Alexyz charms cricket fans

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~ FRANKEY GERARD FERNANDES

Celebrity Indian cartoonist Alexyz

Fernandes treated cricket and arr fans from around South Australia 111st month, with his 'Sir Donald Bradman Crickeroons exhibition and fun shop', an event organi.scd by C lub India Imernational SA Inc (CIISAI).

Alexyz Fernandes, a renowned Goan caricaturist, was on a holiday Down Under and took time to showcase his work in l cw Zealand and Australia With a career spanning du:ee decades, Fernandes was brought by Club India International SA lnc. to Adelaide to present his collection of Sir Donald Bradman's caricatures to d1e community.

The l O year old Samson Fernand es welcomed d1e gathering 18 MARCM 2012 before the President o f CIISAl, MaJ,,.'Wel l Taylor welcomed Chief Guest Kirsten Al exander, Mayor of the City of Charles Sturr and cartoonist AleJ,,.'j'Z Fern andes to d1e event.

Mr Fernandes thanked Club Lidia for arranging the function and spoke about his fascination for the legendary batsman Sir Donald Brad.man, upon whom he has based some of his g reatest works. Some of these a re d isplayed in the Sir Donald Bradman Museum in Bowral, New Somh \Xlales.

"Cricket was originally d1e gan1e of gen tl emen," said Fernandes, " and this aspect was personifi ed b)1 Donald Bradman - in his game and in everyday life. His style was one that was not driven by the commercialism we witness today."

"It is a dream come true for me to be here, in Australia, the lan d Bradman c al led home," he added.

The Mayo r then addressed the communi ty and welcomed Mr Fernandes to the City of Adelaide. She was very happy to be invited, and congratulated AJeJ,,.1 z on his creative work. l\'1s Alexander shared tli at Donald Bradrnan was indeed a fm7 ouri te of hers as a young child , when she was learning how to play cricket.

" ln C h arles Smrt, we take great pleasure in celebrating unique individuals, groups and organisations, people who bring our city alive w irh arr, music, dance and culture," d1e mayor said. " Like Club lndia, Charles Smrt strives to promote diversity of language and culmre, and shares d1e Club's belief in unity an d diversity".

"Donald Bradman's integrity as a cricketer is insp irational What amazes me is tbar through :rv1r Fernandes' work, a. common fascination for an Australian cricketer has c rossed the boundaries of ti m e, distance and culture." Ms A l e.xander said.

The cartoonist also drew a caricature of the Mayor and presented die same to her later du.ring the evening.

As could be expected, diere was a .large Indian community turn om, to welcome the artist and celebrate bis achievements.

Mr Fernandes was keen to teach children how to draw. He drew from a model who had volunteered and based his funshop activity o , a step-b y- step guide for children to follow. i\fr Fernandes e nc ouraged die children to use their own creativity as they drew tbe model. There were funky doodles and quirky drawings, w ith some children exp loring art in a new light. The fun -shop prize went to 10-year old Marc Jose who used bold lines, with a kangaroo body - an original piece of arrwork!

The fun - shop was very successful. Both children and parents relaxed w h ile drawing sketches and h ad a b it of oldfashioned fun Sasha. Sequeira proposed the vote of thanks