CHRISTINE ERBY AWARDED OAM

President Jim Maxwell AM is excited to share the news that Mrs Christine Ann Erby has been awarded Medal of the Order of Australia in the 2019 Australia Day Honours List.  Chris is a founding member of the Primary Club of Australia (since 1974), served as Administration Officer for 10 years and Member of the Charities Committee for 15 years.  Chris, along with husband Jon Erby AO, still consults to that Committee and to the General Committee, and is a regular attendee at major Club events.  Her award also cites her service to Australian Angus Society since 1995.

“We are always excited when one of our members receives this sort of recognition for the long, hard work they do to support our charitable endeavours,” explains Jim.  “We wish Chris, Jon and all the Erby family a wonderful celebration.”

Picture shows Chris and Jon representing the Primary Club at the Aspect Hunter School in June 2017.

SIR RODEN CUTLER AWARD – DAMIEN THOMLINSON

In recognition of their determination and sheer inspiration, five of Australia’s most outstanding athletes with a disability, including Paralympic and Invictus Games medallists, have been named as finalists in The Primary Club of Australia’s 2018/19 Sir Roden Cutler Award.

Among the finalists are Madison de Rozario, three-time gold medallist in wheelchair track and field, and Joany Badenhorst, the first and only female Paralympian to represent Australia in Boardercross.

Also included as finalists are Cristine Suffolk, middle and long distance runner, Damien Thomlinson, Afghanistan war veteran and snowboard Paralympian, and Curtis McGrath, an eight-time World Championship gold medallist in para-canoeing.

The winner was announced at the Baggy Green Awards Dinner at NSW Parliament House on 15th November – Damien Thomlinson will receive a $20,000 grant for sporting and recreational equipment to be given to an organisation he chooses which reflects the Club’s charter. In addition, each finalist will receive a grant of $2,000 for a charity of his/her choice that supports people with disabilities.

CURRENT YEAR PRIMARIES? NOW STAND AT 14!

Primary Club Members donate $10 to charity every time an Aussie cricketer suffers the indignity of scoring a first ball duck or ‘primary’ in an international fixture.  Members may choose to pay their YTD ‘fines’ (donations) NOW at this LINK.

Since 1 June 2018, there have been fourteen (14) such events, compared to 13 in the previous full year.

• Aaron Finch in the T20 vs India at Visakhapatnan on 24th January: B Bumrah
• Ashleigh Gardner in the Women’s ODI vs New Zealand at Adelaide on 24th January: B Kerr
• Tim Paine in the Test vs Sri Lanka at Brisbane on 25th January: Ct Mendis, B Lakmal
• Peter Siddle in the ODI vs India at Adelaide on 15th January: Ct Kohli, B Kumar
• Josh Hazlewood in the Test vs India at Perth on 15th December: Ct Pant, B Sharma
• Josh Hazlewood in the Test vs India at Adelaide on 8th December: Ct Pant, B Shami
• Ben McDermott in the T20 vs India at Sydney on 25th November: LBW B Pandiya (Editor’s note: a disgraceful act, attempting to sweep on his first ball, when the previous wicket was out exactly the same way! Sorry!)
• Aaron Finch in the T20 vs India at Melbourne on 23rd November: Ct Pant B Kumar
• D’Arcy Short in the T20 vs South Africa at Gold Coast on 18th November: Ct Phehlukwayo B Morris
• Chris Lynn in the ODI vs South Africa at Hobart on 11th November: Ct De Kock B Steyne
• Mitchell Starc in the same innings: Ct & B Rabada
• Nathan Coulter-Nile in the T20 vs Pakistan at Dubai on 29th October: Run out.
• Nicole Bolton in the ODI vs Pakistan at Kuala Lumpur on 22nd October: LBW Sana Mir.
• Kane Richardson in the T20 vs England at Birmingham on 27th June: Ct Hales B Jordon.

GRANTS MADE IN 2017/18

The Board of the Primary Club of Australia is pleased to advise $357k in grants were paid or committed to the following organisations, consistent with our charter to provide sporting and recreational facilities to people with a disability.  (All in NSW unless advised otherwise.)

• Aspect School, Central Coast – playground
• Balmain Para Rowers – double scull
• Blind Cricket NSW – marquee
• Civic Disability Services, Wattle Grove – wheelchairs
• Disabled Surfers – surf wheelchairs, hypothermia rugs
• Disabled Winter Sports – bluetooth guide
• Coogee Minnows – surfboards
• Riding for Disabled, Box Hill – ramp
• Sargood on Collaroy – gym equipment
• Sporting Wheelies QLD – rugby wheelchairs
• St Andrews Public School, Southwestern Sydney – playground
• Studio ARTES, Hornsby – touch screen, loom, music instruments
• Sydney Children’s Hospital Randwick – supine bike
• The Ponds School, Southwestern Sydney – climbing nets
• Towradgi Public School, Illawarra – specialised play/therapy areas
• Trytons Cricket, Randwick – cricket equipment
• Wheelchair Sports – all sports wheelchairs

2017-18 ANNUAL REPORT NOW AVAILABLE

Annual General Meeting

The Annual General Meeting will be held at the Queen Street Lounge, Woollahra Hotel, 116 Queen Street, Woollahra, on Wednesday 24th October, commencing at 6pm.  Please advise Anja on (02) 9980-2525 if you can attend or are an apology.

