Recently on ABC TV’s engaging show, The Assembly, the guest was Australian cricket legend Steve Waugh. This celebrated series, hosted by senior journalist Leigh Sales, features student journalists with autism asking honest, moving and sometimes outrageous questions of their guest. It has been well received as a fine example of kicking inclusion goals while entertaining and moving us all.
When asked which person he most wanted to meet, Steve answered that it was Mother Teresa. Her anti-materialist, self-sacrificial life dedicated to the poor fascinated him. He did get to meet her when in Calcutta by attending an early morning Mass. “I don’t consider myself a religious person, but this is amazing,” he said, as he saw the dedication of those there. He was motivated to do something and visited the Udayan rehabilitation centre in Kolkata for people affected by leprosy. He was moved and began raising money for a wing of the centre for girls. This experience led to him starting his own charity, The Steve Waugh Foundation, for children affected by very rare diseases and conditions which don’t receive government support, “the orphans of the health system”, as Steve describes them.
Last year, the Indian cricket team was in Australia for a Test series and they are currently here again playing One Day and T20 games. We wrote about Steve’s connection with Mother Teresa and leprosy then. This year, the stakes are even higher (at least, for cricket lovers), with The Ashes about to begin between ultimate enemies, Australia and England. Whatever the result, we are delighted that sport and compassion go together off the pitch, if not always on it!
Australian viewers can check out The Assembly episode with Steve Waugh here for free.
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