Charity cricket game raises awareness of domestic violence

A CELEBRITY cricket game has helped raise awareness and fundraise to combat domestic violence as community groups gathered at Fripp Oval Ballina on Sunday.

The inaugural event was hosted by Tony Goodfellow from The Couch Potatoes and Sports Tragics Podcast and the Ballina Bears cricket club.

It featured rugby league legends Chris Anderson, Craig Field, Ray Price and Paul Sironen.

The Bears hope to make it an annual event to raise money for the Ballina on Richmond Rotary Club in its efforts against domestic violence.

“The idea had been floating around for a while and Tony threw the net out to see who was available,” Ballina Bears cricket club president Phil Melville said,

“Domestic violence is a really important issue no matter where you go around the country.

“Events like this are how sport clubs can contribute and help people in the community.

“We’ve already said we’ll be involved again next year, it will only get bigger from here.”

Rain restricted the game to just 12 overs, while the special guests took time out to speak to people inside the clubhouse.

Anderson now lives at Ocean Shores and coached Mullumbimby in Northern Rivers Regional Rugby League last season.

He coached Australia and NSW in State of Origin during his time in the NRL.

Price is a Parramatta Eels legend and made the trip down from the Gold Coast, while Sironen now lives at Lennox Head.

Sironen works with NSW Rugby League and is a regular at community events.

Field is based at Tweed Heads and coached the Seagulls reserve grade team to an NRRRL premiership in its first season back in the competition in 2024.

Former NSW state cricket and baseball representative Bert Alderson was the special guest of honour this year.

The 99-year-old played alongside the likes of Richie Benaud and Doug Walters in Sydney first grade cricket.

Australian Cricket Board member Greg Rowell also took part in the game.

Melville hopes it may lead to a partnership and support from Cricket Australia in the future years.

“We’re really flying the flag for the region,” he said.

“Now that we’ve started, we want to keep that momentum going and support people in the community who really need our help.”