Cricket is Grace Lee's driving passion

It was an incredible experience and day. I was the vice-captain. We had to be in the change rooms at 8 o'cock in the morning.

I reckon there was only 200 people at the game. The funny thing was the echo of the bat hitting the ball around the stadium.

It was a sort of eerie feeling knowing that huge crowds usually attend footy or cricket games at the MCG. I was not needed to have a bat or a bowl but I did take a catch.

Where did your love for cricket come from?

I think I was in grade five at St Thomas Primary School in Terang and Tim Fitzpatrick was coaching the under 12 cricket side and I started playing the game.

It was all about just having a bit of fun but after a few years the competitive side came out in me. Tim's daughter Harriet was in the side.

I played in the under 12s against Camperdown. I then started playing with Terang's under 14s and 16s sides in the South West Cricket Association. I was 14 years old in 2009 and selected to play for the Western Waves.

The funny thing is in that same game Georgia Wareham made her debut as a ten-year-old. She is now a top player for Australia.

Georgia's achievements in cricket have to be admired. Her efforts to represent Australia at the highest level in cricket should be a guiding light for any young cricketer.

Which side do you play cricket for now?

I started playing for Essendon Maribyrnong Park Ladies Cricket Club eight years ago and I'm still there today.

I play in the Premier Seconds competition.

It's a wonderful club. We play against sides like Ringwood, Box Hill, Plenty Valley, Prahran and the Melbourne Cricket Club. I'm also the coach of Pomborneit's women's and girls' teams.

I take them for training each Wednesday night. I live in Terang and work in Camperdown so I spend a lot of time on the road.

Grace, what do you do for a job?

I teach physical education and maths at Camperdown College.

I'm in my third year. I teach students from grade three to year 12.

I love my job. It throws up various challenges but that's all right.

We've had 14 weeks of remote learning for the students; it got challenging for students and teachers at various stages but it looks like we've come out the other side.

There's a wonderful bunch of students and teachers at the school.

I travel a lot in a year whether that's because of my involvement in cricket or my teaching duties. I wouldn't swap it for anything.

For the last two years I've been involved with the Grampians Women's Cricket Team. They play against various sides in Hamilton and the surrounding district. There are eight sides in the competition and it's very strong.

The competition has been going for about 20 years and is one of the first regional women's competitions in Victoria.

When do you find time to head to Melbourne to play cricket for Essendon Maribyrnong Park on Saturdays if you play cricket around Hamilton on Friday nights?

The home games for Essendon Maribyrnong Park are played on Saturdays while the away games are played on Sundays.

The season in Melbourne is a bit shorter this year. There are only 14 one-day games and there are 10 T20 games. They usually play two T20 games in a day - morning and afternoon.

The season in Melbourne starts on November 21 while the Grampians competition has 13 rounds. I'm also the coach of the women's and girls' sides at the Pomborneit Cricket Club.

What's your highest score with the bat?

I made 51 not out in one game and my best bowling figures are five wickets for 17 runs.

One of the other highlights of my career was taking part in Cricket Without Borders.

I was first selected to play in exhibition cricket games up in Darwin in 2013.

Cricket Without Borders promoted women's cricket. It was founded in 2011 by Melbourne entrepreneur Clare Cannon.

I've been fortunate to have played cricket in Japan in 2014, Fiji in 2015 and Samoa in 2016.

For your primary school education you attended St Thomas Primary School in Terang. Did you live in the town of Terang?

My parents have a dairy farm at Boorcan. My dad milks and so does my grandmother Jill Lee.

There would be more then 200 cows in the herd and they both love farm life. Dad played cricket for Boorcan and played footy at Glenormiston.

Grace I admire your commitment for cricket but have you played any other sports?

I've played a lot of netball and basketball. My netball career has centred around Kolora Noorat.

I played in the juniors and have progressed through to the senior competition.

I was to coach the under 15 side this year but because of the virus we never played.

I've already put my hand up for the junior coaching job next year.

The Power is a wonderful club. Lots of people from all over the district turn up for teas on Thursday nights at the club during the footy season.

It's a great social environment. The club has a great culture and really welcomes everyone.

It's like a second home for me because it's only ten minutes away from the family farm. My mum Annette has filled various executive roles at the club for years.

I suppose mum's involvement in those administration roles has rubbed off on me.

I've been the female delegate on the Western Waves cricket board for the past five years.