Award of Inaugural Waratahs Ian Campbell Scholarship
Armidale Waratahs (The Tahs) | August 10, 2025
Member of the East Armidale Cricket Club and Armidale Secondary College student, Brooke Moran has been awarded the inaugural Waratahs Ian Campbell Scholarship – a scholarship for cricketers aged under 16 years playing in the Armidale Cricket District Association’s senior or junior competitions.
Brooke was presented with her scholarship by President of The Tahs of Armidale, Andrew Davis, at an awards ceremony at Cricket House at the Armidale Sportsground on Sunday, 10 August.
“In forming The Tahs in 2023 and reigniting connections for former members and friends of the former Waratahs Cricket Club, the Ian Campbell Scholarship was established so we might contribute to the future of ADCA cricket, a community that gave us so many fond memories and lifelong friendships”, said Andrew.
“A club stalwart, Ian Campbell dedicated much of his time at Waratahs to nurturing young talent, helping them to enhance their skills, respect the game, and grow as responsible young adults. We are thrilled to award the inaugural Scholarship named in his honour to Brooke.”
A talented left-arm opening bowler and middle order batter, at just 14 years of age, Brooke has already demonstrated her potential. She was selected in the NSW Girls All Schools U/12 squad for the 22/23 season; the NSW Country Lions U/15 Girls team in 23/24; and, more recently, in the NSW Girls All Schools U/15 squad to play in the national School Sport Australia Championships in September.
In her Scholarship application, Brooke said, “My ultimate goal is to hopefully one day play for the Australian women’s team and in the WBBL for the Brisbane Heat or Sydney Sixers but at the moment I’m just concentrating on developing skills and playing at the best of my ability and having fun with my friends and team mates. I love playing against the men and boys but my passion is playing along side and with all the girls where I have made some life long friends.”
As part of her scholarship, Brooke is offered the chance to attend training with Sydney Premier Club, the Manly Warringah District Cricket Club – also ‘the Waratahs’ – with access to specialist coaching.
“We are very pleased to have the support of the Manly Warringah club. They run strong development pathway programs for boys and girls, and have equally strong connections with country cricket”, said Andrew Davis.
He added, “In this the inaugural year of the Scholarship program, we are also pleased to present a second award, this one to Jacob Finlay, another excellent nominee.”
Jacob is a team-mate of Brooke’s, playing in the East Armidale Cricket Club’s 2nd Grade team, and is currently also 14 years of age. A specialist batter, he has achieved representative honours at U/15 level through both the regional and schools competitions.
Jacob received a gift certificate from Sportspower Armidale.
Both Brooke and Jacob also received club caps and membership of The Tahs. Two of Waratahs finest players from the 1980’s - Graham Frost and Roger Sattler - presented them with their new Tahs caps.
“We congratulate both Brooke and Jacob on their awards and welcome them to The Tahs family”, said Andrew Davis. “We look forward to following their cricketing journeys and hearing of their achievements.”
“We are grateful for the support of the ADCA, Manly-Warringah District Cricket Club and Sportspower Armidale – and, particularly, for the generous support of the members of The Tahs that has made these awards possible. We look forward to continuing to build the Waratahs Ian Campbell Scholarship fund and offering support to young promising cricketers in 2026 and the years beyond – just as we are able to do for Brooke and Jacob in 2025.”
Pictured from left,
Peter Langston, Jacob Finlay, Mrs Elizabeth Campbell, Brooke Moran, Andrew Davis (Tahs President), Roger Sattler, Graham Frost, Mike Porter (ADCA President)
The presentation ceremony of the 2025 ICS, featuring club President, Andrew Davis and scholarship recipients, Brooke Moran and Jacob Finlay.
About the Waratahs Ian Campbell Scholarship
The Waratahs Ian Campbell Scholarship supports recipients by providing access to short-term training and development programs and/or educational resources intended to enhance their technical cricketing skills, as well as their understanding of, and respect for, the game of cricket.
The scholarship is open candidates who are under 16 years of age at end August in the year of award, and are registered players within the senior or junior competitions of the Armidale and District Cricket Association.
The specific activities and resources provided to successful candidates are determined after their selection, taking account of their playing specialty, age, stage of development and other needs related to their participation in scholarship-related activities. Possible activities might include: participation in a short-term (eg weekend) training program with a Sydney grade cricket club; training sessions with relevant high-performance coaches; or (iii) contributions to accommodation costs associated with such training.
The successful candidate will be granted membership of The Tahs for the year in which the Scholarship is awarded.
About Ian Campbell
Ian Campbell was a former Sydney grade cricketer with St George before joining Waratahs Cricket Club (player #212) in the 1967-68 season. He played with Waratahs in four successive decades, during which his five sons also enjoyed successful playing careers with the Club.
While Ian initially played in the first grade, it was his enduring commitment to nurturing young talent in the lower grades that the Scholarship aims to honour. Throughout his career, Ian dedicated his time to guiding and encouraging young cricketers, fostering their development until his retirement at the end of the 1990-91 season. Many of these years saw him captaining the Waratahs team in the lowest grade, where he played a crucial role in transitioning young players from school cricket to senior competition – helping them to enhance their skills, respect the game, and grow as responsible young adults.
About The Tahs and Waratahs Cricket Club
The Tahs of Armidale, Inc. (www.thetahs.com.au) – also referred to as Waratahs Cricket Club of Armidale – was formed in October 2023, and was granted non-player membership status with the Armidale Disctrict Cricket Association (ADCA) in 2024.
The Tahs was established with two main objectives in mind:
- supporting the connection and wellbeing of its members – most of whom have some form of association with the former Waratahs Cricket Club – providing opportunities for members to gather in-person as well as through a highly active online presence, sharing information on the Club’s rich history and the deeds of members, past and present; and
- supporting the development of cricket in Armidale and surrounding districts through the Waratahs Ian Campbell Scholarship fund established to support local cricketers, who are under 16 years of age, in furthering their skills and understanding of the great game of cricket.
Membership of The Tahs is open to all who have a connection with the former Waratahs Cricket Club – former players, family members, onfield opponents, and supporters – as well as to those who also wish to support the association’s objects and activities.
Waratahs Cricket Club’s proud playing history in Armidale and the surrounding districts spanned from its first season in 1950/51 to its final year as a playing affiliate in 2006. Over that time, Waratahs supplied cricketers of the highest calibre to the ADCA competition and to its representative teams. At its height it fielded teams in all five grades and in the women’s competition. Waratahs teams were Premiers 27 times, seven of these in A/1st Grade. Many of the Club’s members also contributed to local cricket as members of the ADCA Executive and Committee.
Waratahs CC probably has the most thorough recorded history and statistical database of any ADCA club; indeed, likely one of the most complete of any Australian cricket club. The match scoresheets, which are combined with player, grade and club statistics in these records, may also be a source of interest for other players and clubs who engaged Waratahs on the field over its playing history.
These records, information on the Scholarship and The Tahs membership application form can all be found on The Tahs website www.thetahs.com.au.
Clip from the Captains Circle on BeaconPoint Cricket with Paul Ryan - setting the field for left arm swing bowlers
