A printer by day and women’s cricket player by night – Tegan McPharlin has just been named the new captain of South Australia’s women’s cricket side.
McPharlin, 27, is taking the torch from former Scorpions leader Lauren Ebsary who retired in June.
The Scorpions took out the Women’s National Cricket League title last season with McPharlin as vice-captain.
McPharlin leads a double life as both a professional sportswoman and a full time printer at Grandeur Press in the small country town of Balaklava, located 100 kilometres north of Adelaide.
Speaking to Australian Printer, McPharlin says her passion for both printing and professional cricket means her schedule is usually hectic.
“At the moment we keep our cricket training until after 5pm which allows me to work during the day and head to Adelaide to train at night,” she explains. “It is a busy lifestyle but I would not have it any other way.”
After graduating high school, McPharlin decided against moving to the bright lights of Adelaide and opted instead to take up work at Grandeur Press in her home town.
This year she will celebrate a ten year milestone in the industry and says, “I love my cricket training and I also love my country lifestyle.”
Grandeur Press has been owned by industry veteran Gibrian Palmer for the last 25 years and is one of the only print outfits in the Balaklava region.
McPharlin says she is constantly kept busy printing signs and banners on Grandeur’s Mimaki wide format printer.
“For us being based in the country it is always very busy because there are not too many print shops around,” she says.
“We are getting work from all over the countryside, so for us it is going really well. If you bring an interesting idea to us, we can make it happen.”
With professional cricket and printing still considered male dominated arenas, McPharlin has smashed through gender stereotypes by following her passions.
Her advice to young fans is, “Find something that you love doing, nothing should ever hold you back whether you are an underdog or not – just go for it.”
McPharlin will lead the Scorpions when the new campaign kicks off on October 13.
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