How cricket connects our community

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How cricket can be used for organ donation and Indian Student safety
 

 
NSW Police vs Indian International Students 20/20 cricket game, reports LENA PEACOCK
The Commissioner’s XI vs Indian High Commissioner’s International Students XI 20/20 was a one-off cricket game, held on Friday 22 March, which featured Australian Representative cricketers Brett and Shane Lee. The game aimed to help further strengthen relationships between police officers and international students living in Sydney.
“Cricket is a sport that is revered by both nations [Australia and India] so we thought what better way to develop relationships within the community than by hosting a friendly game of cricket,” said the organiser of the event, Detective Superintendent Gavin Dengate, Eastern Beaches Local Area Commander. “Because of different environments and situations people are faced with in other countries, we often find people who come to Australia are hesitant to trust police, as many have trouble doing so in their home countries”. The cricket match is part of a plan initiated by the NSW Police to increase the safety of international students.
Cricketing great Brett Lee and his brother Shane both showed support for the initiative. “I have spent a lot of time in India and it’s a culture I absolutely love,” Brett Lee said. “I have always been welcomed there with open arms and I want the Indian students who are living here to feel just as welcome, and to know that if they ever have a problem that the police are there to help them. This game will assist in developing these relationships at a grassroots level, and it can only grow from there”. “It is hard to hear that students have been having a hard time,” he revealed later. “Especially because I never felt intimidated in India”.
As Shane Lee said during the dinner, “That’s the good thing about cricket – it can stand above politics and everything”.
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Indian Welfare Association helps organise a cricket game to spread the word about organ donation, writes MALLI IYER
 

 
The annual Jeevan Dhan Trophy for cricket was organised by Transplant Australia and the Indian Welfare Association recently. The Indian Community XI competed against the Australian Transplant CC for the Hookes Family Jeevan Dhan Trophy for 2013.
The IC XI scored 237 runs in their 30 overs allotted. The trophy was presented by Robyn Hookes to the winning team. Robyn has done much to champion the cause of organ donation, ever since her husband David Hookes, one of Australia’s best-known test cricketers, donated his organs after his sudden and tragic death in 2004.
Dr. Harinath, former President of Cricket NSW; Stepan Kerkyasharian, Community Relations Commissioner, NSW; Greg Chappell, National Talent Manager, Cricket Australia; and Simon Taufel, ICC Umpires Elite Panel sent messages of support for the event.
In an attempt to create awareness of the importance of organ and tissue donation to the wider community, the Australian Medical Association (AMA) and the General Practitioners Association (GPA) offer complete support to endeavours by social groups such as the Indian Welfare Association. The cricket match was played under the auspices of these organisations, and helped in the awareness campaign for organ donation.
Organs eligible for transplant are heart, kidney, liver, lungs, pancreas, intestines and thymus. Tissue donation includes bones, tendons, cornea, skin, heart valves and veins. Prospective donors can register online or email for more information. The Australian Government encourages all Australians to discover, decide and discuss organ and tissue donation within family groups, with a view to hasten the availability of donated organs and give a ‘gift of life’ to someone.
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