Media Release by Senator the Hon Mark Arbib

Indigenous Cricketers On SCG To Spread Learn. Earn. Legend! Message

Joint Media Release with:

  • Senator the Hon Jan McLucas, Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities and Carers

A team of Indigenous NRL stars will take on Australia’s best young Indigenous cricketers in the first all Indigenous cricket game on the Sydney Cricket Ground to spread the Learn. Earn. Legend! message.

The game is part of the Primary Club of Australia’s 30 Hour Cricket Marathon event held across today and tomorrow.

Minister for Sport and Minister for Indigenous Employment and Economic Development Mark Arbib and Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities and Carers Jan McLucas today announced the Gillard Government would provide $25,000 to support the event.

The Indigenous teams will play for the Jack Marsh Cup, named in honour of Australia’s first Indigenous cricketer.

“The Learn. Earn. Legend! program uses sport and sporting role models across the NRL, AFL and now cricket to encourage indigenous children and teenagers to stay at school and go on to get a job,” Senator Arbib said.

“We know the best thing all kids can do is get a good education. The more education a person has, whether that be finishing year 12, completing a TAFE qualification, an apprenticeship or a tertiary qualification, the more likely they are to get a good job and take care of their family.

“The Cricket Australia National Indigenous Development Squad members are great examples of young Indigenous Australians working hard with the goal of representing their country.

“Take Chris Swain, a young Indigenous man who can bat and bowl with both hands – a rare skill and definitely someone to watch into the future.”

Senator Arbib said the Marathon Cricket event was a fantastic initiative involving more than 500 players aged eight to 70, raising money for charities to provide sporting and recreational equipment and facilities for people with disability.

“I congratulate the Primary Club of Australia, the Sydney Cricket Ground Trust and Cricket NSW for their contributions to what is sure to be a fantastic couple of days of cricket,” Senator Arbib said.

Senator McLucas said this was a fantastic event highlighting the sporting prowess of Australians with disability while raising money for charity.

“Sport is a unifying pastime in Australian culture.  People with disability have provided Australia with some fantastic sporting memories,” Senator McLucas said.

“The Blind XI, a team made up of blind and partially blind players, will have a team in the Marathon Cricket event and I look forward to hearing about their success on the field.”

Senator Arbib said some of the NRL’s biggest names including Scott Prince, Preston Campbell and Wendell Sailor continued to support events such as Marathon Cricket under the Learn. Earn. Legend! banner.

“These players set a fantastic example for young Indigenous Australians. They are proof that through hard work and determination you can succeed in your chosen field,” Senator Arbib said.