By Russell Bennett
Massive sixes were belted on to the rooms at Western Park on Sunday, and stumps were sent cartwheeling – but the action out in the middle was really just part of a much bigger cause.
The first Warragul and District Cricket Association (WDCA) Twenty20 All-Stars match was the brainchild of Matt Runnalls, from mental health charity Mindfull Australia.
It was devised as a way for people throughout the region to raise some much-needed funds for those devastated by the recent Gippsland blazes, but it also provided a way for meaningful mental health discourse to be held in a welcoming, relaxed environment.
A host of the biggest-name players in the WDCA put their hands up to take part in the game, which pitted the ‘Smith McCarthy Wilson West All-Stars’ against their counterparts, the ‘Findex East All-Stars’ after special guest, injured Australian star Glenn Maxwell, tossed the coin. All proceeds raised throughout the day went towards the Gippsland Emergency Relief Fund.
Maxwell, a guest of Optus, spoke to the Gazette at the game, after generously signing cricket balls and posing for photos with anyone who approached him.
“There’s been an amazing amount of support from around Australia for the cause – obviously we saw Nick Kyrgios start it off, from an athlete’s perspective, with his donation, and that was such a brilliant initiative,” he said.
“Then it was cricketers trying to do the same thing, and even Hollywood movie stars pledging to the cause.
“It just showed the amount of support there is, and a day like this is just as good. It can really rally the community, and hopefully it continues to build that camaraderie as well.
“This is a cause close to my heart, obviously having gone through it (a mental health battle) last year and continuing to fight through it as well.
“It’s great for the community to get together and have a day like this, and have the players be able to go out there and enjoy themselves and put on a good show for everyone here.”
Runnalls spoke of his pride of having the best cricketers in the WDCA available to play in the Twenty20 clash.
“To have them give up their Sunday, as well as their Saturday, for cricket is just massive, and when they just about all threw their hands up and said they were in and behind this – just as the community and the sponsors did – it was just so heart-warming,” he said.
“It speaks volumes of what Gippsland is all about. We’re bred tough in these regional areas of Australia, and we’re very resilient so it’s no surprise to me that all these people have rallied behind the cause, because that just reflects their spirit. We know the correlation between experiencing the bushfires, and battles with mental health.”
The East was skippered by Western Park captain-coach Sam Batson, and the West by Hallora’s Fraser Duncan.
The East featured players from Western Park, Warragul, Buln Buln, Neerim District, Jindivick, and Yarragon, while players from the West represented the likes of Garfield-Tynong, Longwarry, Iona, Catani, Hallora, Ellinbank and Drouin.
Ultimately it was the East (9/184) that prevailed over the West (7/181), courtesy of a boundary-laden half-century from Yarragon star Lahriu Jayakody (56 off just 26 deliveries), and a quickfire 30 from Western Park’s Leigh Diston before he was sensationally dismissed by Mankad in hilarious fashion.
Asantha Singappulli, another Western Park all-rounder, was the star with the ball for the East, claiming 4/22, while Ellinbank’s Nick Fairbank and Drouin’s Damon Healy scored 39 apiece for the West.
Of course, the day wouldn’t be possible without the dedicated support of a range of sponsors who jumped on board behind a fantastic cause.
Those sponsors include Findex, Smith McCarthy Wilson, Optus, Big Dogg Australia, Jazala, Anton Hair, Bakers Delight, Zagame’s, INTERSPORT Warragul, Daniel Carew, and Jindi Pig Butchers in Neerim South.
Originally from the Warragul area, Runnalls started registered suicide prevention charity Mindfull Australia when he was a 24-year-old tradie who played country footy at clubs including Warragul, Garfield and Cora Lynn.
He had no real financial worries, his professional life was in order, and he had a strong network of family and friends by his side.
But since the age of 17 he’s battled severe anxiety and depression, which led to several suicide attempts.
Mindfull’s purpose is to encourage those affected by mental health battles to come out of the shadows of stigma through self-acceptance, and education of the wider community.
For more information about Mindfull, search ‘Mindfull Aus. Stand up against Stigma’ on Facebook.
Anyone needing help can contact Lifeline on 13 11 14.
