A SOCIAL match at Tyabb Cricket Club this week will focus attention on an incident that shocked the country back in 2014: the murder of young Luke Batty by his father at cricket training.
The 2021 Luke Batty Memorial Shield will be played in a T20 format between Tyabb Cricket Club and the Victoria Police Cricket Club, 5pm, Friday 12 February.
A secondary aim is to promote the plight of mental health among emergency services by including a“Man of the Match trophy in honour of Senior Constable Paul Topham, who took his own life early last year after a prolonged battle with PTSD as a result of the incident at Tyabb in 2014.
Luke’s mother Rosie Batty, a former Australian of the Year, and the family of Senior Constable Topham, will present trophies.
Former Australian Test Cricketer Brad Hodge will wear the Victoria Police colours.
Flinders MP and Minister for Health Greg Hunt will open the bowling for Tyabb with his first delivery going to the Victorian Acting Chief Commissioner Russell Barrett.
The game will be broadcast by peninsula radio station RPPFM 98.7.
Last year’s match drew a large crowd to watch a competitive game that champions and highlights the importance of education and awareness of family violence and mental health.
First published in the Southern Peninsula News – 9 February 2021
