Following the completion of the recent Imparja Cup, tournament founders Shane Franey and Ross Williams were acknowledged for their decades-long contribution to Indigenous cricket with NT Cricket life membership.
Franey and Williams are the founders and driving force behind the iconic Imparja Cup, which was held in Alice Springs last month.
The tournament's origins stems back to 1994 where Franey, from Alice Springs, and Williams, from Tenant Creek, organised an annual cricket match between the two towns.
Following its establishment popularity of the Imparja Cup quickly grew, with Northern Territory Cricket becoming involved in 1998 and Cricket Australia's involvement turning the tournament into a national competition in 2001.
In 2016 Cricket Australia introduced the National Indigenous Cricket Championships, separating the state and territory division from the Imparja Cup, with the two tournaments being held in unison in Alice Springs each February until last year.
Following this year's tournament, NT Cricket life member and former chair, Bruce Walker, paid tribute to Franey and Williams' impact on Indigenous cricket in the Northern Territory and across the country.
"Shane and Ross volunteered the Imparja Cup as the foundation stone to build the national cricket championships," Walker said.
"But this life membership recognises the contribution that Ross and Shane have made to positioning cricket in the Northern Territory on the national scale."
Cricket NT said Franey and Williams' efforts laid the foundation for the National Indigenous Cricket Championships while positioning NT Cricket as a leader in Indigenous cricket nationwide.
"Over three decades, their passion and generosity have shaped the Imparja Cup into a national fixture, fostering participation and pathways for Indigenous cricketers at all levels," NT Cricket said.
This year's 32nd iteration of the Imparja Cup saw more than 350 participants from across the country participate in 45 matches in men's, women's, major centre's and schools divisions.
Desert Rats won the Yeperenye Major Centres Division title after defeating Alice Springs by 19 runs, Ladeez took out the Women's Division after overcoming defending champions Golden Sistas by six wickets, and Blue Healers dominated the the DXC Men's Community Division, securing victory over MHACA by eight wickets.
