Just touching base now that the cricket season has come to an end and we all can take a moment and reflect on an exciting chain of events that has occurred in the last few weeks.

First and foremost I would just like to acknowledge ANZ Cricket World and their recent Dream Big Campaign that was run during the Cricket World Cup, I can only commend them for this superb initiative and coming up with what I believe has been an absolute revelation in seeing grassroots supported and very simply uniting communities for all the right reasons here in New Zealand.

Personally I believe the catch phrase “Big dreams start from small places” has certainly seen enormous support to communities at all levels and this is certainly what has been achieved for the Northern Wairoa and Dargaville area in Northland.

It is hard to describe and explain to people how a community such as Dargaville unites when given an opportunity, I feel extremely fortunate and grateful to have had first-hand experience in being involved with this particular project and in seeing the Ross Condon Pavilion and existing toilets come to life and re-establish a home and breeding ground for young cricketers to aspire to and be involved in at Dargaville High School.

The benefits for the sport in the area have been immense and has created a real buzz with what has recently happened, this was highlighted with the recent numbers that turned out for the reveal.  From youngsters to older players and some simply coming out of the woodwork – many of whom have all been linked to the club, community and sport in some way, shape or form over its history.

Without mentioning everyone, I would probably do it total injustice by missing someone out, I counted near on 50 people who dropped whatever they were doing at the time and found a way to make it all come together throughout the window of opportunity that we had which to me was very special on its own.

Special mention to David Barge, Martine Topia and Curtis Gaylor from Dargaville High School who were extremely positive and supportive in having the foresight and trust to allow things to happen.  Craig Ross, our tireless builder and leader in his area, Kelly Bryers and local Dargaville ANZ branch volunteers, Hayden Andrews and Dave Wakefield at the Kaipara District Council, Tim Pratt and the DHS carpentry academy men and Neil and Michelle Condon for their work in preparation and lead in painting both areas. 

All the sub-contractors - Atlas Cranes Northland, Craig Robertson Builder, Brett Stewart and the team at Dargaville ITM Building Centre, Guy Finlayson Plumbing, Evan Laurie and the team at Sound Drainage, Craig Burrell at Contact Electrical, Aaron Foster at Fosters Resene Colour Shop & Home Decorating, Darren Pierce at Pierces Flooring Xtra Whangarei for supplying the carpet and labour along with Anthony Blundell at Kaipara Kumara for also supplying the blinds for the pavilion also at no cost also Greg Comber, Aaron Bradley and Ewan Conner.

And once again to ANZ and all the team for allowing me to take a lead, giving me the freedom to run amuck in pushing the boundaries in making things happen – everyone should be extremely proud of their efforts and the part they have played big or small.

Dion Nash summed it up for me when he mentioned how cricket was a culture and if a player feels they are part of something special, it motivates them to stay on track and it simply unites sport and its communities - by planting these seeds that things will grow.

Since the reveal I have been inundated and overwhelmed with positive feedback from all walks of life and we have ANZ to thank for certainly making a Dream come true and reigniting a flame in creating the Ross Condon Northern Wairoa Cricket Pavilion.

If you haven’t already seen the video you can find it here … http://youtu.be/j9VV7eERleQ

Joey Yovich
Community Sport Advisor – Northern Wairoa