THE OUTBACK'S ANSWER TO BEACH CRICKET!
17 February 2007

This weekend I headed out of the city smoke of Melbourne and arrived at Trevellyn, into fond memories of when I first came to the Outback some 40 years ago. Memories of raising 5 daughters in our old house and rowing across the river with the girls every day to our adjoining land.

This is the driest the river has ever been in my time outback. Today we made better use of a set of stumps than a pair of oars. Introducing: the Outback's answer to Beach Cricket!

Resiliance abounds in the Outback and once again, we see it here. Even though the people are encountering one of the worst droughts ever, they've turned it around for a day to take advantage of the environment around them, and found many ways to have fun whilst playing cricket in their beloved river bed. When the batting got slow, the fielders even received a crash course in the fine art of finding certified organic mussels!

I've been to Dubai where I've witnessed lavish buildings with unbelievable mile-high tennis courts. Here in the river bed with my children and grandchildren, I listen to the squeals and the laughter and see proof that it doesn't have to cost money to have fun!

Where's a ball boy when you need one?