When she was a youngster, Faith Thomas learned cricket using stones as the ball and bats from pieces of wood found lying around.
An Adnyamathanha woman, Faith Coulthard was the first Aboriginal woman to represent the SA and Australian cricket teams.
She loved being active – playing hockey, cricket and squash – while she was studying to be a nurse in Adelaide. She also played hockey for the Northern Territory.
Faith was also a much-admired person with a great sense of fun and was an important leader among Indigenous communities.
She was a member of the Aboriginal Sports Foundation.
After playing only two grade games, she was selected in the SA state team to play against touring sides, England and NZ in 1958.
A feature of Faith’s abilities was her bowling speed from only a short run-up.
Following her performances in that series, she was selected to the Australian team to tour England in 1958 but turned down the opportunity to concentrate on her nursing career in midwifery.
The Women’s Big Bash League schedules an annual match between the Adelaide Striker and the Perth Scorchers in honour of Faith Thomas and her contribution to cricket and nursing.
The Faith Thomas Trophy is awarded tot he winning team.
