When Dennis Johannsen first introduced me to the City of Greater Bendigo to talk about hosting a book launch, we talked about how wonderful it would be to turn Bowl the Maidens Over into a play and to have a permanent memorial for the women cricketers.
Never in my wildest dreams did I think both would be realised. The play is called The Deplorables and it will be touring for its second year in 2026 concluding with a two-week run at Theatre Works in St Kilda. The play is brilliant and kudos to Christine Davey (playwright) and Tess Parker (composer) for this fabulous production.
The statue exists due to the generosity of the Victorian State Government and the City of Greater Bendigo as the successful recipients of the Victorian Women’s Public Artwork Program grant. It sits at an entrance to the Queen Elizabeth Oval in a prominent position in View Street Bendigo welcoming visitors to the ground.
Many thanks to the hardworking staff and Councillors of the City who have made the latest installment of this dream a reality. An enormous thank you must go to Felicity Beissman who was as much in love with the story of Barbara Rae and the cricketers as Christine Davey and I, who could not be there on the day to celebrate the success of the role she played in the statue’s place in Bendigo.
Photo credit: https://www.vic.gov.au/barbara-rae
