Western Port
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Western Port
realestate 25 March 2014
FOOD & ENTERTAINMENT
PAGES 48–51 CLASSIFIEDS
Splendour by the sea
PAGES 52–53
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WESTERN PORT SCOREBOARD
PAGES 54–55
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Tuesday 25 March 2014
MPNEWS (1300 676 397) or email: team@mpnews.com.au www.mpnews.com.au
Stars to pad up for Luke
Blessed beginnings PADUA College’s new Tyabb campus has been blessed from on high, with Melbourne Archbishop Denis Hart visiting the Catholic school to lead an official opening ceremony, much to the delight of proud principal Christopher Houlihan, left. Full story and more pictures on Page 13.
By Chris Brennan DOZENS of sports stars and celebrities descend on Western Port Sunday for a cricket match to honour murdered Tyabb schoolboy Luke Batty. The match is at 1pm at Tyabb Reserve, where sports-mad Luke played cricket and ultimately met his death at the hands of his father. Among confirmed participants for the Twenty20 match are Test cricketers Matthew Wade and Bryce McGain, AFL footballers Michael Hurley and Michael Hibberd, Hawthorn champion Peter Hudson, actors Gary Sweet and Rhys Muldoon, and media personality Anthony “Lehmo� Lehmann. Organisers said there would be “plenty more well-known guests�, with a number of high-profile Aussie cricketers and AFL footballers expected to get on board. There will be food, children’s activities and live entertainment, including a performance by Bruce Springsteen tribute band Thunder Road. More than 2000 visitors are expected to attend and funds raised will go toward building new practice nets. Also set to play is Hastings police officer Senior Sergeant Alan Courtney, who has already visited the club to practice with Yabbies juniors in the wake of last month’s tragic events. Senior Sergeant Courtney said it was important Luke’s teammates felt comfortable and secure while continuing to enjoy playing cricket. Tyabb Cricket Club president Sam Taranto said the event was supported by Luke’s mother Rosie Batty, who will be attending, and had been organised as a celebration of Luke’s love for cricket and “to put some smiles back on faces�. He said Luke would be forever remembered as a passionate cricketer and his loss had been felt deeply across
the cricketing community. “This is more about trying to bring some happiness back to the community and the cricket club following the tragic loss of Luke, rather than just a fundraiser,� he said. “It’s only $5 for adults and children under 16 are free, so we’re really trying to make it a celebration that’s open to the whole community. “The funds raised will go toward building new cricket nets after the old ones were taken down following the tragedy.� Luke was killed by his father Greg Anderson inside the cricket nets at Bungan Reserve on 12 February. He died from severe head injuries after his father hit him with a cricket bat in front of onlookers following a regular weekly cricket training session at the Tyabb sports ground. Anderson was fatally shot by police following the incident. The Australian cricket team wore black arm bands during the Test series in South Africa in honour of Luke, and coach Darren Lehmann offered his condolences on behalf of the players. “It’s obviously a tragic set of events and utterly devastating for the people of Tyabb, especially Tyabb Cricket Club,� Lehmann said. “Our hearts go out to Luke’s family, his mother Rosie, his mates and everyone at Tyabb Cricket Club.� Sheffield Shield and Mornington Peninsula Cricket Association players also wore black armbands during matches following the tragedy. Tyabb Cricket Club’s under-14 team dedicated their recent MPCA premiership win to Luke. Ms Batty has remained strongly supportive of the cricket club in the wake of her son’s death and said she hoped more players would sign up with the Yabbies in memory of Luke.
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