It was a close fought battle when some of the Central Coast’s best-known media personalities and community leaders padded up for a Community All-Stars team which took on a team from Social Futures at a blind cricket match at Adcock Park, Gosford, on December 6.
The special match was held in celebration of International Day of People with Disability, with not-for-profit and NDIS Partner in the Community, Social Futures, emerging the victors by just four runs.
The All Stars managed a creditable 61 runs, but were pipped at the post with Social Futures chalking up 65.
Scott Jones, a NSW Blind Cricket player who now works for Social Futures, organised the game to showcase the sport of blind cricket.
“Blind cricket is like standard cricket but the ball is hard plastic and filled with ball bearings so you can hear it coming; we also bowl underarm,” he said.
“Everyone playing wore experiential glasses that replicate the experience of different vision impairments.
“Most of my workmates haven’t played blind cricket before so I don’t think we had an advantage.”
The day also featured a free community barbecue, with One Culture, Blind Sports NSW and Vision Australia running “come and try” sessions for blind and other disability sports.
In his role with Social Futures, Jones also delivers blind cricket sessions to Central Coast schools, helping students develop an awareness of disability and prompting them to think about how the community can adapt and be inclusive to all – in sport, at workplaces and in broader society.
To talk to an NDIS Local Area Coordinator email lac@socialfutures.org.au or call the LAC Hotline on 1800 522 679 (Mon-Fri 8.30am-4.30pm).
Source:
Media release, Dec 6
Social Futures