Ocean 12 defeats the Navy on ANZAC Day 2018

Team Managers of Royal Australian Navy Cricket Team, LC Dr Richard Austin and Ocean 12, Sivarasa Manmatharasa

by Noeline Nagle

Did you know the Tamils fought alongside the ANZAC’s at Gallipoli?
Ceylon ( Sri Lanka ) also paid for a ship for the English Navy, called Jaffna.

I attended my first Tamil ANZAC service a few years ago and was very moved by the spirit of ANZAC being so richly acknowledged in the Tamil community. This year I once again had the privilege to attend this function. It embraced the Christian, Islamic and Hindu religion. The reading of Psalm 23 by a young Tamil man was breathtaking and the Australian Anthem was sung beautifully (including the second verse) . Siva, a member of Ocean 12 Cricket Team lay a wreath alongside various dignitaries. There were about 300 people at the service. This was followed by the cricket game between Ocean 12 and the Navy.

The game, won by Ocean 12, was played in great spirit and the scene was a picture. A marquee, hoppers, cooked by an asylum seeker, plenty of spectators and of course great cricket. Our batsmen in their usual manner hit lots of 4s and 6s, entertaining the spectators and causing the Navy grief.

The sportsmanship was wonderful. The Navy players have formed great camaraderie with the Ocean 12 men and they greet each other as old friends.
A wonderful example of Multi-Cultural Australia.