Sport
4 February, 2026
Famous five: Top honour awarded to stalwarts at Blues’ flag reunion
Hayley Soulsby and Kim Fitzpatrick are the first women to be awarded club life membership.
CHARLTON cricket legends on Saturday night applauded the outstanding contributions of the club’s latest five members.
Brettt Schofield, current president Adam Soulsby, Shane Fitzpatrick, Hayley Souslby and Kim Fitzpatrick were awarded life membership in a day of celebration for the Blues.
The honours capped off a big day at Charlton Park where the Blues had earlier taken on Navarre as members of the 2006-2007 and 2009-2010 premiership teams began arriving for a combined reunion and Cystic Fibrosis Fundraiser Day.
Official play in the Wimmera Mallee competition had been abandoned under the association’s heat rule but the two clubs agreed to play an exhibition T20 match.
“The Marnoo club joined in the festivities and were a big part of the day’s success, embracing the spirit of the occasion both on and off the field,” said president Adam Souslby.
There was irony in the charity fundraiser for Soulsby who hit his maiden A Grade century against Marnoo in the 1994-1995 season after debuting for Charlton in B Grade two years earlier.
After completing university studies, Soulsby spent six seasons playing in Castlemaine before returning home and captaining the club’s A Grade side in 2014-2015.
One of the proudest moments of his career came in January 2021 when he played alongside all three of his sons, Patrick, Angus and Ethan. He has been club president for the last 12 years.
Schofield stamped his mark in his first season at Charlton Park, batting through the entire innings in the 2006-2007 season grand final to score a magnificent 112. He was involved in the 2010 premiership and continued playing through to 2019, recording a personal highest score of 126 not out. Off the field, his contribution has been just as significant, having served the club as secretary for 15 years.
Shane Fitzpatrick has been a fixture at the club since debuting as a 15-year-old. Shane progressed to A Grade in 1990–91, before winning the bowling average in the 1992–93 season. His career-best performance came against Wedderburn in 1995-96, claiming outstanding figures of 7-78. In 2017-18 he opened the bowling alongsides eldest son, Cobi, returning remarkable figures of 4-0 off five overs.
Hayley Soulsby and Kim Fitzpatrick are the first women to be awarded club life membership.
Hayley first became involved with the club through supporting her husband, Adam. As her boys began playing, she took on the role of bus chaperone before assuming the responsibilities of scorer. A role she has undertaken for 12 years, evolving from traditional scorebooks to digital scoring via iPad. Her scorebooks are widely regarded as works of art.
In addition, Hayley has been heavily involved in the administration of junior cricket and currently holds the position of the association’s PlayHQ co-ordinator.
Kim initially became involved with the club after coming from the tennis court to support her husband, Shane.
Her contribution has been extensive, particularly in junior coaching and the recruitment and coaching of the Association’s girls team, the “Belles”. Kim has travelled extensively across the state supporting the Wimmera Girls Cricket Association and Western Victoria Girls Shield teams.
She has supported the cricketing journeys of her three children, Cobi, Maddison and Elliott across club cricket, Country Week, Western Waves and Women’s Premier Cricket, and now continues to support Elliott at Port Melbourne.
Kim currently coaches junior players, serves as Secretary for the Wimmera Mallee association.
Her volunteer service spans many years and countless hours of dedicated work behind the scenes.
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