through Woodside juniors, mixed teams and the all-girls side before attending Adelaide High School through the specialist cricket program. She went on to become the first female state representative produced by the Woodside Cricket Club, a significant milestone for both the family and the club, even if it was modestly acknowledged at the time.
While the original girls’ team did not immediately lead to sustained growth, the foundation had been laid. Today, with multiple girls’ teams and structured competitions throughout the Hills, the impact of those early efforts is clear. The confidence to establish modern girls’ programs — and the belief that they could succeed at Woodside — can be traced directly back to Graeme’s pioneering role more than two decades earlier. Beyond girls’ cricket, Graeme was also instrumental in keeping young players engaged in the game, including forming additional senior teams to provide pathways for under-16 players and others who might otherwise have drifted away. His focus was always participation, enjoyment and giving players a place to belong.
In character, Graeme remains humble about his contribution, quick to acknowledge others and reluctant to seek recognition. However, the Hemsley Family Under 13’s Girls Award recognises far more than the efforts of one individual. It honours a family commitment to the Woodside Cricket Club, with Graeme’s leadership supported by Janette’s involvement and support, and complemented by the active contribution of sons Lachlan and Nick through
playing, volunteering and ongoing service to the club. Together, the Hemsley family played a meaningful role in shaping the club during a period of challenge and transition. Their collective willingness to step in where needed, back junior development and support inclusive initiatives helped strengthen the foundations of the club.
In naming this award, the club acknowledges a legacy built not on prominence or profile, but on presence, persistence and belief — ensuring that girls at Woodside could not only play cricket, but feel they genuinely belonged within the life of the club.
This award celebrates the values championed by the Hemsley family: enjoyment of the game, support for teammates, confidence, and the willingness to have a go — values that continue to shape the Woodside Cricket Club today and into the future.
Graeme coached several underage sides, particularly at Under 10 and Under 12 level, and was deeply involved in junior development during a time when numbers were often stretched and volunteers were few. Off the field, he made a substantial administrative contribution, serving as Secretary from the 2003/04 to 2006/07 seasons and as Treasurer from 2002/03 through to 2009/10. He was recognised as Club Person of the Year across multiple seasons, and in acknowledgement of his service, was inducted as a Life Member of the Woodside Cricket Club in 2007/08.
One of Graeme’s most significant legacies was his role in establishing the first all-female cricket team at Woodside, at a time when girls’ cricket was still uncommon and viable pathways were limited. The idea emerged through involvement in indoor cricket and mixed junior teams, where several girls expressed a desire to play together. Recognising both the opportunity and the need, Graeme took on the responsibility of forming and coaching an all girls side, believed to have been during the early 2000s, competing primarily in the Under 13 age group over two seasons.
The establishment of an all-girls team occurred when there was no dedicated girls’ competition, no formal pathway and no development framework within the Hills. As a result, the team competed in the Under 13 mixed competition by necessity, often playing against boys and older, more experienced opposition simply because there was nowhere else for them to play. The initiative was not part of any structured program; it existed because a group of girls wanted to participate and Graeme was prepared to take responsibility and see it through. Week to week, the challenges were significant. Player numbers were tight, age groups were managed out of necessity, and the team regularly lined up in mixed competitions where expectations and attitudes were uncertain. Organisation, coaching and advocacy largely rested with Graeme, relying on persistence rather than established support. At times, opposition reactions exposed the cultural barriers that still existed, reinforcing just how unusual it was for girls not only to participate, but to compete confidently in those environments.
What sustained the team was Graeme’s firm belief that girls deserved the same opportunity
to play, learn and enjoy cricket as anyone else, regardless of the competition structure they were placed in. Success was never measured by results, but by
confidence, participation and the willingness of players to keep turning up.
Graeme’s coaching philosophy was simple and consistent: enjoy the game, support your teammates, and have the confidence to have a go. Those values shaped the team’s culture and helped players persist in a sport that, at the time, was still navigating significant cultural change. While wins and losses were secondary, the importance of participation and belonging was paramount. A defining moment from those early seasons highlighted both the progress being made and the attitudes that still existed — including a match against Birdwood where a boy, dismissed by a girl, became so embarrassed he locked himself in his mother’s car. While confronting, moments like this underscored just how important it was that girls were visible, capable and supported as cricketers.
That early commitment to girls’ cricket also created meaningful pathways. Graeme’s daughter, Rosie, progressed through Woodside juniors, mixed teams and the all-girls side before attending Adelaide High School through the specialist cricket program. She went on to become the first female state representative produced by the Woodside Cricket Club, a significant milestone for both the family and the club, even if it was modestly acknowledged at the time.
While the original girls’ team did not immediately lead to sustained growth, the foundation had been laid. Today, with multiple girls’ teams and structured competitions throughout the Hills, the impact of those early efforts is clear. The confidence to establish modern girls’ programs — and the belief that they could succeed at Woodside — can be traced directly back to Graeme’s pioneering role more than two decades earlier. Beyond girls’ cricket, Graeme was also instrumental in keeping young players engaged in the game, including forming additional senior teams to provide pathways for under-16 players and others who might otherwise have drifted away. His focus was always participation, enjoyment and giving players a place to belong.
In character, Graeme remains humble about his contribution, quick to acknowledge others and reluctant to seek recognition. However, the Hemsley Family Under 13’s Girls Award recognises far more than the efforts of one individual. It honours a family commitment to the Woodside Cricket Club, with Graeme’s leadership supported by Janette’s involvement and support, and complemented by the active contribution of sons Lachlan and Nick through
playing, volunteering and ongoing service to the club. Together, the Hemsley family played a meaningful role in shaping the club during a period of challenge and transition. Their collective willingness to step in where needed, back junior development and support inclusive initiatives helped strengthen the foundations of the club.
In naming this award, the club acknowledges a legacy built not on prominence or profile, but on presence, persistence and belief — ensuring that girls at Woodside could not only play cricket, but feel they genuinely belonged within the life of the club.
This award celebrates the values championed by the Hemsley family: enjoyment of the game, support for teammates, confidence, and the willingness to have a go — values that continue to shape the Woodside Cricket Club today and into the future.
