17/08/2026
Vale Robin Fitzpatrick
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The Morwell Cricket Club is saddened to learn of the passing of Robin Fitzpatrick on Saturday at the age of 60.
Morwell Cricket Club was a dominant force in the Women's Gippsland Cricket League (GCL) for fourteen seasons (2003 - 2017), winning ten flags, and a major contributor to this success came off the back of the wily veteran in Robin Fitzpatrick.
Robin was in our inaugural women's side in season 2003/04 and went on to play a GCL Women's games record of 103 matches. In that time she won the GCL Women's Cricketer of the Year an amazing six times and the GCL Player of the Final five times, not to mention the six batting and seven bowling club awards that came her way. It is a personal record that has no equal amongst her peers (even Jane Bone) and clearly positions Robin as the most dominant female cricketer of her time in Gippsland.
Fittingly, at the end of the 2016/17 season the GCL announced that it had elevated Robin to "Champion of Gippsland Cricket" status, a thoroughly well-deserved recognition for a standard of excellence over a significant period. How lucky was our club to have such a dominant force amongst our ranks?
A naturally-gifted athlete, Robin initially took to cricket like a duck to water. Her left arm medium pace in-swingers wreaked havoc amongst opposition bats and certainly challenged her team mates at the many net sessions over the years. Remembering that a female bowler had to be taken off once they had snared their fifth wicket in an innings Robin's 5 for 2 was a career best and she went on to capture "five for" seven times.
As a powerful left-handed bat she dominated the opening bat position for many seasons, and her thirty-two half-centuries (compulsory retirement at fifty) and a high score of 68* is testament to her batting prowess. Amazingly she registered only four ducks during her distinguished career and one of these was when a ball probably bounced a couple of times before it got to her and when she was adjudged 'leg before', a visibly upset Robin sauntered off and immediately sought clarification on what was a legal delivery and what wasn't. A fierce determination to succeed was the hallmark of her game, and probably put her above others when it came to setting personal standards.
In the field, Robin threw herself around (much to the amusement of her team mates at times) with gusto and always wanted the ball to come to her - even if it meant running from one side of the wicket to the other to take a catch! She regularly took difficult catches and her baseball-like throwing arm made her a constant threat.
With the retirement of another women's club legend in Jane Bone at the end of the 2010/11 season Robin assumed the role of captain, and certainly grew into a pretty handy leader. Whilst being an assertive skipper (teaching background coming out perhaps) she was always encouraging and even offered coaching tips to younger opposition players regularly. Leadership did not phase her and she performed to an amazing level thereafter - leading by example certainly personified Robin's character.
Always up for a chat and charmingly not scared to talk about herself, Robin was forever keen on improving her game and often sought coaching tips or advice, and it was certainly no coincidence that both her and daughter Sophie hardly missed a training session. "Play like you train" is a common motto and Robin took this to the nth degree and would still know how many times she was dismissed in the training nets - it was always about maintaining standards!
A big occasion player, a female version of Shane Blewett or Peter Ingwersen perhaps, Robin nearly always made runs under pressure and half-centuries in grand finals were pretty common. An exception that probably still 'sticks in her craw' would be the 2005/06 final where she smacked a first ball half tracker over cover fieldsman only to be denied by an amazing spectacular one-handed catch - a set back from which we did not recover - and we lost the match in a close finish - cricket can bring you back to earth pretty quickly!
At the batting crease, Robin knew what her strengths were and was disciplined enough to play to them - a rock-solid defence combined with a deft cut shot, solid pull shot and destructive on anything down the leg-side, she was able to bat for significant periods of time. Opening the batting with the likes of Heather Farley, Kirby Erskine or Megan Parker certainly set the side up for a decent score more often than not. Her only batting weakness would often be her l***y swing at balls going down the leg-side - she would regularly swing herself off her feet and fall awkwardly off the edge of the pitch - picking herself up off the ground her team mates would often cackle with glee.
Robin's left arm bowling into the breeze was always a serious threat, and over time she mastered the in-swinging yorker that brought her countless wickets. Most runs scored against her were either edges or nicks that did not go to hand. Talking to opposition bats, they were always worried about when Robin was going to bowl, as her pace, accuracy and ball control were menacing. To her credit she even made herself available to play men's third grade from time to time, and she proved to be a valuable addition on these occasions too.
Very much respected by her team mates, umpires/officials and opposition players alike, Robin will be long remembered for her strong desire to succeed, her personal pride in her performances (demonstrated by an amazing statistical career) and her likeable character, she can certainly reflect on a fabulous career knowing she was a major driving force behind our women's prolonged success in the Gippsland Cricket League.
Robin by numbers for the club - 124 games (103 of which were in the GCL Women's competition, the next most from our club in that competition was 64 Heather Farley)
3001 runs at 44.13 (highest club average for anyone over 700 runs all time)
10 Premierships
32 Fifties (7th highest club all time) with a top score of 68no
203 wickets at 8.18 (Fourth best bowling average for above 200 wickets club all time)
Seven 5 wickets hauls with a best of 5 for 2
Robin is honoured Women’s 1st Team Cap number 7
One can only imagine what she would have achieved in another era, but there is no doubt Robin has been a champion for our club and she well & truly earnt that status with the Gippsland Cricket League where she has been the dominant force in that competition throughout her career.
As well as a talented cricketer, Robin was an enthusiastic Hockey Player which took her to many tournaments at high levels and a dedicated teacher, most notably at Kurnai College where she taught many of our club members. See will be terribly missed.
Robin is survived by husband Ross, Children Sophie, James & Angela
