BENDEMEER Public School has only 16 students, but on any given day, one could easily witness an eight-a-side game of cricket going on in the playground.
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And it’s all to do with Bendemeer being the home of Australian Test cricketer and fast bowler Josh Hazlewood.
Josh was once a little Bendy tacker – and overnight he was lined up with the Australian Test team ready to contest the third Ashes test in Edgbaston, Birmingham, not far from the Pommy place also called Tamworth.
And just like these little Bendy bodies back home, Josh no doubt spent many hours during those primary years tossing and whacking the cricket ball up and down the dusty school pitch.
Like any home of a hero, the little school is abuzz with talk of Josh, according to relieving principal Kylie Lacey.
“They’re given free rein to the sports shed, but they always seem to come out with the cricket gear and organise a game. They all play, even the five little year oners.
“We have a noticeboard with many of Josh’s clippings on it.
“This week is Education Week, and the theme is local heroes, so our project is to make up a big display board of Josh.”
And what about down the track?
Could it be a Josh Hazlewood fan club, or even a big sign on the highway saying “The Home of Josh Hazlewood”.
“I’ve been through a number of towns with similar heroes, and they’ve had signs up for all to see,” Ms Lacey said.