IT was all fun and games and the chance to learn new skills for 34 multicultural students of the Shepparton English Language Centre. They recently took part in three weeks of cricket clinics thanks to Cricket Victoria, Ethnic Council of Shepparton and District and the Shepparton Youth Club United Cricket Club.
Funded by the Victorian Government’s Multicultural Sports Fund Grants Program the clinics gave the primary and secondary students the chance to learn the game of cricket and socialise in an enjoyable setting.
Cricket Victoria A Sport For All ambassador, Sam Atukorala said, “Most of these kids were new to the game of cricket and new to Australia, so to be able to put something like this on is fantastic.
“It is not only good for the students to learn the skills but it also gave them a chance to get out and socialise.
“They really enjoyed themselves…some might even come away from this and continue to play cricket.
“To help celebrate the success, we are looking at having a gala day to celebrate, where in the second term of school, the students will travel to Melbourne to play a couple of games in teams.”
Shepparton Youth Club United Cricket Club coach, Steve Williams said, “The students have had a ball.
“There is definitely some talent there. Some of them could just become the nucleolus of our under 10s team.”
