Jack Batchelor scoops the prestigious Ross Thompson award for service both on the scoreboard and the sidelines

Jack Batchelor, the heart and soul of Broomehill Cricket Club, has been named the recipient of the prestigious Ross Thompson award.

Presented only every three years, the trophy recognises individuals noteworthy for their contributions to the Broomehill community.

While Batchelor’s impact has been wide-ranging, it was his transformative work with the cricket club which earned him the award.

Broomehill clinched their fifth straight Great Southern Cricket Association premiership after retaining the Bendigo Bank trophy last month thanks to their nine-wicket demolition of Tambellup, but he was first immortalised in club history in 2021-22 when he was the GSCA grand final player of the match.

In the 2024-25 campaign he capped a career-best year as the cricketer of the year for both club and the GSCA, amassing 661 runs to finish as runner-up in the batting aggregate and secure a spot in the team of the season.

This season he made 402 runs with an average of 23.65 and took 14 wickets at 20.79 as well as representing GSCA at country week.

His 4255 career runs for Broomehill have come from 129 innings with an average of 35.46 and a high score of 168.

It wasn’t just his prowess on the field which counted, but his activities behind the scenes developing the sport in the Great Southern with hands-on coaching for junior and senior teams and serving as GSCA president.

Batchelor was stunned and honoured to receive the trophy, which was last awarded to Kelly Holzknecht, a long-serving netball player and coach, in 2022.

“It was a bonus and a privilege to win the award, and I was completely surprised,” he said.

“I don’t volunteer with the idea of getting a trophy like that, but it was a real honour.

“Looking at some of the other names on the cup, they are all stalwarts making sure the community ticked along so it is a real honour to be included with them.”