More than 80 people attended a friendly T20 cricket match in Sunshine West on 27 November, played by members of the Sunshine Heights Cricket Club (SHCC) and the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) cricket team.
According to SHCC, the annual event, now in its fifth year, celebrates community spirit, inclusion, and the power of sport to bring people together while providing an opportunity for Navy personnel – mostly from HMAS Cerberus – and the local community to connect through cricket.
SHCC committee member and RAN Leading Seaman (LS) Nick Magafas said the match was a great success.
The event featured a flag ceremony and the Ode of Remembrance, led by Sunshine RSL president Garry Collins, a performance by Navy Cadet unit TS Voyager, a free BBQ and a DJ set.
SHCC won the match on the day.
“But it really is played in a genial spirit,” LS Magafas said.
“It’s more about communication and people getting to know each other a bit … There’s a great spirit about it.”
SHCC said the event transcends a mere cricket match and stands as a celebration of diversity, inclusivity, and the unifying power of sports.
The SHCC team, under the leadership of young Australian South Sudanese Akat Mayoum, comprised players from 11 different backgrounds, including South Sudanese, First Nations, Sri Lankan, Tamil, Greek, Indian, Pakistani, Macedonian, Afghan, Chinese, and English origins.
“That’s not by design, that’s the way we are. People just feel comfortable,” LS Magafas said.
“It doesn’t matter where you come from, you can be a part of it.”
