By Christine de Kock
CHILDREN from the Northern Special Schools Sport Association participated in a number of fun cricket-related activities at Fairbairn Park, Ascot Vale West, last Wednesday.
Brendan Murphy, community cricket project officer for Cricket Victoria, said the festivities were the culmination of a three-week project aimed at teaching students how to bowl and bat.
“This is the last activity day that is scheduled for the year but we are hoping kids will get a great experience, and perhaps we can hold these activity days at least once a year,” Mr Murphy said.
“We just want to give kids the opportunity to play cricket – we modify the game to help the kids have a go.
“We gave the kids a t-shirt with the slogan ‘cricket embraces all’. We want the students to know that, despite certain differences, we are all part of the same community.”
The State Government-funded initiative is part of Cricket Victoria’s All-Embracing Program, which encourages people from marginalised groups in the community to take part in cricket.
Students from Victoria University’s sports and recreation department donated their time to assist with the project.
Schools involved in the project include Rosamond Special School, Footscray; Concord Special School, Bundoora; Warringa Special School, Hoppers Crossing; Jackson Special School, St Albans; and Hume Valley Special School, Broadmeadows.
For information about Cricket Victoria call 0404 802 782.
