They may have been out of practice, but a group of former cricketers were all too happy to reunite on the field for their late friend.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Members of the cricket community marked the 10th annual James Kemsley memorial day at Chevalier College cricket oval on November 19.
The day was held in honour of Ginger Meggs illustrator, internationally-acclaimed author and former Chevalier College student James Kemsley, who died of Motor Neurone Disease (MND) at the age of 59 in Bowral in 2007.
The memorial day featured two 20/20 matches. This included a morning match between the Ginger Meggs XI and the Greenwich Good Guys, and an afternoon match between a composite Ginger Meggs-Greenwich Good Guys XI team and a Chevalier Invitational XI.
There was also an auction on the day to raise funds for the MND Association of NSW.
Co-organiser and Greenwich Good Guys member Bill Young said the event had raised about $30,000 for the MND Association of NSW in the last 10 years.
“It’s about remembering James and doing something to wipe out this disease,” he said.
“We encourage people to go to the MND Association of NSW website to donate, and make a comment that it’s on behalf of James Kemsley.”
The day was also an opportunity to give back to up-and-coming cricket talent.
Chevalier College year 12 student Jack Pollard was named the recipient of the James Kemsley Memorial Scholarship recipient.
Each year the scholarship is awarded to a talented cricketer from Chevalier College. “I’m really appreciative. It’s an honour to receive this award,” Pollard said.
Kemsley’s wife Helen and sons Hywel and Sebastian paid tribute to the memory of their loved one at the annual event.
“The day is about honouring the mateship and the Kemsley spirit,” Helen said. “A lot of these guys don’t play [anymore]. Getting together is the essence of it.”
Visit www.mndnsw.asn.au to make a donation to the MND Association of NSW, to help support people and families living with MND.