Bay of Plenty Cricket Women's Development Officer Rebecca Yee, is set to receive a prestigious presentation at the 2018/19 New Zealand Cricket Awards at the end of the current season.

Rebecca was announced as the Cricket Development Officer of the Year, in the announcements of the NZC Community Cricket Award winners for the 2017/18 season.

Rebecca has played a huge part in the re-vitalisation of the girls-women's game in the ND minor association, since first being employed in the 2016 season.

Rebecca has led the BOPCA GoGirl cricket program with spectacular success since launched by Northern Districts Cricket, through the auspices of NZ Cricket and in partnership with Sport NZ Kiwisport Program.

The GoGirl program is aimed at Year 5 and 6 girls to draw the youngsters to the game by way of a standalone girl's introduction program.

An example of the success of the program is the recent GoGirl Super Sixes in the Western Bay of Plenty which put practice into action in a fun based day of cricket, saw 31 primary school girls team take part.

'Through Rebecca's efforts we have seen significant growth in participation numbers in the Western Bay of Plenty and have now expanded the program into the Rotorua and Taupo regions,” says Bay of Plenty Cricket Pathways Manager Tai Bridgman-Raison.

'Rebecca's passion for what she does and her ability to develop strong relationships are two of her biggest strengths, she is a real people person.”

The GoGirl program is just one strand to Rebecca's arsenal of promoting and advancing the girls/women's game in the region.

The Western Bay of Plenty Junior Northern Premier League continues to be a significant part of the BOPCA female pathway. Targeted at GoGirl program graduates, the intermediate and secondary school players play in four sides comprising the Sonic, Galaxy, Power, and Velocity.

A heavy involvement in women's cricket coaching, sees Rebecca coach the Bay of Plenty Junior Girls under 14 team at the ND invitation tournament and she is the mainstay behind the BOPCA secondary school girls' team, which is to kick off their annual ND tournament campaign in Tauranga next week from December 3 to December 5.

'As players filter through the pathway, it is important we are able to offer development opportunities to those seeking to take their cricket to a higher level,” says Tai.

'Rebecca has grown our female representative program to now include an off-season training program and increased inter-district playing opportunities, over time I expect we will see a number of players progressing to higher honours with Northern Districts and potentially New Zealand.

'To win two national awards in three years in a phenomenal achievement, one which Rebecca thoroughly deserves.”

Another to receive a NZC Community Cricket Award has origins that trace back to the Bay of Plenty. Otago's Mark Bracewell has been recognised with the Outstanding Services to Coaching Award.

Mark is one of the four Bracewell brother that attended Tauranga Boys College during the 1960's and 70's, with all four donning the Bay of Plenty senior men's representative uniform before moving from the region.

NZC Community Cricket Award Winners 2017/18

Cricket Development Officer of the Year – Rebecca Yee (Bay of Plenty Cricket - Northern Districts)

Club of the Year – Burnside West Cricket Club (Canterbury)

Volunteer of the Year – Malcolm Jones – Otago Country (Otago)

Official of the Year – Cheryl Styles (Wellington)

Best Female Engagement Strategy – Girls Smash (Otago)

Outstanding Contribution to Coaching – Mark Bracewell (Otago)

Outstanding Contribution to Cricket – Kevin Scanlon (Buller Cricket Association - Canterbury)