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Hussey a big hit on Manly beach
Joe Barton
20 February 2008
A SELFLESS act of generosity brought Australian cricketer Mike Hussey to the northern beaches yesterday.
Hussey joined a group of 30 youngsters from Manly's Royal Far West for a game of beach cricket.
And it was all thanks to Manly resident Andrew Palmer, originally from Mudgee, who won the net session with the Australian left-hander in a charity auction last May.
As a youngster, Mr Palmer spent six weeks at Royal Far West recovering from an adenoid operation. So when it dawned on him that his dream of wearing the baggy green was fading, he decided there was a group of kids who would enjoy it more.
"It was my first visit to the beach when I was quite young and I still have that memory in my mind," he said.
"I had the prize and the reality was that I thought these guys would get a lot more out of it than me and half a dozen mates.
"My time (of playing for Australia) has passed well and truly, a long time ago.
"I just think it's a far better use of it all."
And while the national team have had some catching problems in the slips, it is unlikely Hussey would be recruiting from the beach cricket crew after he was dropped twice in his short innings.
"It's the first time I've actually been to Manly beach, so I thoroughly enjoyed it," Hussey said yesterday.
"The kids are just so honest and so innocent; it's great to see the smiles on their faces.
"I think (Royal Far West) is just a fantastic facility for people in remote areas in NSW.
"It's kind of hard to get any help, and as kids, it's very difficult if you do have health issues to get a bit of a fighting chance in life."
Youngsters like 13-year-old Tyrell May from Narrandera, who had the chance to impress the man they call Mr Cricket.
"I had a bit of a bat today, but my brothers put me off and then my dad bowled me out," he lamented. Page
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