Macleod Cricket Club’s Craig Dodson aims to play at 10 cricket clubs across Australia this summer
Lucky Starr had a monster hit with the song back in 1962, but this summer Macleod cricketer and writer Craig Dodson is trotting out his own take on “I’ve been everywhere, man”. READ WHY.
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Macleod cricketer and writer Craig Dodson is rapidly acquiring a collection of caps rivalling that of the busiest journeyman.
But it’s all in a good cause, and a cause that is close to his heart.
The 41-year-old has undertaken a quest to travel Australia playing cricket while raising awareness of and funds for mental health, and plans to play for 10 different clubs across Australia this summer.
To date, he’s raised more than $5000 for mental health foundation Gotcha4Life and has his eye on $10,000 by the end of his travels.
So far Dodson has visited Pomborneit, Wagga Wagga, Adelaide, Sunbury, Brisbane and Sheffield.
Narrandera is on the schedule for tomorrow, but Dodson has his fingers crossed with Wagga Wagga airport still closed because of the New South Wales bushfires.
Next Saturday, he’ll play match No.8 of his tour at his home club, Macleod.
“My wife reckons its my midlife crisis tour,” Dodson laughed. “The Ashes have a lot to answer for. I was up over night really late (watching last year’s Test series). I’d been out of cricket for about 12 years and I had a thought that it would be good to get back into the game.
“It would make a great book, travelling around the country and playing cricket.”
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Beyond padding up for a weekly hit of cricket, Dodson’s tour has a strong personal incentive.
“In my early 30s I went through a rough patch with depression and through the help of some good mates and professional help I was able to come out the other side,” he said. “If I can help anyone through raising funds and awareness through this project then the effort is all worth it.
“Half the clubs (on the tour) are through personal contacts, guys that I’ve played with previously.
“I usually get up and give a bit of a talk and at every visit I’ve had someone, either themselves or a friend of a friend, have wanted to share their experience (of mental health issues).”
Following the adventure, Dodson will write a book about his travels as a further fundraising avenue.
“I’ve been punching out a weekly blog,” he said. “The aim is to get it (the book) out at the start of next season.”
As well as being a cricketer and writer, Dodson coaches his son in the under-10s at Macleod.
“I moved to live in Macleod a little over a year ago and love it her,” he said. “Our family has become actively involved in the Macleod Junior Cricket Club and I was always keen to pull on the whites and play locally for Macleod as part of this adventure. Macleod Cricket Club is a fantastic family orientated club and they have bent over backwards to help me, since the day I approached them.”
Macleod Cricket Club president David Bosso said the club was proud to get behind the initiative.
“The club felt privileged to receive an invitation to be a part of Craig’s journey raising funds and awareness for mental health,” he said. “We are looking forward to welcoming Craig into the club and playing our part in this fantastic initiative.”
Gotcha4Life is a not-for-profit foundation that was established to reverse the tide of declining mental health and to reduce the incidence of suicide throughout Australia.
“It is so wonderful when passionate people are keen to support us, and as a fellow cricket tragic, I am enjoying following Craig’s cricketing journey,” the foundation’s chief executive Tim Hodgson said. “This is a great way to raise awareness and funds for the important work we do.”
You can follow Craig’s journey at: Facebook: fromfineleg, twitter and instagram: @fromfineleg or at aviewofaustraliafromfineleg.com