Carer takes client to the Cricket

Neville Tosen is a lifetime cricket fan. These days most of his cricket comes via television. But last year and again in the early days of this year he has attended One Day International’s at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

Neville is a resident of the Adventist Senior Living - Avondale Lifestyle Community in Cooranbong. He also has a government funded Adventist Senior Living Home Care package that affords him a little extra support with his daily care and living.

His carer is Mitchell Knight. Just recently Mitchell arranged to drive Neville to the Australia versus England match. “It was a great day, except that Australia lost,” mused Neville. “Australia did better last year and won against Pakistan.”

“I normally get around the village on my walker and it wouldn’t be possible for me to enjoy a ‘live’ game on my own. But thanks to Mitchell I had a great day,” said Neville. “And I noticed that he enjoyed the cricket too.”

Neville started playing cricket in his homeland, South Africa, when he was seven. The Doctor had told him to go and play cricket with a tennis ball to relieve his asthma. A spade handle was the wicket in the backyard of their home. “I got pretty good at getting people ‘out,’” he said, “even though there was not the usual three wickets.”

“Cricket is in my blood,” he reported, with obvious enthusiasm for the game. “As a boy I had a beautiful Doberman that used to retrieve the ball. I hope to meet ‘Rags’ in heaven and maybe we can have another game of cricket,” he said with a chuckle. “Meantime, I would like to see the ‘Protea’s,’ (South Africa’s cricket team) beat the Aussies when they play soon. I hope my carer will take me to that game.”

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Pictured: Neville Tosen enjoys lunch at the SCG with Home Care staff Mitchell Knight