Annual Report 2017-2018

The Primary Club of Australia Annual Report 2017/18 is now available to download.

Click here to download the Annual Report (mid res): Annual Report 2017-18

 

Note: the audited version of the financial results will be available at the AGM.

 

 

TOUR TO KENYA, JUNE 2018

The Primary Club of Australia squad of 14 cricketers and 26 supporters recently visited Kenya, playing a total of 7 matches.  Highlights of the tour included visits to two major game parks – the Ol Pejeta Conservancy to the north of Nairobi and the Maasai Mara to the west.

While at Ol Pejeta, we played three games in the ‘Last Male Standing Rhino Cup’, a tournament with other teams from the UK, South Africa, Mauritius and locally.  Now in its fourth year, this tournament raises funds for the Conservancy and its Rhino campaign and for the East Africa Cricket Foundation.  The latter is a coaching program dedicated to cultural and character development in schools for underprivileged children across Kenya.  We visited two of these schools on the outskirts of Nairobi – Dr Aggrey Primary School and the Muslim Primary School – and witnessed the coaches in action.  The Primary Club donated $7k to this program two years ago from funds we generated at our Marathon Cricket event at the SCG.

During the final of the Rhino Cup, President Jim Maxwell added to the significance of the event by commentating on the game live and was assisted by international scorer Ian Wright, both parties touring with our squad.  Two local teams fought out the final – the Kanbis CC defeating the Kongonis CC in a high quality cricket match.

Following the tour, Jim discussed the tour, the Rhino Cup and the state of cricket in Kenya on the BBC World Service’s ‘Stumped’ program.  To hear the full interview, CLICK HERE.  Congratulations to two Primary Club of Australia Members who are the main organisers of the Cup – Rob Stevenson and Nathan Dale.  Well done to you and your support team!

“FIRST BALL” MAY 2018 NEWSLETTER

The Primary Club of Australia’s May 2018 Newletter, called “First Ball” is out now.  You may view a low-res version via the link below.  Or call Anja on (02) 9980 2525 to request hard copies for your coffee table, office or waiting room.  Stories include our charity projects, a feature article about “Sargood on Collaroy”, our interstate events during last summer, and of course our Marathon Cricket event and Elanora Golf Day in Sydney.

Click on this link below:

First Ball May 2018 – low res

PRIOR YEAR PRIMARIES? 13 AS 2017/18 CLOSES

The Aussie cricketers were enjoying a super summer, until our men’s team arrived in South Africa in March!

To date, in all forms of international cricket this financial year, we now have 13, compared to the 20 we accumulated in the full 12 month period the prior year.

Primary Club Members donate $10 to charity every time an Aussie cricketer suffers the indignity of scoring a primary in an international fixture.

• Chadd Sayers (#13) was welcomed into the Primary Club in his maiden Test, the second innings of the 4th Test in Johannesburg on 3rd April.
• Peter Hanscomb became No. 12 in the first innings of the 4th Test in Johannesburg on 31st March, while Beth Mooney earlier on the same day in Mumbai opened with a primary in the Australian Women’s T20 Final against England.
• In the 3rd Test at Newlands, Capetown, Australia wilted in the second innings (against the back-drop of the ball-tapering scandal) and racked up the 9th and 10th primaries, with Shaun Marsh and Pat Cummins capitulating in a team total of just 107 runs on 25th March.
• Amanda-Jade Wellington in the ODI in India on 15th March (run out without facing ball) and Pat Cummins in the 2nd Test at Port Elizabeth on 9th March.
• Agar, Cummins and Coulter-Nile in the ODI series in India in Sept/Oct.
• Villani, Beams and Wellington in their ODIs in Taunton (July) and Coffs Harbour (Oct).

PS.  The visiting English team did not suffer a single primary in the Ashes Series!

We’re The Superhumans | Rio Paralympics 2016 Trailer

Have you seen this amazing clip

We’re The Superhumans | Rio Paralympics 2016 Trailer

RICK GLOVER OAM

Richard John Glover was recognised in the Australia Day Honours List with a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for ‘service to charitable organisations and to the community’.  Rick joined the Primary Club in 1980, became a Board Member in 1982 and has served continuously since, including 18 years as Honorary Secretary to 2007.  Rick volunteers for a wide range of Primary Club activities, not least of which the very successful Sydney Test Match Breakfast, Marathon Cricket at the SCG and the Special Olympics Cricket Festival at Bowral.  Rick would not be able to provide this service without the constant support of wife Pam, and three daughters Katrina, Jo and Georgi!

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