Batting, bowling, fielding, catching. About 65 students tried their hands at a range of skills at Orange’s annual Dream Cricket gala day at Wade Park on Thursday.
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Organiser Murray Paterson of the Orange Daybreak Rotary Club said numbers were down because of a clash with NAIDOC Week activities but he was impressed by how the day worked out.
“We have about 30 Rotarians [from all three Orange clubs] here, 40 helpers [from three Orange high schools] and 65 kids,” he said.
“We have been doing this for eight years and we will continue to do it.”
Students from Anson Street School, Glenroi Heights Public School, Blayney Public School, Calare Public School, Bletchington Public School and Orange Public School participated this year.
Students from Orange High School, James Sheahan Catholic High School and Canobolas Rural Technology High School taught the younger pupils key cricketing skills.
“They’re here to manage them actually, to teach the kids the skills they need,” Paterson said.
They are building up self esteem that they can do things.
- Murray Paterson, Dream Cricket organiser
“They learn the skills of batting, bowling, fielding and catching, fine and gross motor skills.
“Most importantly they get to meet with kids from other schools, of the same ability.
“They are building up self esteem that they can do things.
“It is a great opportunity for students to experience the feeling of success, develop sporting skills and have the opportunity to represent their school at a regional event.”
He said the gala day was now an annual activity in five states after starting in Bowral several years ago.
It developed from a scheme in the United States where thousands of young students played and learned the skills of baseball.
Glenroi Heights Public School teacher Kiah Roebuck said it was one of the most anticipated days of the year for students.
“I think it’s a really good opportunity for them to interact with kids from other schools, particularly as we have brought our support classes down and they can tend to be withdrawn,” she said.
“It’s a really inclusive event.”
She said having high school students involved was helpful, particularly for year six students.
“They get to be part of a team, develop sportsmanship skills and participate in something in the community.
“It is one of the highlights of our year.
“The kids talk about it all through the years. It boosts morale among the kids.”
Dream Cricket is open to primary school students from years 3-6 with a physical, mental or intellectual disability.
It consists of a series of activities specialising in particular areas of cricket skills.
That was followed by small games of cricket where everyone had a turn at batting and other disciplines.
READ MORE: Cricket dream coming to life
Participants to the event received a medal from the immediate past Rotary District Governor and the president of Dream Cricket Australia Don Stephens at the end of the day’s activities.
Apart from Orange there was a Dream Cricket day at Dubbo last week with events to follow at Parkes and Bathurst.
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David Fitzsimons
I am a senior journalist at the Central Western Daily concentrating on council, government and real estate issues. Before moving to Orange I filled senior roles at the Daily Telegraph, Daily Telegraph-Mirror and the Daily Mirror in Sydney. They included being an editor, news editor, chief of staff and reporter.
I am a senior journalist at the Central Western Daily concentrating on council, government and real estate issues. Before moving to Orange I filled senior roles at the Daily Telegraph, Daily Telegraph-Mirror and the Daily Mirror in Sydney. They included being an editor, news editor, chief of staff and reporter.
