Cricket Australia is proud to announce Marc Hughes (Moreton Bay College, Queensland) as the winner of the 2025–26 Celebrating Cricket in Schools Award, recognising an outstanding contribution to growing participation, engagement and pathways in school cricket.
Award Winner: Marc Hughes – Moreton Bay College (QLD)
As Head of Sport at Moreton Bay College, Marc Hughes has demonstrated exceptional leadership, vision and passion in embedding cricket within an all-girls school environment. His strategic approach has transformed participation and created clear, enjoyable pathways from curriculum delivery through to competitive opportunities and community club connections.
Marc has leveraged class-time PE cricket programs to introduce and excite students about the game, then seamlessly extended those experiences into competitive play through the Andrews Cup Girls’ School Cricket Competition. Under his leadership, more than 20 teams from across Greater Brisbane participated, creating an inspiring showcase for girls’ cricket.
Working closely with Queensland Cricket, Marc has also delivered Pop-Up Blast programs and hosted a “Backyard to Big Bash”–inspired initiative, driving strong engagement while generating revenue to reinvest back into girls’ cricket. In just three years, these efforts have resulted in an extraordinary 167% increase in cricket participation at Moreton Bay College.
Importantly, Marc’s impact extends well beyond his own school. Through advocacy and collaboration, he has helped open doors for Queensland Cricket programs in other schools, contributing to broader participation growth across the region. His pathway-focused messaging has delivered tangible results, with strong transitions from school programs into local club cricket—an outstanding outcome at primary school level.
Above all, Marc creates environments where fun, confidence and enjoyment sit at the heart of learning. From vibrant match-day atmospheres to inclusive coaching, he ensures students feel supported as they build skills, form positive memories and develop a lifelong connection to cricket. Marc Hughes truly exemplifies what it means to celebrate cricket in schools.
Highly Commended: Dan Rogers – Deanmore Primary School (WA)
The judging panel also extends high commendation to Dan Rogers of Deanmore Primary School, Western Australia, for his dedication to introducing students to cricket and fostering a love of the game within the school community.
Dan’s commitment to inclusive, engaging school cricket programs has provided countless students with positive first experiences of the sport, while strengthening connections between school participation and local cricket opportunities. His engagement has also extended to innovation in school cricket, including participation in the pilot of the Big Bash Schools Challenge, offering students an exciting and contemporary way to connect with the game.
His work reflects the spirit of the Celebrating Cricket in Schools Award and highlights the important role passionate educators play in cricket’s growth at a grassroots level.
Cricket Australia congratulates Marc Hughes and Dan Rogers on their well‑deserved recognition and thanks all nominees across the country for their tireless efforts to inspire the next generation through cricket.