“We Haven’t Looked Back Since”: How Mel Nixon is transforming cricket for girls in Darwin and beyond

Mel has been recognised for her outstanding contributions to female participation in cricket in Darwin through her work with the Tracy Village Cricket Club.

As Junior Coordinator and now the club’s first female President (just casually!), Mel has played a pivotal role in increasing female participation, expanding the club’s junior program, and breaking barriers for women in leadership within the sport. Under her guidance, the club has grown into one of the strongest female-focused cricket clubs in the Northern Territory.

“It’s a great honour to receive this recognition, but it’s not just for me—it’s for Tracy Village Cricket Club and all the current and past committee members who have supported this journey,” Mel tells Missing Perspectives.

“About five years ago, we recognised the need to do more to attract girls to both cricket and our club. In response, the club made a bold commitment to growing our female participation by offering free registration fees. Since then, our numbers in junior and women’s cricket have gone from strength to strength. We’re not the wealthiest or most successful club in town, so this initiative was a significant risk. But the club placed its trust in me and the vision – and we haven’t looked back since.”

Mel grew up in Tracy Village and says the club has been a part of her life for as long as she can remember. Her family has deep ties to the community – her dad was President of the Baseball Club and involved in the local Sports and Social Club. Still, Mel never expected she’d become the club’s first female President.

“I know my dad would be proud to see me take on the role of President – it’s a full-circle moment for our family,” she says.

The impact of Mel’s work in boosting female representation at the club is undeniable. She grew the club’s Blast program from just one girl to 23. So, what does she believe made the biggest difference?

“At first, I thought what set us apart was simply offering free fees—but over time, I’ve come to realise it’s so much more than that. We’ve built a strong, successful Blast program that girls genuinely want to be part of. In a small town like Darwin, word of mouth goes a long way, and our reputation has grown,” she says.

“Now, girls from all over town come to Tracy Village to take part in Blast, and many go on to play in our junior teams. We had our first full girls’ under-9s team in 2024. We even have girls who return to the Blast program multiple times just because they enjoy it so much. That says a lot about the environment we’ve created.”

“Our success really comes down to what I like to call our ‘village’- the amazing group of volunteers who give their time to support the program. It’s especially inspiring to see our female players and junior girls stepping up to coach and help out. I think it makes a big difference for young girls to be coached by other females – it shows them what’s possible and helps them feel like they truly belong in the sport.”

While real progress has been made, Mel acknowledges that gaps remain—particularly in community-level women’s cricket. She hopes to see a dedicated girls’ junior competition in the future (“but I still think that’s a little way off,” she says). That said, she’s heartened by the growth of the women’s competition into two divisions.

When asked about what she’s most proud of, it’s hard to narrow it down.

“Being a female in a male-dominated sport – both on and off the field – can be challenging. There are times when you question why you put in so much time and effort. But then, I think about moments like hosting the largest Blast program with the highest percentage of girls; growing the number of girls playing cricket; watching those girls move from Blast to juniors and rise through the ranks; and having two women’s teams in our club,” she says.

“Our ‘village’ may be small, but it’s made up of an incredible group of people who share the love of our club and the sport. Being part of that, and seeing the impact it has on our community, is the most rewarding experience of all.”