Tasmania University Cricket Club

Latest News (16th. August 2007)

Hilfy and Julio on hand to help launch the T.U.C.C. Scholarship.


(picture courtesy of the Mercury)

Tasmanian and T.U.C.C. cricketers Ben Hilfenhaus and Tim Paine joined the T.U.C.C. President, Paul McNamara, to launch the inaugural T.U.C.C. Scholarship.

The launch received considerable coverage on television news and also in the local press.

Although Ben and Tim are not current students or graduates of UTAS themselves they recognise that the T.U.C.C. Scholarship will play a significant part in consolidating the future of the Tasmania University Cricket Club.

Tim Paine noted the importance of the T.U.C.C. Scholarship. "Although my life has taken a different path I would have appreciated this kind of support if I had taken up a degree course at UTAS".

Only a couple of years ago the option of pursuing studies in business and finance at UTAS was close to becoming a reality for Tim. He was enjoying working in a bank in Sandy Bay and, for a while, it appeared as though his rookie contract with the Tigers would not be upgraded to a senior contract. It was at this point that Tim seriously considered tertiary studies at UTAS. Fortunately, for the cricketing world, Tim was offered a senior contract with the Tasmanian Tigers and his cricket career has taken off from that point. This articulate and intelligent young man is destined for ‘big things’ in the game of cricket. A student at UTAS he may not be but he is, by any measure, a true student of the game.

Ben Hilfenhaus doesn’t like many people to know but this former bricklayer is also a highly intelligent young man but his cover as a big, hairy, dumb quick would be blown if this fact were to get out. Hilfy played for us for nearly 3 seasons before getting a call up to the state team. In that time we were able to ascertain that he was a pretty smart cookie. On those rainy days when play was postponed he demonstrated his considerable prowess in games involving tactics and game theory. On one particular rainy day when the former President and college mathematics teacher, Mike Graham-Smith was marking some pre-tertiary mathematics exams Hilfy grabbed a spare copy of a Mathematics Methods 5C exam paper and proceeded to answer all of the questions correctly. While Hilfy has been taking bags of wickets at first class level this fact has been overlooked by commentators and writers on the game. The fact is that Hilfy is not only a very talented outswing bowler he is also a very thoughtful bowler. He can quickly pinpoint the weaknesses in a batsman’s technique and claim his wicket by outsmarting him. For every ounce of brawn in Hilfy’s bowling there is an equal amount of brain.

Ben and Tim have a higher calling right now and we are confident that they will wear the baggy green together in the future but, if their lives had taken a different course, they could have also handled degree courses at UTAS. They are tremendous ambassadors for the club and the T.U.C.C. Scholarship and we appreciate their support of the scholarship.

At the media launch Paul McNamara outlined the aims of the T.U.C.C. Scholarship.

"The new $3000 scholarship is to assist cricketers with the costs of their university studies while they pursue their cricketing ambitions. Students with good academic achievement who can also demonstrate a talent and commitment to cricket are being encouraged to apply for the scholarship."

"We would also expect that the winner of this scholarship will grow as a person whilst at the club and become one of the leaders around the club."

Former T.U.C.C. President and current member of the T.U.C.C. Scholarship committee Mike Graham-Smith detailed the history behind the introduction of the scholarship.

"In 2003 the committee of the T.U.C.C. recognised that too many talented cricketers moving to Hobart, from the north and north-west of Tasmania and from interstate, to pursue studies at UTAS were ending up at other TCA clubs. We are well aware that we will never be able to recruit every player who falls into this category but, as the Tasmania University Cricket Club, we had to find a way of recruiting a good number of these players. Our long-standing association with the University of Tasmania, which started in 1898, puts us in an enviable position. We have access to many of the resources at UTAS and the idea of setting up a T.U.C.C. Scholarship was mooted. We approached the UTAS Foundation and they were extremely supportive of the initiative."

"To remain a competitive T.C.A. club we must continue to selectively recruit players such as Dene Hills, Jamie Cox, Brian Robinson, Gavin Robertson and Ben Hilfenahus and we must continue to develop players such as Australian Under 19 representatives Tim Paine, Scott Nichols and Gordon Kerr through our junior development program. In addition to this, as a university club, we must always be encouraging talented cricketers, who move to Hobart to pursue studies at UTAS, to join the club. Ultimately, the aim is to 'sign up' more players that fall into this category. The T.U.C.C. Scholarship was introduced to ensure this happens."

The club is calling for applications for the T.U.C.C. Scholarship. The selected student must be prepared to play for the Tasmania University Cricket Club for the duration of the 2007/2008 season. It is available to any year 12 student and to any student in a degree course in 2007.

The deadline for applications is Friday, 31st August.


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