TRAGEDY on the cricket field has captured the hearts and minds of Australians all too often this year.
And while the untimely deaths of Luke Batty and Phillip Hughes were completely different in nature, they both had one thing in common – the galvanising of a community that had been touched by such a sad loss.
The outpouring of grief and sadness at Luke Batty’s passing in Tyabb in February this year is still flowing.
The feeling is still raw, but the community binding is still tight – as evidenced by Monday’s Tyabb Community Day which was held to benefit the foundation that has been created in Luke’s memory as well as the Tyabb Junior football and cricket clubs based at Bunguyan Reserve.
Hundreds of locals flocked to the venue on Monday morning to once again pay tribute to Luke but also to enjoy the festive spirit that everyone was determined to bring back to the ground.
RELATED: Congratulations Rosie Batty
Locals gathered around to watch the live broadcast of Triple M’s Hot Breakfast with Eddie McGuire, Mick Molloy and Luke Darcy speaking highly of the sense of community that is so unique to Australian local sporting clubs.
Professional sports were well represented on the day by cricketer Shane Warne, boxer Sam Soliman and basketballer Elizabeth Cambage.
From the AFL world, it made sense that the club based in Seaford just 15 minutes away from Tyabb would lend support to its local area.
St Kilda players Nick Riewoldt, Leigh Montagna, Sam Fisher, Adam Schneider, Sean Dempster, Jason Holmes, Farren Ray and Tom Simpkin were on hand, running clinics, signing autographs and posing for photos with a host of fans, keen to get a glimpse of their heroes in the flesh.
Rosie Batty, who has become the Victorian face of the drive against domestic violence since her son’s death in February, said it could not be underestimated how important it was for St Kilda in particular to get behind the campaign.
“This (Tyabb) is Saints territory and it means a heck of a lot to them. It means a lot to me because these guys are part of the male culture and they are demonstrating that community is important and family ties are important,” Ms Batty said.
“They are supporting that positive male role modelling that we have to see and our sporting communities are integral.”
Montagna echoed Ms Batty’s sentiments and said he was honoured to be a small part of such a special day.
“We understand the significance as footballers that we have on the community but even for us, it is humbling to see the community get together and for all the locals to rally around Rosie and the day,”
“For us, we just try to put smiles on kids faces and make the place feel good again. To see the turn out today and to see Rosie makes it very special.”
Montagna said talk around domestic violence had become part of the dialogue around all aspects of the Australian community, including the blokiest of environments – the footy club change rooms.
“It’s more about the general conversations you have as males now,” Montagna said.
“That’s what Rosie’s done. It might not be formal conversations but just amongst friends, families and amongst males – you have those conversations. Days like this make males talk about things like that.”
