Donations hit cricket club for six

By Sarah Schwager
A FLOOD of donations has overwhelmed Lynbrook junior cricketers in the last week after cricket equipment was stolen from the club days before Christmas.
Lynbrook Junior Cricket Club president Steve McPhail said the kids were “over the moon” at the number of donations.
“It is very heartening and reassuring to know that there are a lot of generous people out there,” Mr McPhail said.
“The kids are absolutely elated.”
Thieves broke into the sports pavilion at Banjo Patterson Reserve between 22 and 23 December.
All of the under-11 and under-13 cricket gear, including bats, balls, pads and gloves, were taken, as well as 1000 cans of soft drinks, 200 sausages, T-shirts and stubby holders that were set aside for future fundraisers.
The club’s soundsystem will also have to be replaced.
McDonald’s in Hampton Park, Lynbrook, and Cranbourne announced they will replace the $3000 worth of junior cricket gear so the under 11s and under 13s can start the season this weekend.
Mr McPhail said a number of other people had donated to the club, including an 11-year-old boy from Croydon, who offered up his cricket pads.
“We didn’t take them, of course,” Mr McPhail said.
A local butcher donated sausages and an anonymous man also donated soft drinks.
Mr McPhail said the kids had been very disappointed and confused at why thieves would take children’s equipment and how they would use it when it had Lynbrook Cricket Club printed on it.
“Then when they turned around and saw people had replaced all the stuff, it was amazing,” he said.
Hampton Park McDonald’s owner-operator Ian Seal will present Mr McPhail with the new junior cricket sets today.
“Putting back into the community in which it operates is a fundamental part of McDonald’s business philosophy and we’re really pleased that we’re able to help these young cricketers get back in the game,” Mr Seal said.
Mr McPhail said Cricket Victoria was trying to find a signed cricket bat to use in a raffle.
Mayfield Ward councillors Kevin Bradford and Steve Beardon also helped with ward funds and collected some donations from Centro traders for future raffles.