Brooke Moran - 2025 Waratahs Ian Campbell Scholarship Winner

Armidale Waratahs (The Tahs) | September 20, 2025

We are thrilled to share news of 2025 Ian Campbell Scholarship winner, Brooke Moran (#894).

Brooke Moran, the inaugural winner of the Waratahs Ian Campbell Scholarship, has kicked off her scholarship in a big way with an immersive day of training and mentoring with Sydney Premier Cricket club, the Manly Warringah District Cricket Club.

Brooke joined the Manly Warringah Women’s team training session on 18 September, training with the full squad in an outdoor session. Manly Warringah generously kitted her out with their training clothes, hoodie and more.

In a highlight of the day, Brooke also had a one-on-one training with Manly Warringah, NSW, Sydney Thunder and Australian player, Hannah Darlington (Pictured in cover photo). Hannah and Brooke spent more than an hour in an indoor training session, with Hannah giving tips throughout including through the use of video taken of Brooke in action. Hannah also generously spent time sitting down with Brooke sharing experiences from her cricketing journey as well as tips to Brooke on how she might progress hers. This is no doubt invaluable advice and connection for Brooke with a fellow bowling all-rounder who has reached the highest heights and achieved much through cricket.

Brooke with 1st grade skipper Chelsea McLerie

We are very grateful to Hannah and the Manly Warringah club for the support given to Brooke – in particular thanks to their Director of Cricket, David Gainsford, for his tremendous support. Manly Warringah views Brooke as a talented young cricketer with much potential and has invited her to join their Pathways development program.

Next stop for Brooke is the School Sports Australia Cricket national cricket championships being held next week on the NSW central coast – where she will represent NSW in the U/15 Girls championship. Best wishes for a successful tournament Brooke!

As we have reported before, many people are responsible for this wonderful outcome: The Tahs Committee, Paul Ryan (#883) who has been a great friend of the club, the ADCA and David Gainsford of Manly Warringah District Cricket Club, their players and particularly Hannah Darlington. Manly Warringah District Cricket Club have been very generous in their inclusion of Brooke and have provided her with an outstanding opportunity which she has grasped with both hands. Their now exists goodwill from both clubs to make this arrangement a more permanent and ongoing one.

Above all else, The Tahs members generosity has created the $1,500 to make the scholarship a reality. Donations through buying club caps and stubby holders and the ongoing small but vital life blood of the Guiley/Joicey donations has given us the funds to give a country kid a pathway to the highest levels. Imagine yourself as a kid having these doors opened to you. Graham "Guiley" Johnson (#207) and Brian "Joicey" Joice (#218), club legends with bat and ball, are remembered every time an Australian Test player excels.

We now have more than 70 members, so raising the funds we need each year equates to an average annual donation of about $25 if everyone chips in. That's only five Guiley/Joiceys. Now that you see the splendid outcomes that can come from such a small personal investment, we hope more members will chip in. If you don't know how it works its this simple:

* Each time an Australian player scores a hundred (a Guiley) or takes a Pfeiffer (a Joicey) in a Test match, members are asked to donate $5;

* You can donate with each event or at the end of the Test match or at the end of the series;

* Links for donations are available on the Facebook page and will soon be available on the website.

* You can also buy a club cap ($40), a Waratahs stubby holder which lists all our Premierships and Life Members ($20 or 3 for $30) or make an unspecified one-off donation. Soon to be available will be a Waratahs Hawaiian shirt!!!

Members can take the time to feel a great sense of pride in what has been achieved with the Ian Campbell Scholarship. For mine, it is something right out of the Waratahs playbook of old.

From here, we go on to provide more kids with open doors. Steve Hadfield's (#524) brilliant idea, grounded in the same love of the game and role as a custodian which Ian Campbell (#212) was the shining example of, is now a reality.

We are always looking for new members of The Tahs. Membership is open to anyone who played with or against Waratahs, supporters, family members or just anyone that loves the concept of being a custodian of the game. Links and information all available above on this page or the website www.thetahs.com.au or the Waratahs Cricket Club of Armidale (The Tahs) social media page.

Andrew Davis (#354) & Peter Langston (#356)

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