PA/31/12 19 October 2012
Prime Minister Gillard Attends Cricket Clinic for Underprivileged Youth
At her first public event in New Delhi as part of a two-day visit, Australia’s Prime Minister, The Hon Julia Gillard, attended a cricket clinic for underprivileged children run by members of Australia’s Indigenous (Aboriginal) Cricket Development Squad and local NGO Magic Bus.
Prime Minister Gillard said “Education changes lives, it transforms lives. That is true in our country; it is true here in India. And when you combine sport with education, you get a very powerful combination.”
“So it has been good to be able to say hello today to our Australian indigenous cricket development squad who are over here in India playing a few matches.”
“It has also been great to meet with the Magic Bus people and to hear about this remarkable story, where young people in slums become mentors for younger children, where those younger children participate in physical activities including cricket.”
“I am also very pleased that we are going to confer on Sachin Tendulkar membership of the Order of Australia; an AM.”
“This is a very special honour, very rarely awarded to someone who is not an Australian citizen or an Australian national. So a very special honour and a very special recognition of such a great batsman”, added Prime Minister Gillard.
The Australian Indigenous Cricket Team, currently on tour in India, is comprised of the brightest young players from the 2012 Imparja Cup, Cricket Australia’s national Indigenous tournament. The tour is an opportunity for players to develop their skills both as cricketers and ambassadors for the sport.
Captain Josh Lalor said the team is excited about coming to India, “The tour is a fantastic opportunity for members of the squad to come to a vastly different part of the world. Travelling to India goes beyond what we’ll do on-field. The cultural experiences we’ll encounter will develop the group both personally and professionally,” added Mr Lalor.
The Indigenous Cricket Team, together with Magic Bus mentors, gave the children tips on playing competitive cricket as part of their coaching clinic.
Magic Bus is Asia’s largest mentoring organisation working to move some of the world’s poorest children out of poverty. Through mentors and a sports-based curriculum they inspire confidence and teamwork skills in underprivileged children. For more information, visit www.magicbus.org
The Australian Sports Commission, under its Australian Sports Outreach Program, has partnered with Magic Bus to support training and mentoring of community sports coaches across India. For more information, visit
www.ausport.gov.au/supporting/international/programs