EditorialCan one man make a difference?
41 year old Tasmanian father of two, Aaron Schultz ponders the question on his drive to Bellerive Oval ahead of the One Day International between Australia and Sri Lanka on Tuesday January 24.
Aaron has always been passionate about the game of cricket. Taking up the game at age 7, Aaron played grade cricket in country Victoria well into his 30’s. Confessing he wasn’t really much of a bowler or batsman, Aaron admits, “I didn’t really reach my potential.”
On this day however, as Aaron turns his car onto Clarence Street and towards Blundstone Arena he is less concerned with his unrealised cricketing dreams and more worried about how his two boys, Sam, aged 12 and Jed, aged 8 are impacted by the game.
Up until last year his boys played tennis, but a cricket bat for Christmas has turned his boys ‘cricket mad’. Aaron’s light bulb followed shortly after.
“I’m watching the cricket with Sam. Michael Slater is in the commentary box and suddenly he’s promoting VB. The game of cricket should promote healthy lifestyles, not alcohol and fast food. The bottom line, children go to the cricket and watch the cricket on telly, and alcohol and fast food is everywhere you turn. As long as it’s in their face, they are only going to want alcohol and fast food more.”
To Aaron it makes no sense for Cricket Australia to align itself so heavily with fast food and alcohol while at the same time promoting and broadcasting the game to adults and children alike. His online petition calls on Cricket Australia to drop alcohol and fast food promotion.
It’s a message that resonates with many people. Just a day after his story went live on Drink Tank, his online petition has attracted over 300 supporters. It is clear from the comments being left that his call to action resonates with the public.
“Advertising is a very powerful medium to get positive messages across to a large amount of the population so why not promote good health and wellbeing? Hell, it may even help reduce the enormous medical costs associated with care of those who develop medical issues related to alcohol abuse, not to mention the impact in providing a safer community!” Rosa Jones
“These are appalling messages to be sending via the guise of encouraging grassroots and first class cricket. It is cringe worthy to see the cream of Australian sportsmen being used to encourage youth and their families to eat food that brings with it such a risk of obesity, diabetes and general health, then to wash it down with alcohol of all things, another threat to our young people. CA you have a moral compass that needs a critical adjustment.” Ailsa Hiley
Yet Aaron still has concerns about reaching a wider audience. While initially interested in his story, ABC Radio’s national morning current affairs program AM took a pass. Aaron listened to the morning program keen to see what stories had pushed him out of headlines – one story – a British grandmother sentenced to death for smuggling cocaine into Bali.
Aaron still has one card to play. He’s formally launching his online campaign at Bellerive Oval and hopeful that Hobart’s local media will be out in force.
Aaron’s not the only one hoping to deliver a message at the cricket.
Tasmanian Premier Lara Giddings and Cricket Tasmania Chairman and Cricket Australia Director Tony Harrison, are also holding a press conference at the grounds.
Tony Harrison has every reason, 15 million reasons in fact, to feel confident about the afternoon’s announcement. A good news story – the State Government of Tasmania is to match the $15 million investment from the Commonwealth Government announced by Prime Minister Julia Gillard last year to redevelop Blundstone Arena.
What he probably doesn’t expect is to be on the back foot.
Defending Cricket Australia’s promotion of unhealthy products, Mr Harrison says, Cricket Australia, and our cricketers particularly, do a lot of work promoting healthy lifestyles.”
The following morning, Aaron reflects on his media success. WIN TV News and Southern Cross News have both covered the story on their previous evening bulletins.
Encouraged by the media attention and his online petition climbing steadily to 400, Aaron is re-energised.
“We need to make this happen. I’m so encouraged by the feedback and support I have received, not only from Drink Tank, but locally on the ground here in Hobart.
I’d like to say a big thank you to the Cancer Council Tasmania, and in particular Kathryn Terry and Tiffany Spiers, and also to the local media that have shown a commitment to telling important local stories that matter.
This is just the beginning. Once the candle’s lit, the last thing you want to do is let it go out.”
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