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- 20 Years Of Cricket For A Cause
20 years of cricket for a cause
From the SCG at the Pink Test to community ovals around the nation for Pink Stumps Day, the past 20 years have proven one thing – cricket unites us.
When Jane McGrath passed away in 2008, the support offered by Matthew Hayden and his wife Kellie was less about a public cause, and more about being there for close friends.
“Kellie had been by Jane’s side, and I flew back from Mumbai to be there,” he remembers. “It was deeply personal.”
It was a moment that was felt not just by the team, but the entire country. Then, through Jane’s loss, cricket found new meaning. In 2009, the Sydney Cricket Ground turned pink for the very first Jane McGrath Day.
“From ball one, you could feel it,” Matthew recalls. “This wasn’t just about cricket – it was about building something lasting, something human. Cricket Australia, the players, the fans – we were all in.”
The Pink Test quickly became a national symbol of unity and compassion. The colour, the cause, the care – it all made sense. Today, the Pink Test isn’t just iconic – it’s transformative. Over $9 million was raised through Virtual Pink Seats this year alone.
“It’s a generational movement now, and the expansion to all cancers makes it even more powerful. I grew up in the bush – I know how important care is for people outside the cities, in all corners of the country.”
“I feel proud to have played a small role in the McGrath Foundation’s journey for the past 20 years and I hope I’m around in another 20 years to see what transpires. Because this movement is not going anywhere.”
- Matthew
A world away from the Sydney Cricket Ground, in the small town of Outtrim, Victoria, another legacy was quietly building. The OMK Cricket Club held its first Pink Stumps Day in 2016. It started out with 80 people brought together in a local hall by Jake Cochrane, to honour his late mum, Katrina. It was a modest start, but one that would spark a decade of community-led impact.
Every year, the event has grown. From auctioning Olympic bricks to fundraising by selling cows, the creativity and passion behind OMK’s Pink Stump Day always delivers.
“We’ve weathered floods, fires, even Covid,” current event organiser Andrea Curtis says. “One year during COVID lockdowns, we livestreamed from lounge rooms with dodgy Outtrim reception. Another year, we had to cancel for safety due to severe storms, but the spirit never left. This community shows up – always.”
The event has raised over $360,000 for the McGrath Foundation over the years, driven by a community that’s made Pink Stumps Day a fixture on their calendar.
This year marks their 10th Pink Stumps Day, and for Andrea, it’s a full-circle moment. “The impact is so much bigger than us now. We’ve wrapped our arms around people who’ve needed it, and the McGrath Foundation has done the same for us."
“Brilliant work to the McGrath Foundation for achieving so much – and the best is yet to come. It’s so needed. It’s inclusive and lets everyone feel recognised and cared for.”
- Andrea
More than 20 years ago, Alison Szwajcer met Jane McGrath. Alison was Jane’s breast care nurse, a humble but unforgettable presence who entered Jane’s life when her cancer returned and metastasised in 2006.
Over the last 20 years, McGrath Cancer Care Nurses have been a lifeline in regional and rural Australia, providing expert care, hope, and support to families during their toughest times.
For Emily Quinlan, who was diagnosed with breast cancer at just 25, having a voice meant having someone she could turn to - someone who was always in her corner.
At the heart of the McGrath Foundation’s extraordinary journey is Kerry Patford, one of the original McGrath Cancer Care Nurses who has since risen to become the Foundation’s Chief Nurse.