Friday 17 February, 2017
Public viewing in the museum main hall from 4pm
Event commences 6.30pm
Auction commences 7.30pm

Will Clarke is a young man living with Autism. He cannot read or write and his communication is very limited.

Growing up in the Southern Highlands he has enthusiastically played cricket since he was 5 years old. Local cricket coach Rick McCarthy took Will to the nets some 15 years ago and he has not put the bat down since….literally. Through cricket Will has been able to engage in mainstream sport which has had a very positive impact on his social development.

A member of the Bowral Cricket Club, Sir Donald Bradman’s first, Will has represented the U16s side for the past three years as well as playing with the 3rd Grade men’s team. In addition he has played cricket in the NSW Special Olympics. He and his family have been instrumental in successfully spreading the program across the State.

Recently Will commenced recycling old cricket bats. Known as ‘Willo Industries’and with the help of friends, his Dad, the Bradman Foundation, the local Men’s Shed and ANALA – a local disability support service, he sources old bats. He then cleans and sands them back to original form. Only when returned to their original condition does he transfer them to artists and athletes for painting and signing.

On display are going to be a series of Willo Bats which now act as a novel and appealing canvas for artistic talent.

‘Will’s unwavering commitment and love of cricket is the catalyst for all the community support which permitted him to turn used cricket bats into canvas’s for artists,’ Rina Hore.

Have a look at Will’s facebook page and see the transformation of the cricket bats.