Sport
23 January, 2026
Match aims to unite suburb
AN annual community cricket match tomorrow at Holloways Beach aims to bring the community together with their local AFL club.
Cairns City Lions is hosting their annual community cricket game on 24 January at the Wistaria Street sports complex, inviting locals to spend a day at the club and connect with players and volunteers.
Cairns City Lions president Daniel Pavone said the event would start at 10am and be a relaxed, inclusive day for people of all ages.
“It’s a yearly cricket game to celebrate the footy club and the community,” he said.
“We’re trying to bring everyone together to have a good, fun day out here, weather permitting.”
Mr Pavone said the club was focused on strengthening its ties with the broader community this year, with a range of activities planned alongside the cricket.
“This year we’re bringing a lot more of the community together with the club,” he said. “There’s a coffee van, there’s face painting. There’s going to be a barbecue and the bar will be open for the day.”
He said the event was intended as an opportunity for people to learn more about the club in a relaxed environment.
“It’s just a chance for the community to get to know the footy club and to have a place for everyone to come to,” he said.
The cricket match itself will be informal, with teams made up of players of varying ages and experience levels.
“You’ll have kids with adults. It’s open to everyone,” Mr Pavone said.
He said the game was focused on enjoyment rather than competition.
Several community organisations will also attend the day, including Centacare, which will host a stall providing information about disaster management activities. An emergency preparedness group will also be involved.
The club’s major sponsor, Willmot Smash Repairs, will again support the event. Mr Pavone said the business had been backing the club for more than 45 years.
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