On Friday evening, 3 July 2009, the Chappell - Whitty Cricket Academy will be officially launched with a function at The Southgate Motel in Mount Gambier.

The Chappell - Whitty Academy is a product of the newly formed relationship between the Mount Gambier & Districts Cricket Association and the Glenelg District Cricket Club, and was named with the intention of linking the two Associations through their past players.

Most readers would be familiar with the history of the Chappells, who were stalwarts of the Glenelg District Cricket Club, but would not be as familiar with the cricketing history of Bill Whitty, and his involvement in the South East. Bill Whitty was born in Sydney and played cricket as a junior. He was noticed by Victor Trumper, who singled him out for further coaching and eventually a chance to bowl to the NSW team during training.

Whitty moved to South Australia, where he played most of his first class cricket before being selected for the Australian tour of England in 1909. On that tour, Whitty played in only one test, but took 77 wickets at an average of 20 on the tour. Whitty went on to play in 14 tests, taking 65 wickets at an average of 21.1.

After his retirement from first class cricket, Whitty moved to the Mount Gambier district, where he continued to play until his retirement from the game in 1937.

The Chappell - Whitty Academy will be the first of its kind in a regional area in South Australia and will assist in the development of junior cricketers.

Every year, 30 cricketers will have the opportunity to be selected in the Academy squad. The group will train from July to October as preparation for the cricket season ahead. During the 12 week period each player will receive 1 on 1 coaching, train in group sessions, be fitness tested and be educated on things such as Captaincy & Leadership. There will be no limitation on the number of players selected in each age group. The only stipulation is that the player must be under 16.

In another first the squad is also open to girls. The 2009 Chappell - Whitty Academy will include 4 girls and it is hoped that this number will increase in future years as the profile of Women's cricket gets bigger.

The squad will be coached by Tim Dyer, who is a Level 3 accredited coach, and Mick Ashby and Duncan Savage both Level 2 Coaches. Players will receive 1 on 1 coaching at Mount Gambier High School on Monday evenings and group fielding sessions will be held on Sundays.

Plans are already being made to have coaches from the South Australian Cricket Academy High Performance department attend some of the sessions, along with David Scholz, the Senior Coach from the Glenelg District Cricket Club.

The Chappell - Whitty Academy is the first step to provide junior cricketers from the Mount Gambier and Penola district the opportunity to have a greater focus on Cricket. It will provide an easier pathway to District Cricket, which in turn could be followed by State selection and then ultimately, selection to represent their country.